Hey everyone!

I just bought a bomb release yesterday to put on my trainer. The instructions on the package say to hook it to either the throttle or rudder servo. How do I do this? wouldn't my "bomb" drop when I gave the plane throttle to take off or used my rudder to steer my plane down the strip? Have any of you used these before? How have you all hooked them up? I use a 6 channel radio so could I use another channel altogether for the release? I would rather not hassel with figuring out how to mount another servo, but if that's the only way, I guess I'll have to. Thanks in advance for the advice.

I don't see any way that could work with a channel that gets as much use as rudder and throttle. You need to just hook it up to your flap channel, and use your flap switch on your radio to release the bombs. That's how I'd do it. Be careful with that trainer, and adding a bunch of weight (bombs). I'm assuming your going to drop water balloons? Those add a lot of weight to the plane, and may affect the cg. Don't do any aerobatics with "bombs" on board. You might lose the wing! Also, make sure the trap door opens to the rear of the plane (obviously), or you will be catching a lot of wind when it opens (all kinds of bad things). Also, if it doesn't close, it might be hard to land with a trap door opened to the front. I don't know much about bomb drops, but sounds like a cool little experiment!

It sounds like you would set it up to release on an extreme throttle or rudder servo throw, which would mean you would release it by giving it max throttle (min throttle or engine kill wouldn't be good!), or full right or left rudder. Then you would have to keep below the release point on that servo in normal flight (i.e. ~3/4 throttle for takeoff or small rudder inputs). If you have extra channels, though, I agree with you, go for a separate servo!

Yes, I agree. That would work, if you just had a latching mechanism. However, with that setup, you wouldn't be able to close the trapdoor, once it was opened (at least while in flight!) Separate servo--best way. You can get a servo for 10 bucks that would do great on that application.

Thanks guys! I think I'll just put in the extra servo and use my flap channel. I'll let you know how it works

I did this with a Top Flight drop tank release. I just installed a micro servo and put the release direcltly on the CG. I have it set up to drop an old GI Joe guy with a homemade parachute. Looks pretty sweet when he "jumps" Good luck with your project.

Sounds like fun

I'm assuming it's a release, and not a bay. The releseses I've seen are basically a pin that slides in and out as you move the servo. It has two "ears" (for lack of a better term) that hand down with a hole in them, and the pins slides in. You hook whatever you want to drop on the pin, and when it's pulled far enough out, it will drop the payload, but the pin stay in one of the ears, and just slides back when the servo re-centers. It would probably work just fine on the rudder, you don't usually use full rudder to take off and fly. I would use a seperate channel though if you have it.

You are better off using the gear switch because it is a on/off type function. If you are using a drop box type, the wind pressure will help keep the door up after release until you land, just make sure the hindge line is at the leading edge of the airflow. If you want to get creative you could hook the door up to the servo like a gear door so that the door will open and close like real bomb doors. It would be really easy as long as the load is not too heavy. [8D]

He said he's putting a bomb release on a trainer...

http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXG870&P=ML

he didn't say anything about building a bomb bay with a door...

i have done this on several planes & its easy. the last little bit of throttle TRIM movement pulls the wire releasing the bomb. if you set up with high trim or close to it it'll work fine. what wont be so easy is finding the bomb after you drop it . you can't watch the bomb and your plane at the same time .if its off field good luck-- from one who lost two bright orange vortac bombs.!!!

I made a home made one the other day. I used a micro servo, 5 small metal eyelets( the kind for hanging pictures), a piece of a pen, and 2 rubberbands.

0---_
l>>>0]---0---0---------[]
0__--

Thats something what it looks like. 0 are the metal eyelets, [] is the servo, ] is the piece of the pen. I used the pen because its slippery and the rubber band wont get caught. The pin which is a mini servo rod with heat shrint or a plastic sleeve goes from the servo througn 2 eyelets through the pen into the last eyelet which holds the tension of the rubberband. It works great. Even better then the formost bomb drop.

Sounds interesting, but I can't make out your ASCII drawing... maybe you can take a photo or make a simple diagram in MS Paint... [8D]

Just a quick heads up, when you get it working use a spotter to watch the bomb. I saw one pilot almost put his P-51 through a tree because he was watching the bomb like the rest of us...[X(]

[img][/img] well not a bomb rel. but a little more fun that is a soft ball. Just to show scale Mostly drop tennis balls they dont cause damage.

Some more pics This plane weighs 15# with a 25cc motor and set up for nose heavy flight, most of the bay is in the cg but 1/2 is aft. the doors are hingend to a T bar with a simple pin release. The doors down in flight do not affect this plane. and the landing gear allows for plenty of clearence. The release pin type setup allows for more weight on the doors and less stress on the servo, down fall is you canot close them, but once they open and a drop is made I dont have a need.

A (SMALL) magnet and metal strip at the edge of the hatch will let you close the hatch by going inverted for a second. That is if the stuff in the box isn't to light. I use this system on my candy drop box. Like they indicated before --- BE SURE to watch the plane & not the drop. RED