I recently purchased an older VQ models Macchi 205 ARF. This is a slightly older kit. It does have the fiberglass cowling but it has the cheap wood dowel control rods. The elevator control rod in particular is very cheap and will end up causing alot of elevator flutter. It is basically a wood dowel with a Y shaped fork at the end where the two metal pushrods are taped.

How can I fix this and make it stronger or better? I can't reach far enough inside the fuselage to fix or attach new pushrods to the fuse frames. I am sure someone out there has had this plane and can help me out.

I'm sure you can easily remove the existing wooden elevator pushrod and replace it with a Dave Brown fiberglass pushrod, which is much stiffer.

the flutter movement is not coming from the wooden pushrod, it is coming from the whole setup itself. Let me try and explain in more detail. THe control rod consists of a long wooden dowel. towards the tail of the plane, 2 metal pushrods are taped to the dowel and form a Y. Each end of the "Y" exits from a different side of the fuse- going to each of the separate elevators. THe problem, is that there is nothing anchoring this whole setup so it moves around inside the fuse. They should have used pushrods anchored to the fuse frames. THe problem I have is that there is no room for my hand to fit in the fuse to anchor anything to it. I know this sounds confusing, but if someone else out there owned a macchi from VQ, they would immediately know what i am talking about.

Dude, I have put together many warbird ARF's, and I know exactly what you are talking about. My VQ Zero, Kyosho Zero and GSP Hellcat all have the same set up. Even though there is someplay in the elevator, the Zero's have no elevator flutter with the stock wooden pushrod. A little play in the elevator will not cause flutter. I have eliminated most of the play in the Hellcat with a Dave Brown rod, so give the Dave Brown rod a try first.

Here is the wooden elevator pushrod out of my GSP Hellcat:



No flutter at full throttle, and yes, the elevator has some play in it. I agree this is not the best set up, but if you can't get your hand inside the fuse to install two nylon pushrod tubes, then you are out of luck.

Richard, that setup is exactly the same control setup as my VQ. I guess I will try it as is then. Its amazing that those things fly with that much play. I think I will take your advice and upgrade to the dave brown rod. I probably will use heavier metal rod too. THanks.

You can also use a slightly larger diameter wooden dowel, together with 4-40 pushrods. However, this set up will be heavy.