Red Zephyr, Radio Queen, & other Models.

My collegues Triplane Focker

Sorry Gary,my Panoramic setting on my camera wasnt big enough,and keep your fingers crossed,Havent heard from her for over a week so its all looking promisingand Im meeting a new one tomorrow,.Anyway more seriuosly had a couple of good flights with my Red Zephyr today,but when I took off with the Radio Queen it was all over the place.Had people running for cover but managed to keep it under control.My expert had as much trouble with it but we managed to land it safely.The rudder was there and then it wasnt,then it was again.When we looked the tail had dramatically warped on the horizontal stabiliser,so when you gave it power it pulled it sharply with no counter effect from the rudder.Ive straightened it with the heat gun but Im also suspicious of the rudder servo,when the engine is revving,so Im invesyigating this.The servo is a mega expensive one so Im not sure what the problem might be.

I replaced the rudder servo on the Radio Queen yesterday and hot gunned the horuizontal stabiliser warp out and had to excellant flights with the radio queen yesterday,It needs to be brought in very slowly to land on tickover and takes off in feet with the SC 52 4 stroke on very little throttle.It actually performs better like this and is very relaxing

I was able to polish the car in between showers Gary.In the meantime I modified the Red Zephyrwing location guidewith a piece of wood glued to the rear of the wing.This will stop the wing sliding back,I used the same method on my Cub and its seems to work fine.Having successfully refitted the tank into the Cub with Tonys advice and help,Ive decided to fit a steerable tail wheel as its difficult to steer when taking off and I think this will help..Ive just finished fitting it.I was able to use a rear wheel off my 1st Zlin

With the wing mod finished and the front wing support glued back into place I loaded the Red Zephyr,Radio Queen and Flair Cub in the truck ,and it poured with rain.After Moto GP it cleared I I went to the field.It was quite bright by then and blue skies started to appear.The wind was a bit gusty bur roughly in agoodish direction.I flew the Red Zephyr first,it handles wind well and I had a good 20 minute flight,.I then flew Radio Queen and the mods Ive carried out on the rudder really have made this an excellant model to fly.The rudder in its original guise was very vague,and after regluing the mount for the rudder servo it improved things.Then I had the warp on the horizontal stabiliser to straighten but also felt the rudder servo was a bit slow and appeared to hesitate,so I replaced it and this has now transformed the model into a really nice responsive aeroplane.Loops are a doddle and rolls are possible with plenty of space.It rolls out of the top of a loop well and has become an excellant model all round.The engine is a bit unreliable,but has plenty of power but cuts out at any time whilst tooling around.I tried running it half a turn richer which helped and if I keep the idle up until Im ready to land thats better as well.It just needs fine tuning now I think so I may try thr old blowing the fuel tube technique on the slow idle.Finally I had 2 flights with my Flair Cub.It was a bit erratic on the elevator so I lande reduced the throw and altered the push rod on the horn and that improved things but it was esily the most difficult to land.It kept ballooning up on the turn in,and I kept having to power it in and land a but fast.I assume its the lack of dihedral compared to the other 2 but I left at 6pm vert happy

Suggestion for the Flair Cub.
If it's ballooning on the turn into wind see if the COG can go back a bit.
We learned this doing the "Dive test" on slopers.
If the model is nose heavy level flight will need a bit of up elevator. .... If the model then goes faster as in a dive it will pull up.
Turning into wind can have a similar effect ... the models inertia & mass mean it's effectively going faster for a few seconds.
I know we've had this discussion before about a model being in a "Bubble" of air & wind direction doesn't come into it, but you are using the mass of a moving model to change the airspeed until drag corrects everything.
Try the dive test. ! :woohoo:

Get it up to a great height & cut the throttle.
Put it into a 45 degree dive & when it's going like a bat out of hell take your hands off the sticks.
If it suddenly pulls out of the dive it's nose heavy ... it it dips it's tail heavy (Panic)
You want just the slightest bit of pulling up.

Worth checking ... you can't lose.

Poly (usual disclaimers apply) :lol:

The Radio Queen has really grown on me after my couple of mods,have a couple of others to do also,and found the clunk had turned back on itself today,couldnt shake it back but the tank bung is getattble from just behind the engine and is slanted up so was easy to loosen push the clunk back with a screwdriver.Im pretty sure this is why the deadstick occurs but the engine still isnt quite right.I have 2 spare engines so may fit one of those.

A couple of Magnatilas

A new guy with his trainer,A 96" Piper cub!!!

Today was Radio Queens day,and after finding the clunk folded back I hadnt had the opportunity to fly until today.The flight was excellant no problems at all very enjoyable,the engine ticked over nicely as I floated round and powered back up with loads to spare,.This model has really grown on me since Idid a few small mods on it and its become a real favorite.Tony youll love the Radio Queen to fly,Ive got both the servos in the rear so no play in the push rods

Looking forward to some relaxed flying with the Radio Queen Super Scorpion and Red Zephyr this year.