kchmn

I am building a 1/4 scale Piper J-3 with a steel tube fuselage, I am wondering what the steel will do to radio reception? It is mostly 3/16 steel brakeline brazed together, weight not quite a pound heavier than a balsa built model.
I have heard a bunch of different stories and theories about how the radio will recieve. My antenna will be on the top of the fuse from the cabin top to tail fin.
Has anyone flown metal framed planes? and how do they perform? Thanks, Kirk

TFF

What type of radio set up?

invertmast

My Feedback: (23)

My buddy has been flying all metal airplanes for as long as he's been in the hobby (since the 80's). He's used 72mhz FM and PCM and 2.4ghz and hasn't had problems.

The open tube structure of the J-3 won't pose a problem, but a proper range check should be done of course

bogbeagle

There was a brief fashion for microlight-type models, in my locale. These were fixed-wing, with open fuselages which were fabricated from piano wire. This was way before 2.4 GHz.

Never heard of any problems with radio equipment.

You could site the Rx in the wing, I suppose ... I'm assuming that this will be a wooden structure.

FlyerInOKC

My Feedback: (6)

There ar a lot of scale guys using Flite Metal to cover their warbirds with no radio problems. They are skinning the aircraft with a layer of aluminum in a solid skin. Flite Metal did a lot of testing with internally mounted RXs. I think you don't have anything to worry about.

TFF

Here is a kit http://www.paoloseverin.it/page79/page79.html

FlyerInOKC

My Feedback: (6)

Nice kit!

FliteMetal

I see no issue as long as the tubing is not loose generating spurious r/f.