gangster
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Posts posted by gangster
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Another avenue to check out A friend of mine repaired a JR scroll wheel (the hexagon rod shaft with a sawn down allen key. Pretty sure they are the same part as on Spektrum. Or a JR part source if such an organisation still exists since Macgregor gave up tepair
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On 12/12/2023 at 07:48, Ron Gray said:
Playing Devil’s Advocate
Manned and UAS with the right equipment (UAT) will be able to ‘see’ UAS thus be able to avoid them.
Not necessarily, the equipment could be swapped between models in the same way that Rx can.
Swap RX, that takes us back 40 years to when receivers cost so much we only had one or two
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12 hours ago, Flyboy3 said:
Is the gangster lite for electric power only ? Cheers
I am pretty sure that the Mick Reeves web site tells you that the original flew on an OS40
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I had a 15 watt Solon when I was a lad. From what I recall was that the bits froze in as they wore down unless you regularly took them out. I do still have a 12 volt version dating I guess from the 60s
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19 hours ago, Geoff S said:
A lot of so-called 2mm push rods (like the ones from SLEC) have rolled threads (like bike spokes) and the actual rod is smaller than 2mm. For a pushrod as short as 2" it might be better to use 2mm threaded rod - available from Modelfixings amongst others.
That’s interesting, just seen this post. I posted an almost identical reply to another post a couple of hours ago but had no idea what you called that method of threading a thinner rod was called, Many bolts are made like that, very frustrating when you need to add a few threads more. Rolled thread. I have learnt something today.
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When I required some double ended rods to link aelerons I discovered that there are two sizes of 2mm pushrods With threaded ends. Some are thinner than 2mm with the thread squeezed. Don’t know the correct term. But some are tapped on 2mm rod. Those you can tap. How you identify which to order I have no idea. We used to actually have shops where you could actually see them.
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4 minutes ago, leccyflyer said:
I believe you misread the intent of Cuban8's post - he was postularing on the lack of cases against the manufacturers being evidence of there not being a problem with the radio systems, not of the manufacturers seeking to sue individuals or publishers for comments made about their systems.
Er no.. it was not a case of misunderstanding Cuban 8s post, with which I agree with every word.I was adding my own thoughts, inspired by his comments. This led me to concerns about publicly criticising a multi million dollar American company
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On 10/10/2023 at 09:15, Cuban8 said:
Perhaps the tone of my comments did suggest that the problems some people have encountered with their gear never happened - that was not my intention. However, posts seeming to casually trash the reputation of a major manufacturer with millons of £s in sales and in one of the most litigious markets, i.e the US, where any sniff of an intrinsic issue with any manufacturers' gear would have the lawyers on the warpath, seems odd to me.
Rumour and folklore have been part of R/C equipment stories for decades..............from sunspots to high tension power lines, bluetooth signals from nearby houses, microwave towers and mobile phones, reports of widespread lockouts on the old 35 meg PCM gear (mainly Futaba BTW and as an ex-PCM Futaba flyer there was usually no supporting evidence of an equipment problem per se)......'haunted' parts of airspace at flying sites that attract models to their doom in some weird Bermuda Triangle style - happened at my two clubs and there's not a shred of evidence to suggest any truth in it - oddly I haven't heard of any airborne 'possessions' for quite a few years.
The trouble is that genuine issues can be lost in the noise and smokescreen of guesswork and speculation.
Totally agree with all of that but the bit about the litigious manufacturers really got me thinking This is not a cozy group of modellers sitting round the table in a pub. This is the World Wide Web, anybody can read it. Now Horizon or whoever owns them are unlikely to come after you and me but where do the publishers sit. We are making all these allegations, often uninformed and unjustified under the umbrella of the magazines publishers.
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I have little sympathy for those who do not do a functional check as the last thing they do before hitting the gas and taking off. It’s your last chance be certain all is well. It takes seconds to slowly cycle Aileron and ele and glance at the ailerons and say to yourself “ Right Up” as you watch the right aileron go up. It ain’t going to reverse itself in the next two seconds.
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10 hours ago, Phil Green said:
I've gone full circle, an OS Pixie Single Channel in 1965, then Staveley analogue propo, Fleet, DigiAce, Futaba FF7, never any trouble at all, then a month of Taranis before I sold it (nothing wrong with it, just didnt do anything for me...), then during lockdown developed my homebrew FHSS gear which I use exclusively now and today my favourite slope soarer is my Moonbeam on an OS Pixie Single Channel again but 2.4g FHSS, full circle back to 1965!
Reasons for changing gear were mostly wear & tear, age - never had loads of receivers so never a huge investment. My current receivers cost maybe a fiver to make 🙂Incidentally, slightly off topic - someone said Model Match was for him a 'game changer' - I have a different approach - all my reversing, mixers, etc settings are held in each individual receiver, the transmitter never changes from model to model but you cant fly 'with the wrong model memory' selected cos there arent any to select - just switch on and fly anything!
To me, model memories in the transmitter that have to be tied to a 'dumb' receiver seems an odd way to do things 🙂
Cheers
Phil_G
I think that having all the models the same is a great approach. I have always thought that transmitter based servo reversing is the invention of the devil, totally unnecessary. Having said that I probably was one of the first in the club with that feature on my RC ME FM. . For over 30 years all my models and transmitters were set up the same. If I needed reversing I simply changed the servo. Futaba servos went one way and Hitec the other. Other options are available
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Did those crashes really have anything to do with the make of the radio. Modellers have been blaming the make of radio or interference etc etc etc for years. Never installation finger trouble and all of the other more likely causes. Even so O do feel for those who had crashes this afternoon
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I have never had any brand loyalty and have bought what looks best quality at the time. I changed because I thought
the manufacturers of my current radio was losing their way at the time. I started with homebrew RCME , AM and later built the FM which I flew in together with other makes for years my I replaced the RCME AM with Micro PL7D and at the same time bought an almost new Skyleader Clubman AM. I soon went right off the Micron, my mistake as I should have bought the Pl6d. The sticks on the PL7 were open gimble and after flying in the rain discover water in the TX. I traded it in for the brown M6 Futaba AM. Good radio well built and nice to use. By then FM came onto the horizon which promised much better interference rejection. Loved the Skyleader AM so bought the latest FM. Good radio and I was using both that and the RCME and converted both to 35 MHz, unofficial mods to both, For a month I was flying 35 but using a 27 peg as could not admit I was on a band that was not to become legal for a few weeks. I was made a good offer for the 27 AM Skyleader . Most of my fellow flyers were using Futaba so I cast my eye over the original 1980 ish J Crazy price which I was willing to pay but lo and behold it turned out the new receivers were not reliable. I was shown a Sames black custom, wow what a transmitter felt real quality and I flew that along side the FM Skyleader and The RCME. So time marched on and the Skyleader was looking dated and tired.By then I felt Santa had lost its way it’s way , different models were not compatible and even the crystals were not interchangeable between models Went to buy the latest model of the Futaba FF7. Sorry said Mr Model shop man it’s discontinued and showed me the FF8. Sorry loyal Futaba people but it felt like it lacked quality. The man reached up to the shelf and said “ this is what you want”. Hitec prism x 7. Now at that time Hitec we’re still shaking off the cheap Chinese image. Wow it was fantastic, felt well made and was blatant a clone of the FF7, only looked better made. I had long had a respect for JR and impulse bought a set, cannot remember model, on the basis of an RCME review. Lovely radio but no opportunity to change modules. Flew this and the Hitec for a few years but on retirement decided to replace some stuff. Couldn’t decide between Futaba T8J or Spectrum DX8. I bought both 10 1/2 years later still delighted with both and have no plans to change.
I have had all these makes, they have all been totally trouble free Which was best? None of them, all the manufacturers lost their was at times over the last half century and each one was in my opinion the best choice for me at the time
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9 hours ago, leccyflyer said:
Agree with the above, the persex is unecessary complexity, but a fuselage building jig is one of the best bits of kit that you can have. Highly recommended.
Yes I agree. I had my last sSLEC jig since the mid 80s. Certainly no need for the Perspex. It was built on a piece of contiplas. The only reason I replaced it was as a result of a house move and packing was a nightmare. Have got another one now
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That doesn’t sound too heavy, I have no idea what mine weighed but it must have been over 3k. Following a crash I rebuilt it , glass coated the fus and gave the lot a new coat of paint and tuffcote So that’s 4 coats on the wings. I also replaced the engine with a 2 stroke 61 balance was spot on. Flew it for years, flogged it and the new owner flew it for years So don’t panic I bet yours is lighter than mine was
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Simply fixed it with saddle clamps Took a standard nose leg, bent it at right angles about 20mm from the top and put one saddle clamp on the short bit and two on the vertical
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19 hours ago, Nigel Heather said:
I have just acquired a Mick Reeves Gangster 63 Lite kit. I am going to convert it to electric but this raises a question (well two) about the undercarriage.
- The standard build uses a tricycle undercarriage with the steerable nosewheel fitted in the IC engine mount. But I won't have that IC engine mount so what would I use instead to mount the nosewheel to the firewall. Would saddle clamps be okay or are there specialist fittings for just this purpose.
- Would it be better to go tail-dragger instead. I'm loathed to mess with the original and quite fancy having a trike undercarriage for a change - but just asking.
Cheers,
Nigel
As a grass field flier I have never bothered with steerable nose wheels. I have mine fixed with saddle clamps
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On 23/09/2023 at 20:20, Sam Longley said:
You have frightened me now. I am in a dilema .I would rather not buy second hand though. Thanks. I will spend some time reading that post you have linked that will take some time there is a lot of info to absorb me thinks.
I built the lite a few years ago and don’t recall it being a headache at all Flies like a Gangster as well. Mine has warped in damp storage and still flies well albeit with an embarrassing amount of aileron trim . I don’t know if the Seagull challenger is still available it kit form That’s a nice model
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9 hours ago, Futura57 said:
Hmmm, so are ESCs any better than the good old rheostatic resistor which controlled current to a device by dissipating (wasting) unwanted supply power as heat 🤔
Yes much more efficient. The esc might get hot while it is doing it’s job but it’s not doing it simply by “wasting power”Not sure we could run the size of motors we run these days with the old rheostats
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9 hours ago, Philip Lewis 3 said:
But going back to my previous post even if you propped the motor to allow it's max power to be generated at 100% throttle how much of an average flight would be flown using 100% throttle (or full power) anyway?
Surely even in a properly set up system as you desribe most of the flight is going to be flown at part throttle anyway?
My point entirely sir
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Surely the very full explanation quoted from Castle creations answers a totally different question. It confirms that you cannot use an 18amp esc on a 35amp motor even if the max DC current does not exceed 18A. I don’t believe that was ever the question at any point in this thread . If reducing the end point below 100% is likely to stress the esc then we must never fly for more than a very short period with the throttle stick anywhere other than fully up
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39 minutes ago, Nigel R said:
What does that meter tell you though?
RF voltage at the aerial, the most likely reason for that to drop would be flat/ failed battery cell. A very useful facility back in the day
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10 minutes ago, Dickw said:
The strength of the signal received 'at the receiver' is displayed on the main screen of my (11 year old) transmitter via telemetry, so a quick glance at the screen before take off confirms that the signal is OK. I think most telemetry transmitters probably operate like this.
Dick
Sounds a good facility and indeed had got to be an aid to ground range checking. Well worth a glance before take off although may not show up at close quarters
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8 minutes ago, GrumpyGnome said:
Unless I've misinterpreted things, a number do include them - my Radiomaster and Taranis have all sorts of signal strength gubbins..... don't Spektrum, for example, gather telemetry about fades, frame losses etc.....?
Yet none of these new fangled systems can beat what most transmitters had back in the day. A meter on the front that you could glance at as part of your pre take off check. Telemetry etc is no use if you have to go look in menus to find it. Yes it will give details if received signal strength but I guess 90% of the time it will not be read until after the bin liner has been deployed
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24 minutes ago, Ron Gray said:
All my FrSky Tx emit a horrible beep when in range mode, something you just don’t ignore! Don’t know about FrSky modules in other kit though.
Not sure about the court case but potentially saving a model because it failed a range test then yes.
I had exactly that a couple of years back where the range checked showed very low signal strength having only walked out half the checking distance. Upon investigation one aerial had partially broken away from its clip, replacing it with a new one solved the problem.
The module emits a polite bleep, but not in all modes
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Dual Conversion Crystals
in Beginners
Posted
I believe that dual conversion was of no advantage at all in this country on 35MHz. It was not to improve adjacent channel immunity and offers no advance there. I have long forgotten the maths on this but there was a significant change of interference on 72MHz . Modellers in this country were paying extra for dual conversion receivers in the erroneous belief that they were gaining further immunity. Can anyone remember the math of the 72MHz issue. I may have posted this on here years ago