Micro Flying RC Aviation's Gossamer Wings

When you were a kid, did you ever dream of controlling your rubber-powered creations? And now, do you wish that you could build a plane in your living room while watching TV? Small flying models take up less than their larger counterparts, can be less expensive, take less time to build and can even be flown indoors! So what are you waiting for? Read on to see how easy it is to join the fun.

The field of micro RC models is rapidly developing, with new products and dealers showing up almost daily. For our purposes, "micro" refers to planes that weigh 2 ounces or less and that Small flying models use radio and power systems that don't weigh more than 1 ounce combined. Micro Flying Helps Train Pilots Another characteristic of the micro model is that it can use a single Li-poly cell for power. The Planes There are a variety of ready-to-fly models available from several dealers as well as quite a selection of kits designed for micro RC.

Meanwhile, many modelers have had fine success converting small, rubber-band-powered models to micro RC. A good selection of plans is available for scratch-builders, ranging from simple stick fuselage models to more elaborate scale projects.

A number of modelers have successfully resized plans from older magazines at photocopy stores that have this capability. Assuming you have selected a small flying model, let's go over some of the equipment options available and look at a few features and compatibility.

Micro Flyer With Bare Minimum

Radio Gear Receivers

Several types of receiver are currently being produced for the micro market. In general, all of them incorporate an electronic speed control (ESC) for small brushed motors. The ratings on these ESC circuits vary, so you need to make sure that the ESC can handle the motor selected. All of the current receivers are designed to operate from a single Li-poly cell (or equivalent voltage, if you're using Ni-Cd or NiMH batteries). At least one of the receivers, the Plantraco HXF900, operates on the 90OMHz frequency band, which eliminates all conflicts with equipment on lower frequencies (of course, you must use Plantraco's matching HFX900 transmitter).

Several of the receivers are relatively wide band, and to function without interference, they require that adjacent channels not be in use. Others are narrowband and can operate safely in a crowded environment. Most of the available receivers can drive actuators directly, while several have outputs that can drive servos. A few are capable of handling brushless motors' speed controls along with other features. The small flying model market is changing rapidly, so it pays to compare features and prices.

Actuators

In general, all of the actuators being produced for the micro market are designed along the same lines and operate in the same way. A coil is wired to a special driver in the receiver, in which a proportional voltage is generated depending on the transmitter-stick position. A magnet pivots within this coil and moves in response to the changing voltage. With the proper centering setup, the movement of the magnet is truly proportional to the transmitter stick. The primary difference in these actuators is their size. The smallest weigh only a few tenths of a gram and produce very light forces. Larger units can weigh several grams and operate the controls on larger or faster models.

Servo

Several microservos are currently available, with more likely to appear. Those in the current crop are very light (1.3 to 1.7 grams) and generate substantially more force than a magnetic actuator. Of course, they must be mated to a receiver with outputs intended for servos. As a result of the effort to keep the weight of your small flying model to a minimum, the gears are exposed, and this requires some special consideration in the installation and operation.

The gears must be kept very clean, and no wires can be allowed to foul them. A small particle of balsa dust between the motor pinion and the spur gear can jam the servo completely; of course, a loose wire would have the same effect. If they're operating in a clean environment, these devices can be expected to provide many hours of trouble-free service. Weight and Balance Key to Getting Off The Ground.

Power Systems Motors and gearboxes

Originally, the choice of drives was quite limited. The main commercial unit was the KP-00, which featured an M20LV motor geared about 2.7:1. This unit worked best with a small U-80 propeller and could provide useful thrust for models that weighed between 0.75 and 1 ounce. In a quest to increase the thrust, a number of us used the same motor but increased the gearing to as much as 6:1. This allowed modelers to use a larger propeller and provided a substantial increase in thrust with no additional drain on the battery.

Meanwhile, smaller and lighter models began to appear, and now there are a variety of drives based on pager motors that do quite well. Because of our strong interest in aerobatic flying-especially 3D-micro brushless motors have also started to proliferate. Weighing only 5 grams, one of these motors can produce 60 grams of thrust on a single Li-poly cell! Of course, a special controller and receiver that can accommodate it are needed. Other lighter and less powerful micro brushless motors are also available.

Propellers

GWS is the main supplier of micro propellers, and they offer an extensive range of sizes. Meanwhile, there are the smaller U-80; several blades meant for rubber-band-powered models; a selection of carbon-fiber props; and for us "hardcore" modelers, carved wooden props. Follow the drive manufacturer's recommendation for the proper match (or the prop listed on the plan), and be prepared to experiment a bit for the best match in flight. Batteries and chargers.

This is a simple list. Li-poly cells are pretty much the basic source of power for all micro models. It becomes a matter of choosing the right capacity for your application, and the vendor or plan will help with that. Most dealers carry a single-cell Li-poly charger that is small and portable with adjustable settings. Never use a charger that's intended to charge a different type of cell! I taped up a pack of flashlight cells to power my charger, and this has worked very well, especially when traveling.


More Micro Information
Micro-RC Micro-Racer Micro-Flying
Micro-Boats Mini-Helicopter Serious Micro
     


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