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Author Topic: Control line  (Read 3619 times)

Offline Gary Dowler

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Control line
« on: May 29, 2017, 03:49:49 PM »
Gents,
Im an old school control line guy who got back into the hobby last year after a multi decades long time away.  About to complete my latest project and need some advice.  Doing 3 line throttle control. (no radio stuff for me, so please don't suggest it)   Trying to recall how to set up my lead outs to match those on the handle.  Anyone got any practical experience here that isn't covered in 30 years of mental rust?

GS products bell crank and my old J Roberts handle are the tools involved.
Profanity is the crutch of the illiterate mind

Offline Dan McEntee

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Re: Control line
« Reply #1 on: May 29, 2017, 03:58:27 PM »
    Hi Gary;
    I have collected a lot of that stuff, but have not put any of it to use. So far, my only venture into scale has been with 2.4GHZ stuff, but still want to do some three line stuff because I got it! ( Do a search on the list here for my name and "Dusty").You may want to do a search on the scale section and see what it may hold. The web site here has been around for more than ten years now, so there is quite a bit of information. If you are an AMA member, you can research back issues of Model Aviation magazine and the scale columns in that publication for the "vintage: style of help you need. There are plenty of "vintage" guys on here, and I'm sure they'll chime in. Just stick to your guns on the three line set up. I think there may be some issue with bell cranks, seeing as you have an old J-Roberts handle, and a new bell crank. I'm not sure but the issue in in the length of the throttle movement? A geometry issue? I'm going on an old memory. But welcome back, have fun and I hope youget it all worked out.
  Type at you later,
   Dan McEntee
AMA 28784
EAA  1038824
AMA 480405 (American Motorcyclist Association)

Offline Paul Smith

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Re: Control line
« Reply #2 on: May 29, 2017, 04:23:06 PM »
My technique for getting three line to work is:

Make both the handle and the airplane so all 3 leadouts are equal length at high speed with level controls.

Make the lines as equal as you can.

With the throttle line disconnected, get the controls level with different-size clips.

Then get the throttle line working with different-size clips.

This system worked OK for me from 1967 through 2013. 
Then I just switched to 2.4 and use any line and adjustable handle I want. 
I still do 3-line on my old stuff.



Paul Smith

Offline Fred Cronenwett

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Re: Control line
« Reply #3 on: May 29, 2017, 04:32:50 PM »
Gary - What part of the country do you live I might be able to suggest a local club that will have some experienced pilots that can show you some planes with 3-line control systems.

Fred
Fred Cronenwett
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Offline JoeJust

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Re: Control line
« Reply #4 on: May 29, 2017, 07:14:15 PM »
Brodak also offers a very good video on "How To"  set up a 3-line system.  It is very informative. BH-DVD.....$19.99 and well wsorth it!
Joe
I only enter contests so somebody else is not always in last place

Jim Roselle

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Re: Control line
« Reply #5 on: May 30, 2017, 08:38:38 AM »
This article by Eric Conly covers it pretty well:

http://flyinglines.org/flightdeck.3.12.html

Offline George Albo

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Re: Control line
« Reply #6 on: May 30, 2017, 08:49:48 AM »
Gary,

What's your email? I have an article by Orin Humphries on throttle control you may find useful. In the meantime, here is the J Roberts Instructions sheet

George Albo
Darkness is dispelled with acts of kindness and selfless good deeds.

Offline john e. holliday

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Re: Control line
« Reply #7 on: May 30, 2017, 10:38:08 AM »
Yep, be nice if guys would leave a location or some way to contact them.  I'm retired and mostly stay at home lately, family and doctor orders.  Also search the Navy carrier section as Bill Bischoff has great advice there. H^^
John E. "DOC" Holliday
10421 West 56th Terrace
Shawnee, KANSAS  66203
AMA 23530  Have fun as I have and I am still breaking a record.

Offline Gary Dowler

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Re: Control line
« Reply #8 on: May 31, 2017, 02:14:40 AM »
Thank you guys.  Sometimes I tend to give up and ask for help just before I should.  Spent the day puzzling over it and finally the solution dawned on me.  Got it squared away. (had to squirt some WD-40 in my ears to break through the rust) lol.

George, I know Orin well.  He got me into this hobby in 1976, and I am still in contact with him. I was trying to solve this problem before I lost time to get out that day, and when time is short it can help to reach out to more than one in the hopes that someone would respond soon enough.

Got my new plane out for an intended taxi test that evening. Plane is my first ever completely scratch built bird, as well as my first Bi Plane.  Based on the old Sterling Flying Fool, but enlarged 25%, a extra rib added to each side of upper wing beyond that (total wing area is about 540 sq in), added flaps, throttle control and relocated the landing gear mount one bulkhead aft, then raked the gear forward for better grass field performance.  Power is a Thunder Tiger 46 RC with expansion muffler.  Painted to resemble a '30s Navy PT-17 trainer with grey fuselage and yellow wing, with red/white/blue tail.  Ill post a pic as soon as I figure out how. Total weight finished at 50oz.

Discovered that I had to taxi faster than I initially wanted to keep it wanting to follow a circle.  This lead to just enough speed that after a lap of feeling it out the tail wheel came up.  Another lap on the mains felt and looked great, then I noticed that she was now only on the outside wheel.  Then before I really knew what was going on she rose into the air as smoothly and perfectly as anything you can imagine. I liken it to Hughes flying boat making its unexpected lift off. 

A touch of fear came in here when I realized that I had no idea how this completely unproven plane would respond and it was now airborne with balsa busting pavement below. My fears subsided when I saw how perfectly, and I mean perfectly, smooth and steady she was flying.  Like it was on rails.  Never went past about 1/2 throttle, let it circle for about 8 laps before cutting the power very slightly and letting it settle to one of the two smoothest landings I have ever made.  Was a good first flight.
Profanity is the crutch of the illiterate mind

Offline john e. holliday

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Re: Control line
« Reply #9 on: May 31, 2017, 10:00:46 AM »
That is good news.  Now you have something to play with. H^^
John E. "DOC" Holliday
10421 West 56th Terrace
Shawnee, KANSAS  66203
AMA 23530  Have fun as I have and I am still breaking a record.

Offline Fred Cronenwett

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Re: Control line
« Reply #10 on: May 31, 2017, 10:00:54 AM »
Good to hear, flying with throttle control is different that we are normally use to. I only have 1 airplane that does not have throttle control

Fred
Fred Cronenwett
AMA CLSCALE7 - CL Scale
Model Aviation CL Scale columnist

Offline Gary Dowler

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Re: Control line
« Reply #11 on: June 11, 2017, 05:16:21 PM »
Got a second flight on it last week.  Grass field this time.  Jumped right up and out of the grass.  Taking the feeling out process very slow.  This flight I gained more altitude, perhaps 25', and it still felt great.  Then tried max power.  wow.  That 46 is more engine than this bird really needs!  Didn't time anything lap wise, but its clearly faster than my 29oz Shoestring Stunter with tis 35.  (timed 7 laps with that once and it was right at 55mph).   It will take me some time to really get down the throttle control and learn to really use it.  Line pull was easily double the other plane as well.  Even at max power it was utterly flat and stable.  Next week will come maneuvers, careful maneuvers.......lol!  This build took 7 months, not risking trying too much too soon.
Profanity is the crutch of the illiterate mind

Offline Paul Walker

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Re: Control line
« Reply #12 on: June 12, 2017, 09:36:20 PM »
Gary,
Where are you flying?

Paul Walker

Offline Gary Dowler

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Re: Control line
« Reply #13 on: June 12, 2017, 11:38:17 PM »
Im out in the Spokane Valley. Last year I had secured permission to use some church owned property, but this year they leased the field to a sports group. Sad about that as it was a great spot.  Now Im just trying different places seeing if I get kicked out or not.  There is a large sports field adjacent to a elementary school very close to my house. Well maintained but not used a whole lot. Ive flown there once and its a good spot, closer to a shopping center than to any houses and easily accessed.  Used it once and no one raised an eyebrow, another try or two should tell me the story.  Had a guy that lived a ways away walk up, said he was outside and heard the faint but unmistakable sound of control line aviation.  He used to fly himself so he had to walk over and see where it was coming from.  Had a nice chat with him.

Was trying to plan a day run to Pullman to get in some flying with Mark who you know.  Not sure if that's going to happen, his end is a little more unpredictable planning wise than mine right now.

Gary
Profanity is the crutch of the illiterate mind

Offline Gary Dowler

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Re: Control line
« Reply #14 on: June 14, 2017, 03:09:34 AM »
Well tomorrow's hoped for outing won't happen. Guess I'm doing house chores and then hoping to sneak out to a field near by and get a flight or three in.
Profanity is the crutch of the illiterate mind

Offline john e. holliday

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Re: Control line
« Reply #15 on: June 14, 2017, 01:36:18 PM »
Now we know who the boss is. LL~ LL~  My reason is the wind this past week and still today.   My wife works evenings, the kids are grown and when weather doesn't interfere I go fly.  Now I'm getting a handle on the health and joint issues I try to get out as much as possible.   Last few nights was spent running engines and getting them to run.  But, I do try to not let home chores interfere. D>K
John E. "DOC" Holliday
10421 West 56th Terrace
Shawnee, KANSAS  66203
AMA 23530  Have fun as I have and I am still breaking a record.

Offline Gary Dowler

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Re: Control line
« Reply #16 on: June 15, 2017, 09:45:46 PM »
Now we know who the boss is. LL~ LL~  My reason is the wind this past week and still today.   My wife works evenings, the kids are grown and when weather doesn't interfere I go fly.  Now I'm getting a handle on the health and joint issues I try to get out as much as possible.   Last few nights was spent running engines and getting them to run.  But, I do try to not let home chores interfere. D>K
almost managed to get out. After my tentative plans fell through I committed to finishing a deck by my kids pool.  If I hadn't been committed to completing the project I could have snuck out for a bit that eve. Weather was perfect.  Weather permitting next week will see flying. Hopefully multiple flights from multiple planes.
Profanity is the crutch of the illiterate mind


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