so i picked up a Guillow's Mitsubishi Zero model looking just to make a display model out of it. the balsa model is definitely a step up from the plastic Revell sets i'm used to. i was pleasantly surprised to find that it was designed to actually fly under rubberband power. reading through the instructions, they have included modifications to outfit the thing with r/c equipment and, upon realizing this possibility, i'm afraid that i've been bitten by the bug. i realize that this being my first balsa model, i'm probably naively in-over-my-head trying to make the thing fly, but i think that with a lot of patience and a little bit of thought, i can do it. in fact, i'm nearly obsessed with making it happen.

the only thing i lack is familiarity with the r/c equipment. i've done a lot of research this past week and have a pretty good understanding of how everything works - transmitters, receivers, servos, motors, etc. i've read a lot through the forums (here and a couple other sites) and was even inspired by Colmo's success in making the same model fly (though i think his is gas powered).

i'd like for it to fly with electric power. it appears to be easier to maintain, no clean-up, and all around less hassle. i've found a guy who's getting rid of a full set of GWS equipment: 4 channel receiver, ICS50 2amp ESC, 2 micro servos, 7.2V/270mAh Ni-Cd 6cell battery, 7.2V/150mAh Ni-Cd, GWS P2103 4:1 gearbox motor, and a Futaba Conquest FM 4 channel transmitter. Should this set of stuff be enough to get my plane to fly? i've looked at the pico servos, but am afraid they wont be strong enough. I understand that keeping it as light as possible will probably help my cause, or at least keeping the center of pressure behind the center of gravity, so i may switch to a Li-Po battery if its needed to balance better. I also dont know too much about the motor - a 4:1 gearbox has been recommended in the forums for a few other planes of similar size and weight, but i honestly dont know if its a good choice for this model.

Also, for the r/c installation, the Guillow's instructions only modify the fin and rudder for left-right control of the plane. i assume that up-down control comes from a fixed elevator and the amount of throttle given (more = up; less = down). i'm thinking about adding the stabilizer-elevator modifications from the U-Control installation instructions provided - except modifying it to respond to a second servo in the fuselage as opposed to the bellcrank assembly for the lead-out wires. this would make it a 3-channel airplane: throttle, rudder, and elevator. i toyed with the idea of modifying the wings with ailerons so it could roll, but ultimately decided that by doing so i was just begging to fly the thing into the ground by my inexperienced hand.

i dont expect the thing to fly fast. i dont expect to do any crazy aerobatics with it. i just want something to build and the satisfaction of being able to fly it around. i'll take baby steps towards flying it under power - first making sure all the controls respond, then wedging the elevator still to test glide and adjust the left-right movement, then flying it under power at really low altitude (4-6 feet) in a big open field so its chances of coming down real hard are reduced, then taking it up when i'm comfortable it can handle it.


any comments or suggestions will be most appreciated, though please avoid simply shooting it down as a waste of time because of my inexperience. i'm very meticulous with my models and therefore work very slowly and carefully to make sure things are done right. i'm not concerned with time, so instant gratification ploys (like buying an almost-ready-to-fly kit that you merely have to open and start flying) arent appreciated. i want to build it and i want it to fly. this also means that i'm prepared to put lots of time into repairs and further modifications until it successfully flies. hopefully, i'll be encouraged enough to continue dabbling in r/c flying - it appears to be a fulfilling hobby, albeit an expensive one!

thanks in advance,
~Ben