Model Restraints

[John Cole]

I enclose photos and a drawing of a lightweight compact (folding) model restraint, suitable for trike and taildragger 'planes. A secure model restraint is a major factor in safety in the pits. Most are large and heavy. If you fly electric (and you just take model, Tx and a couple of LiPos to the field), the normal model restraint is disproportionately large and heavy. You don't need one for a small electric model? My colleague found he did. He selected the wrong model program on his Tx, with reversed throttle direction. When the motor started up "cutting" the throttle actually gave full power, and more than a little excitement as the "people-slicer" rushed round and round! So this is what I knocked up from a few scraps of wood, a few screws and glue to stop them rotating, a piece of tough string, a big nail (which acts as a ground anchor and would restrain a very powerful model; it restrains a sport-40 easily) plus two fencing staples to retain the big nail when it's folded up.

And here it is all folded up; it goes in your pocket (if you have big pockets).

The upper arms slope back over the tail plane leading edge, restraining it.

As you can see here! The nail would be pushed right in, if this picture were at the field. The string loop on the nail is to pull it out of the ground.Yes, I know the model looks tatty - but it is 30 years old.Here is how it's put together: