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General control line discussion => Open Forum => Topic started by: Brent Williams on June 01, 2021, 11:46:29 AM
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I have plenty of the standard 7 strand .027 material on hand. It's the obvious go-to leadout material for most of the hobby.
What are some of the other preferred sizes and strand counts that are being used for bigger 40-60 sized planes.
- Among the other choices, a smooth, flexible cable that isn't plagued with a tendency towards fraying would definitely be nice.
McMaster-Carr has a great selection of wire rope.
https://www.mcmaster.com/wire-rope/attachment-type~plain/material~stainless-steel/
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Back in the old days (1950s), we used to use cycle 3-speed cable, which was a Bowden cable inner of about .050" diameter. My local bike (pedal cycle!) shop sells lengths of 1mm (approx. .040") stainless steel Bowden cable, which is a bit pricey but ideal for the leadouts in a large stunter. Cycling's a big thing in Britain these days, everybody being exercise-crazy, so we have specialist bike shops all over the place - it's probably the same everywhere.
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I used solid leadouts (.031 diameter) for quite some time. I never had issues with them but I figured that one day a leadout would be bent accidentally and that would be trouble. When I went to stranded leadouts I was concerned about individual strands eventually breaking. So, for the larger planes (.46-.60 or larger), I went with .031 diameter 1 X 7 wire rope. A larger bend radius is needed to make the terminations but not too bad.
I have two smaller planes (.35 size) with .031 diameter 7 X 7. Neither plane has that many flights on it so I can't give any data on the lifespan of these leadouts. The 7 X 7 is quite flexible but the downside might be that the thinner individual strands are more prone to fraying.
My concern about individual strands fraying might be unwarranted. I have seen .031 diameter 1 X 19 cables last many years.
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.027 7 strand is fine for lead outs.
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I'm not pitching this but,
Years ago, I believe "Perfect" offered brass lead outs with the pinch gizmo and the copper tube ends.
I had one in my past stash but used it on a model.
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Brent:
I use .036 cables for leadouts on my big airplanes - 60 oz and above
I use .027 cables on anything smaller.
I don't know the specifications. I think I got it from Tom Morris long ago, but I don't see it on the Okie website.
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So, i have never understood why a "bigger" cable is needed for leadouts. I have always used either the same size as my lines or 1 size larger and never had a failure, someone please 'splain.
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So, i have never understood why a "bigger" cable is needed for leadouts. I have always used either the same size as my lines or 1 size larger and never had a failure, someone please 'splain.
Ray,
For me, it is for durability.
I change my lines often as needed. The lead out cables are essentially permanent and cannot be replaced without great agony
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So, i have never understood why a "bigger" cable is needed for leadouts. I have always used either the same size as my lines or 1 size larger and never had a failure, someone please 'splain.
Like Jim said, it's for durability. The lead outs pass through the lead out guide and take some punishment there. The path through the bell crank ends adds some stress also. And like he said, you can't change lead outs easily!
Type at you later,
Dan McEntee
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.027 7 strand is fine for lead outs.
.027" is rated at 125 pounds per line. So a pair of leadouts could lift a 250-pound man. Unless you're really big, you don't need more.
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I used solid leadouts (.031 diameter) for quite some time. I never had issues with them but I figured that one day a leadout would be bent accidentally and that would be trouble.
I abandoned solid leadouts early on. Flying stunt/combat models on a rough grass field, bent leadouts were not uncommon and very annoying. Also, the ONLY time I have ever had trouble with lines binding, and thus locking the controls, was with a kit model (a KeilKraft Spectre) that I built with the solid leadouts supplied in the kit. That pair of lines didn't bind with other models, so perhaps the solid leadouts transmitted the vibration of the McCoy .19 more than flexible cable?
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I pull tested .027 braided wire, I had over 100 lbs of load on the single wire sample and it was so tight you could pick it like a guitar string. But the .027 never failed. I fly my big (8 lbs or more) on .027 line. I also use .027 wire as leadout material.
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I got my .027 cable for lead outs from MBS Model Supply. He also has the stuff to do the ends of the cable for lead outs and lines. H^^
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Solid 1 mm (0.039").
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Got some 135 Lb stainless plastic coated fishing trace. Stripped off the plastic . Soldered with phosphoric . Boiled in baking soda / water - to neutralise . Was is about 28 thou Dia . cheap strong & available .