Servo / Radio Help

[Davegh]

Hi. Hope someone can help a newbie flyer out here.
Been flying a RTF Hobbico Nexstar trainer for the last 2 months that came complete with radio ( Futaba T4YBF ) and everything already installed. Ready To Fly they call it.

My question is now, I have bought 2 other planes ( kits ) a Corsair F4U and a avistar. Either of these planes come with a radio or servos installed.
I wish to use the same Futaba radio for all 3 planes.
How do I acomplish this? Just buy servos and install them and my radio will work ? Do I need to have them set up for my radio ?

Any help woild be great.
Thanks
Dave

[Dave Robelen]

Hi Dave,
That is pretty much the case. You will need to adjust the linkages on the individual planes for the proper throw or response, but all of the equipment is compatible. I do quite a bit of this to keep the expense as low as possible with multiple models. As long as the transmitter and receiver match, and the servos have the correct plug type, you can have quite a few models waiting for the transmitter and receiver. Of course, with computer transmitters, and multiple model memories, this task is even simpler since you can store the individual model servo requirements in it's own memory file.
Regards, Dave

[aeajr]

The answer is yes, you add a flight pack for each plane. Consists of servos, receiver, switch and a receiver battery.

Here is a good source for Flight packs:
http://www.servocity.com/html/flight_packs.html

That is a "standard" radio. It can't remember specific settings for each plane. So you have to try and fine tune each plane so that they will fly with the same settings, or remember how each plane needs to be set on the radio.

If you are ready to make a larger investment, you would be well advised to get a computer radio. computer Radios can remember special setting for each plane AND can give you capabilities that standard radios can not provide. If you plan to stay in the hobby, now it the time to get the computer radio.

If you are not familiar with computer radios, this article will be helpful:
http://www.rcezine.com/cms/article.php?cat=&id=65

[moster]

I would buy another 4 channel radio. I couldnt tell you the number of times i saw crashes where people programmed their computer radios wrong ( or didnt set them to the correct plane).

[aeajr]

I would buy another 4 channel radio. I couldnt tell you the number of times i saw crashes where people programmed their computer radios wrong ( or didnt set them to the correct plane).


Yes, that can happen. Probably comparable to the number of times I have seen people crash because they forgot to reset their standard radio for the next plane. Or the number of times they came to the field and were unable to fly because they brought the wrong radio.

Each method has its opportunity for errors. But the standard radios can't provide the features, functions and convenience the compter radios provide. And the computer radios are so inexpensive now that there is really no reason to stay with the standard radios except as a buddy box.

Although I will say that when you go to the swap meets you can pick up old standard radios cheap as everyone moves over to computer radios.