Spacewalker
05-21-2004 | 10:22 PM
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From: tacoma,
WA
Spacewalker
I purchased a Great Planes Spacewalker (79") recently. I am ready to install pushrods for rudder and elevator. These instructions suck, or I am a real ditto head. There are two openings on each side of the aft fuse. However, in the instructions they talk about one horn for the rudder. I suspect, you choose which side.? There is no pull-pull gear that comes with the kit. In fact, they only mention using the one dowel with metal rods attatched to each end. They mention two elevator controls and include 2 horns for the elevator (seeing how the left and right elevator are not attached . However, they include only one dowel rod. They do include 2 threaded rods but there is no mention of joining both rods to the dowel., Quite confusing. I am curious if anyone has put together one of these craft and has a great way for doing the aft pushrods. Goldenrod? Pull-pull? Ideas valued.
Tim
Tim
05-22-2004 | 10:14 AM
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From: San Antonio, TX
RE: Spacewalker
I bought one from a guy a while back and the elevator pushrod had 2 2-56 rods attached to aft end of pushrod and bent to exit fuse and attach to elevator control horns.
I replaced the pushrod with a Dave Brown fiberglass pushrod with 4-40 rods because the 2-56 rods flexed so much.
Hope this helps.
I replaced the pushrod with a Dave Brown fiberglass pushrod with 4-40 rods because the 2-56 rods flexed so much.
Hope this helps.
05-22-2004 | 11:12 AM
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RE: Spacewalker
ORIGINAL: mmiller1
I purchased a Great Planes Spacewalker (79") recently. I am ready to install pushrods for rudder and elevator. These instructions suck, or I am a real ditto head.
>MANY of the "instructions" provided with models these days leave
>MUCH TO BE DESIRED and are pretty far from being clear and concise.
There are two openings on each side of the aft fuse. However, in the instructions they talk about one horn for the rudder. I suspect, you choose which side.?
>The rudder control horn is usually on the left side of the rudder
>when looking from the tail toward the nose of the plane.
There is no pull-pull gear that comes with the kit. In fact, they only mention using the one dowel with metal rods attatched to each end.
>The push rods are easy to do. Go about 1 1/2 - 2 inches from the end
>of the rod and drill a hole the same size as the pushrod (usually 5/64 or
>3/32" ). Make a 90 degree bend in the wire and insert it in the hole,
>Cut off the excess and either use heat shrink tubing to hold it in place
>or wrap it with thread and then put some thin CA over the thread. DO
>NOT MAKE THE "Z"BEND UNTIL YOU HAVE MADE CERTAIN THE LENGTH
>IS CORRECT.
They mention two elevator controls and include 2 horns for the elevator (seeing how the left and right elevator are not attached . However, they include only one dowel rod. They do include 2 threaded rods but there is no mention of joining both rods to the dowel., Quite confusing. I am curious if anyone has put together one of these craft and has a great way for doing the aft pushrods.
>The 2 openings that are there for the elevator should be the same distance
>from the rear of the fuselage and the same distance from the bottom of the
>fuselage. The opening for the rudder should be above that opening and further
>forward. The unused opening can either be left open or covered with a
>piece of scrap covering.
>The elevator pushrod: On one end you will have a single (usually non
>threaded) piece of wire. On the other end, one wire is put ON EACH SIDE OF
>THE DOWEL. Make sure you stagger the holes for them and when you bend
>the wire for the 90 degree angle to go through the dowel, MAKE SURE YOU
>ALLOW FOR THE DIFFERENCE IN THE LENGTH OF THE TWO WIRES. I normally
>cut a SMALL SHALLOW groove in the side of the dowel so the wire can sit in
>the groove and will not shift under a load.
>Once the 2 wires are installed, spread them apart a little so you have what
>looks like a long narrow "Y". Insert the double end into the fuselage and have
>one wire come out on each side of the fuselage. If you have trouble getting
>the two wires fished through the fuselage, use a small rubber band to hold the
>ends together, then after the rod/wires are in the last compartment, go in
>through the rudder slot with a #11 blade and cut the rubber band.
>Once you have the wires coming out each side of the fuselage, put a clevis on
>each side, THEN, position and install your control horns. I use a straight edge
>across both the fixed and moveable part of the elevator to set the adjustment
>so both halves are level. What also works well is to tape a couple of pieces
>of scrap 1/4" square (or larger) across both the fixed and moveable parts of
>the horizontal stab to set the adjustments. Make sure the wire rods are not
>binding/rubbing in the openings. If you HAVE TO MAKE ANY BENDS, make
>them as shallow as possible to minimize flex. Adjust/bend if needed with 2
>pair of needle or blunt nose pliers to make sure they are free moving.
>Install the rudder push rod last.
Goldenrod? Pull-pull? Ideas valued.
>I presume this is an ARF. Goldenrod is not a good idea since you will not have
>access to properly secure the sheath to keep it from flexing. The same would
>hold for using pull - pull. I am not saying it could not be done, just that, IMHO,
>it would be more trouble than it would be worth. The SpaceWalker is not a
>speed or 3D type plane requiring pull - pull or HD control rods.
>Hope this answers your questions.
Tim
I purchased a Great Planes Spacewalker (79") recently. I am ready to install pushrods for rudder and elevator. These instructions suck, or I am a real ditto head.
>MANY of the "instructions" provided with models these days leave
>MUCH TO BE DESIRED and are pretty far from being clear and concise.
There are two openings on each side of the aft fuse. However, in the instructions they talk about one horn for the rudder. I suspect, you choose which side.?
>The rudder control horn is usually on the left side of the rudder
>when looking from the tail toward the nose of the plane.
There is no pull-pull gear that comes with the kit. In fact, they only mention using the one dowel with metal rods attatched to each end.
>The push rods are easy to do. Go about 1 1/2 - 2 inches from the end
>of the rod and drill a hole the same size as the pushrod (usually 5/64 or
>3/32" ). Make a 90 degree bend in the wire and insert it in the hole,
>Cut off the excess and either use heat shrink tubing to hold it in place
>or wrap it with thread and then put some thin CA over the thread. DO
>NOT MAKE THE "Z"BEND UNTIL YOU HAVE MADE CERTAIN THE LENGTH
>IS CORRECT.
They mention two elevator controls and include 2 horns for the elevator (seeing how the left and right elevator are not attached . However, they include only one dowel rod. They do include 2 threaded rods but there is no mention of joining both rods to the dowel., Quite confusing. I am curious if anyone has put together one of these craft and has a great way for doing the aft pushrods.
>The 2 openings that are there for the elevator should be the same distance
>from the rear of the fuselage and the same distance from the bottom of the
>fuselage. The opening for the rudder should be above that opening and further
>forward. The unused opening can either be left open or covered with a
>piece of scrap covering.
>The elevator pushrod: On one end you will have a single (usually non
>threaded) piece of wire. On the other end, one wire is put ON EACH SIDE OF
>THE DOWEL. Make sure you stagger the holes for them and when you bend
>the wire for the 90 degree angle to go through the dowel, MAKE SURE YOU
>ALLOW FOR THE DIFFERENCE IN THE LENGTH OF THE TWO WIRES. I normally
>cut a SMALL SHALLOW groove in the side of the dowel so the wire can sit in
>the groove and will not shift under a load.
>Once the 2 wires are installed, spread them apart a little so you have what
>looks like a long narrow "Y". Insert the double end into the fuselage and have
>one wire come out on each side of the fuselage. If you have trouble getting
>the two wires fished through the fuselage, use a small rubber band to hold the
>ends together, then after the rod/wires are in the last compartment, go in
>through the rudder slot with a #11 blade and cut the rubber band.
>Once you have the wires coming out each side of the fuselage, put a clevis on
>each side, THEN, position and install your control horns. I use a straight edge
>across both the fixed and moveable part of the elevator to set the adjustment
>so both halves are level. What also works well is to tape a couple of pieces
>of scrap 1/4" square (or larger) across both the fixed and moveable parts of
>the horizontal stab to set the adjustments. Make sure the wire rods are not
>binding/rubbing in the openings. If you HAVE TO MAKE ANY BENDS, make
>them as shallow as possible to minimize flex. Adjust/bend if needed with 2
>pair of needle or blunt nose pliers to make sure they are free moving.
>Install the rudder push rod last.
Goldenrod? Pull-pull? Ideas valued.
>I presume this is an ARF. Goldenrod is not a good idea since you will not have
>access to properly secure the sheath to keep it from flexing. The same would
>hold for using pull - pull. I am not saying it could not be done, just that, IMHO,
>it would be more trouble than it would be worth. The SpaceWalker is not a
>speed or 3D type plane requiring pull - pull or HD control rods.
>Hope this answers your questions.
Tim
05-22-2004 | 05:06 PM
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From: Crete,
IL
RE: Spacewalker
I put mine together with the supplied dowels. The two upper fuse openings are for the elevators and the lower left is for rudder. I followed the manual for assembling the elevator and rudder dowels with 2-56 rods. The elevator dowel will be a "Y" as there is a control horn on each elevator half. Worked out fine for me. Go back and re-read the steps outlined for the pushrod assemblies. Reading them slowly a second (or third) time often makes things a little clearer.
05-22-2004 | 07:04 PM
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From: tacoma,
WA
RE: Spacewalker
Thanks, I finally re-read the directions and figured out that arrangement. It is real tricky getting two pushrods through at the same time. I finally jut one about 3/32" and let that one thru first, tied a string to it keeping it out from the fuse and then exited the second one. I hope the 5-64th are strong enough. I have not got to the servo install point yet. Thanks for the response.
tim
tim
05-22-2004 | 07:10 PM
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From: tacoma,
WA
RE: Spacewalker
Thanks Campy for the info. I finally re-read the instructions and for the most part they worked o.k. A bit tricky getting 2 pushrods to exit at the same time. I cut one threaded rod about 3/32" shorter than the other and took the long one thru first. Snaged it with some thread and held it out while the shorter one came thru next. I had to put a slight z bend in both rods but I am hoping that will not cause too much flex. True, goldenrod would be a bugger to anchor anywhere inside as this is an ARF. Appreciate your information.
Tim from Tacoma
Tim from Tacoma
05-23-2004 | 06:52 AM
#7
My Feedback: (4)
RE: Spacewalker
Next time you have to deal with that type of pushrod (dual wire for elevators halves), insert pieces of plastic tubing through the slots in the fuse from the rear, put the threaded rod into the two tubes, and then push it into the fuselage. The tubes will guide the wires out through the slots quickly and easily. 
Dennis-
Dennis-
