I see that 3-D planes with many servos (9?), but what about the channels to operate them? Don't you need more than four channels to include the likes of, for example, flaperons? Thx. Jim (I just assumed that flaperons were useful for 3-D.)

for small E-3Ding you use 3 servos, one ofr each surfece. you only use 9 servos when your talkin about 35%ers

What about the number of channels? thx. Jim

4 will do you. or 6 youll need if you have duel ailerons

i use JR so mine's like this

1. throttle
2. ailerons (right if duel ailerons)
3. elevator
4. rudder
5. nothing (ratracts are stoopid on a 3Der)
6. left aileron if flaps are mixed

if i go duel elevaotr (like on my new yak) i use ch3 as right elevator, and channel 5 as left

Ian

Edible_Engine: What do you mean by dual ailerons? (I'm naive.) Thx. Jim

Yes 4ch is enough even for a 50% 3.5meter 3D plane. you only fly with your two sticks, so 4ch. though it helps useing more channels for mixing flaps and stuff

Think he means using two servos on the ails to control them independant of each other. Other thing I can think of is using the elevators as ails. Personally, 4 channels does me fine, my Xtreme died when I got the flapperons wrong, so my lasers not getting any mixing.

4Ch is doable with a foamy but for larger aircraft set up with 3D throws it's pretty tough to fly well with no dual rates, and most also use expo (exponential) and these features aren't found on 4 channels. This is because you need tons of surface travel to 3D, and this is pretty hard to set up while still having a controllable plane. You will probably have to compromise the 3D throws somewhat to enable yourself to fly the model smoothly. I have flown the shockflyer types without issue using the basic 4ch though. My Funtana set up for 3D on high rates is terrible to fly if left on high rates (I have no expo on my current set up either) you can hardly move the sticks out of the center detents without a 400 degree/second roll. . . if I set this plane up without DR or expo I would have to savrifice the 3D capability by a large margin. There are some very cost effective radios out there with D/R and expo now though.

As far as servos, in a foamy that uses an electronic speed control to manage the throttle, you will need 3 - 4 servos depending on if you have a single aileron servo, or two. Even if you use two you can still use a 4ch with a splitter leading from the receiver to the two aileron servos.

If you're refering to the number of channels on a receiver in order to fly electric 3D then - yes - 4 is sufficient. You will have to use a Y-harness on the ailerons (as mentioned above) if running 1 servo in each aileron. The typical "negative" shift (as in Futaba) set up is:
Ch.1 - ailerons
Ch. 2 - elevator
Ch. 3 - throttle <<<this is where the ESC should plug in to
Ch. 4 - rudder

If running glow then you will need at least a 5 channel receiver (all the above plus 1 to plug your battery in to).

I would also suggest that if you're flying in a city park or in a heavily populated area that you also get a dual convesion receiver as well. I've used a single conversion in the past and had nothing but problems with hits - to the point of putting my plane in. I've never had any interference with the dual conversion although it is still possible but it lessens your chances of getting hits.

If you're wanting to include flaperons or spoilerons then you will definately need at least a 6 or 7 channel Rx. depending on your set up. Although these are not necessary to do 3D. Some may use them but most folks that I know don't. <<<for whatever this is worth.

The radio is another important factor (besides your plane and gear) in 3D. You will need a programmable one - for setting up dual rates, expo, servo travel and any coupling in the control surfaces that you may want. Your typical 4 channel radio doesn't provide these capabilities however you would still be able to do things like hover and knife edge with no problem depending on your skill and your plane of course. You just will not get the increased throws that you need to do a lot of the extreme stuff nor will you get the extra help that programming provides.

Good luck!

Well I much prefer my 8 channel 8103 for my 3D planes. I do use several mixes for flaperons/spoilerons and also to mix the rudder to ailerons and elevator so I can fly knife edge easier and do flat turns on my Eflite Ultimate. 4 channels is enough though. I flew for 14 years before I got anything more than a 4 channel radio. Now even my 6 channel radios don't get used since I have an 8 channel.

I agree on the dual conversion Rx. I had nothing but probs, glitches, with 2 GWS single conversion Rx's. With the JR610UL I have none.

I rarely run more than 5 servos and that's in my glow planes. My Eflite Ultimate has only 4 servos since it uses an ESC for throttle.

FWIW, I rarely use dual rates and never use expo. I prefer the sticks to be extremenly sensative, but most folks I know do not. I use all the throw I can get on my 3D planes and fly them all the time on high rates with no expo and no probs. It really depends on your preference. In fact for my Eflite Ultimate I set the dual rates the same so it doesn't matter where the switch is I still get the max throw the servos can provide.

Here's my deal on 3D'in with 4 channels.

I only use 4 on my foamys. The ail's are Y'd and everything else is standard... however while I do not use all the channels offered by my 8103, I do use exop. Without expo my latest plane would be a bear to fly, as it is I've dorked it a couple of times while torquing when it responded a lot faster than my last foamy.