Brodak ARF Cardinal

[Mike Austin]

I just started a assembly on a Brodak ARF Cardinal and noticed that the rudder has no right thrust and the plans call for no engine right thrust. Is this correct? It's been a while since I was in control line and remember always having either right rudder built in or a few washers for some engine offset.
BTW - this ARF is not half bad quality wise....

Thanks for your opinions,
Mike 

[peabody]

Mike...build it per plan....you'll enjoy it....

[Mike Austin]

Thanks, Will do.

Mike 

[john e. holliday]

Hope you have better quality hardware than my Oriental ARF did.   DOC Holliday

[Mike Austin]

Doc,

Being in RC for over 25 years I have stayed closer to kits rather than ARF's so I have little to compare to. The hardware in the Cardinal is not the worst I've seen, but I would rate it fair. I've already replaced the cheap CA hinges with good Dubro  hinges and will probably upgrade the pushrods with some Central Hobbies carbon fiber rods I have laying around. We'll see how the rest plays out as I go along. Glued in the elevator tonight so it's starting to resemble a plane now. I haven't ordered a tank yet, can't decide on a good metal uniflow or a standard 4oz plastic type. Those really aren't made for this application so I'll probably order a metal one.

Mike 

[Bill Little]

HI Mike,
While it doesn't appear that the plastic tanks are made for it, many people use them on profiles.  I have many many times.  There is an article floating around some where that details how to set one up for uniflow.  Great thing is that you can short tank them MUCH easier than a metal one for th initial flights.  I have used as little as an ounce and a half in a 4 oz. plastic with no problem.  Those first trim flights can be anxious enough!

[Tom Perry]

I use the method illustrated by Nils Norland on The Tulsa Glue Dobbers website:

http://www.tulsacl.com/WorkShop.html#anchor_13725

This tank really works well.  Uses all the fuel and cuts of clean.  It works better for me with no pressure.

The original tanks I used had a very limber piece of tubing with enough for the pickup and uniflo.  Unfortunately the newer tanks do not supply this tubing.  I am trying to locate some surgical tubing to use.  It should be limber enough.  It will probably need to be replaced at least once or twice a year but it seems a small penalty for something that works so well.   

[Mike Austin]

Tom,

Thanks for the advise and web site, the pictures sure help visualize what the internal parts need to look like. The nearby hobby shop actually has surgical tubing on a roll !! I'll give this a try.

Thanks,
Mike   

[Leroy Heikes]

I have set up several plastic tanks as uniflow using the directions Allen Brickhouse gave in his Laird Super Solution article in flying models from 2004 I forgot which month. Sorry! But it works great I have had no problems with it.

Leroy

[Tom Dugan]

I just received an ARF Cardinal I bought off eBay.  Looks like a nice kit but I do plan on some upgrades based on threads I have read in different Forums.

I will change the control system since I have read that most use metal bellcranks and upgrade to adjustable CF push rods.  The monocote wing looks okay but the covering on the fuselage wasn't done well, so I will remove it and probably paint with Rustoleum.  There are also lightening holes in the fuselage just aft of the wing, so I will cover over them with some 1/64 plywood to stiffen things up.

I'm not sure if I will recover the wing...the gold monokote really looks good.  But if I tear into the wing to replace the bellcrank maybe I should.  I have never worked with monocote type covering before.  All my planes of years ago were covered with silk.  Silk seemed to work better considering the abuse I put a plane through.

I was a bit confused about which tank to use.  The plans call for a regular tank (non-uniflow).  I bought a tank like Tom Perry suggests in this thread and could use it but I think I found a profile uniflow tank by Brodak.  I could use this metal tank with the adjustable brass mounting tabs soldered to it.  I will buy one and see how it works.

Since I have not flown in years, I plan to start out with a Brodak 40.  If it is a bit tail heavy then I will try an OS46 LA.  The engine mounting system on the cardinal makes it easy to change engines.

I think I have a reasonable plan of attack for this plane but I'm always open to your ideas and input.

Thomas 

[Mike Austin]

This wingtip weight and adj leads are all new to me. I had a feeling that the adj leads might be there for a reason. HA. No such animal back in 71 that I can recall. Just build it and go fly when your a kid. My Cardinal came with a light blue wing and black colored fuse, right snappy looking. I got out the heat gun and iron and had all the wrinkles out in a snap, so I'll go with that till a referb is needed. I am going with a Fox 35 to start with since I hope to help my son learn to fly too. I will try both tank setups as described above.

Mike 

[Mike Austin]

Thanks for the heads up... The wing is already attached but I will do a good pull test before each flight. Now I do remember that from way back when. Hope to fly this thing by next weekend.

Mike