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Author Topic: Scale Top Flight Kits  (Read 4778 times)

Offline sadams714441

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Scale Top Flight Kits
« on: February 20, 2006, 05:46:07 AM »
Can the Top Flight series kits be used for control line?  And how do you know what size control line hardware to put in?
Steve
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Offline sadams714441

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Re: Scale Top Flight Kits
« Reply #1 on: February 20, 2006, 08:36:50 AM »
Does anyone know how to change it over, Like the P-51 or spitfire kits.  Have one sitting in garage.

Steve
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Offline john e. holliday

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Re: Scale Top Flight Kits
« Reply #2 on: February 20, 2006, 08:53:21 AM »
I myself would not recommend them for stunt flying.  As scale airplanes they are great with the new electronic controls that are available.  If you want scale looking plane go with what has been put on paper already.  DOC Holliday
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Offline sadams714441

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Re: Scale Top Flight Kits
« Reply #3 on: February 20, 2006, 05:01:51 PM »
When you say on paper you mean ones that are out with blu prints and such? Do you recommend any ?
You mention the eletric's that are out there today?  How about the top flight kits using one of the new handles out there or do they not fly good for this sort of thing
Steve
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Offline Chris McMillin

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Re: Scale Top Flight Kits
« Reply #4 on: February 20, 2006, 10:59:37 PM »
I think that they will make great flying scale models. I have the Airacobra that I intend to eventually build as a C/L Scale ship.
They won't be a good stunter, though. Too heavy, and the wing is small,  thin and low in the fuselage.
Chris...

Offline sadams714441

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Re: Scale Top Flight Kits
« Reply #5 on: February 21, 2006, 08:34:40 AM »
As a scale control line ship these are ok then ???  Not for stunt... But just to buzz around?  How about bellcrank placement and such.  Just center in wing as you would a stunter ??  Carbon fiber rods and have control horns made up for that size ship ??
Steve Adams

Offline Leester

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Re: Scale Top Flight Kits
« Reply #6 on: February 21, 2006, 07:07:02 PM »
Steve ; for sport flying go with arrowshaft push rods and control horns like from Brodak or who ever not the expensive stuff like you would for stunt. Do your bell crank etc. just like any control line set up.
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Offline sadams714441

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Re: Scale Top Flight Kits
« Reply #7 on: February 21, 2006, 08:49:40 PM »
anything else that would have tobe changed from rc to control line

Steve Adams

Offline sadams714441

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Re: Scale Top Flight Kits
« Reply #8 on: February 21, 2006, 08:55:36 PM »
do you have to change the dihedral ? or can you leave as is
Steve Adams

Offline Bill Little

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Re: Scale Top Flight Kits
« Reply #9 on: February 21, 2006, 09:30:40 PM »
do you have to change the dihedral ? or can you leave as is


Hi Steve,

Just build it as it is and get a large upright 3 line bellcrank from Brodak.  That is the old J.Roberts design for throttle control.  Mount it in the same general area that you find on stunt ships.  Get the handle while you are at it.  More contests are adding Scale to their event line up and you can fly it in Scale!  The throttle will hook up just like an R/C except you will be coming off an axtra arm on the bellcrank.  Those "60" size Top Flite kits are great for Stand Off scale.
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Offline Leester

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Re: Scale Top Flight Kits
« Reply #10 on: February 22, 2006, 02:04:37 AM »
Steve: Also on those kits there is alot of stuff you can eliminate that are strickley for r/c set up. You still need to save wieght,they build heavy for our use. Go with your LA series r/c engines for throttle control you can always get a venturi and nva later.
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Offline Chris McMillin

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Re: Scale Top Flight Kits
« Reply #11 on: February 22, 2006, 02:16:17 AM »
Steve,
Just what Bill said.

As well, you can leave the dihedral in, in fact it makes them fly better. Also run the leadouts within the wing and out the tip like a stunter.  An adjustable leadout guide is a good idea. You will have to open the ribs up in the inboard wing, but it is easy to do.

When you build the wing, you can make the ailerons just like the kit says, and then fix them with dowels, push rods or what ever. You could even keep them adjustable, if one wing flies higher than the other you can trim the roll with an aileron.

For the rudder you can do the same thing, in fact it is a really good idea to make it adjustable. The elevator can be built as shown, but use an all metal commercial horn with an adjustable clevis to allow you to get a neutral adjustment.

The tolerences on rigging the JRoberts/GS/Br*dak bellcrank is not super hard to do, but a little tedious. The handle, lines and bellcrank are available commercially. I think for a 60 the three line, 70 foot 018's would be about right. Then read all of the instructions and set it up with your favorite R/C 60.

These things can be a ton of fun, and make sure you bush your wheels because you can melt the plastic from all of the cruising around on take offs and landings.


Chris...

Offline sadams714441

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Re: Scale Top Flight Kits
« Reply #12 on: February 22, 2006, 10:35:38 AM »
Chris
So set the ailerons the same way as you would for flaps then ?  Using a custom horn and such ? I think they would be fun to try and change one over.

Steve
Steve Adams

Offline sadams714441

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Re: Scale Top Flight Kits
« Reply #13 on: February 22, 2006, 10:37:58 AM »
Chris
How about the motor mount, can you use the rc type for this or do you have to modifiy that to ?

Steve Adams

Offline Leester

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Re: Scale Top Flight Kits
« Reply #14 on: February 22, 2006, 11:12:21 AM »
If you use the r/c motor mount it gives you lots more tank space. I put maple mounts in one just for grins, but you have to get everything lined up perfect, and cut new fusalage formers etc. Good expierience.This is the one I did it to.
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Offline Chris McMillin

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Re: Scale Top Flight Kits
« Reply #15 on: February 22, 2006, 01:39:14 PM »
Hi Steve,
No, I wouldn't make them like stunt flaps as they are not strip ailerons on the scale models. Use them only as a trim tool. Ground adjustable might be the best way to describe them. Hinged, with a fixed pushrod having a threaded adjustable clevis to allow some small movement.

Chris...

 
Chris
So set the ailerons the same way as you would for flaps then ?  Using a custom horn and such ? I think they would be fun to try and change one over.

Steve

Offline Chris McMillin

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Re: Scale Top Flight Kits
« Reply #16 on: February 22, 2006, 01:44:17 PM »
Steve, I think the motor mount could be used just like the kit describes. No big changes needed.
The reason guys go wild making crutches is that the rigidity of the stunt models nose is often the key to a good stunt run. With a sport scale model with an r/c engine this isn't as critical.
Remember, these TF R/C scale jobs are made to fly 80 mph in a 5000 foot square pattern around the field, flying one in the circle will be fine as long as you realize that it is for straight and level flight. Watch an R/C model make a 200 foot loop, then imagine the hemisphere in which we fly C/L models and compare the room used/available!
Chris...

Chris
How about the motor mount, can you use the rc type for this or do you have to modifiy that to ?




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