Free flight models

[andrew wallace]

I'm totally new to flying free flight models although I've been building and flying rc models for donkeys years
I've built two Vic Smeed's Tomboy's and one is being powered by a Mills .75 and the other by a Paw 1cc
My big question is does free flight models have and elevator
I've used thin aluminium as a hinge for the rudder do I do the same for the elevator
Thanks
Andrew 

[johnfireball]

Hi Andrew, The elevator for free flight is normally built as one piece with tailplane, not hinged and then packed front or back with thin shim to achieve desired flight charasteristics. If its glued in place small plastic trim tabs can be taped to the rear and bent slightly up or down to suit. If its a proper free flight plan or kit the incidences should be setup correctly and  most pitch problems can be sorted by moving the c/g slightly. The same trimtab method is used on the wing if a tendancy to drop a wing is noticed. I recommend have a look at Mike's Flying Scale model pages. Plenty of helpful advice there although rubber powered models the same is true for ic.

John.

[johnfireball]

http://www.ffscale.co.uk/page4.htm

This is the page you want. See trimming aids.      Have Fun.

[EI1638]

It can also depend on what you mean by hinged. Many high (and not so high) performance FF models are fitted with a 'dethermaliser' (aka DT) in its simplest form a pop up elevator.

Hippocket aeronautics is another useful resource for mostly FF related advice and motivation (or de-motivation when you see what others are building/flying e.g. rubber powered shackelton, Lockheed constellation, both with 4 rubber motors...)

http://www.hippocketaeronautics.com/hpa_forum/index.php

I have often thought that scaling up some of the jetex plans referenced from ffscale.co.uk page that John mentioned above would make a good basis for small PSS models. I've not had enough time to test that hypothesis out though

[andrew wallace]

Thanks guys that was brilliant 

[johnfireball]

Andrew,
 did you watch the vids on Mikes pages, Hours of enjoyment. I have built a few ff electric models fitted with Peterborough model timer. I set the timer for 1 minute, launch my Auster AOP about 28 inch wingspan and watch it do it's thing. Satisfaction rating 10. Plus you don't have to make an excuse when it doesn't end well. Those new paw engines are very powerful compared to the older engines(I have the .049 version) so maybe run it very undercompressed  for first flights. What weight are planes?

I love  freeflight.

[andrew wallace]

Yes John I watched the videos and have learned a lot
I can see me building a few more FF models I love the simplicity of the buliding and love working with the tissue and dope
I haven't weighed the models yet I've two Tomboy's built and have one more to go plus a Simplex 
I'll get some pictures posted soon
Thanks for your help

[EI1638]

Here's a little gem of a video - "The well trained sanding block".

Its the first episode of a 3 video sequence on the building and flying of a Veron Hawker Fury.
Links to subsequent episodes at the end of each video.

Unlike a lot of youtube, I don't think you'll regret the time spent watching this video.

Get yourself a mug of tea (and maybe a few biccies) and enjoy!

https://youtu.be/uKW-wXbjPfw