Hey guys,
i have just finished running a tank of petrol thru my Kyosho Calmato and while i was watching it i noticed that my elevator and tail had a good deal of wobble in it from the engine vibrations. I was just curiouse as to weather this cause pose as a problem during flight. If it would cause any problems how can i fix it before i crash?

On a differant note, what would be the best way to fix my receive batteries and my servo receiver to the plane? At the moment i have them just sitting there flapping round in all the engine vibrations and i cant think this would do them any good.

Cheers Phil.

As for the the tail vibration. A lot of that is normal. What isn't normal is looseness in the control surfaces. make sure that the rudder and elevator surfaces don't have any slop in the movement, because that will translate into flutter in the air. But the entire tail vibrating is normal.

As for your receiver and batteries. Wrap them in foam rubber and put a rubber band around them to hold the rubber on. Then I set small eye hooks into wood blocks epoxied into the fuselage where you want to mount the receiver and battery. Then use rubber bands hooked to the eye hooks to hold in your receiver and battery. This set up will cushion the components from normal vibration, and will protect them in the event of a crash.

Hope this helps.

Ok glad to hear that the wobble is normal, i was moving the tail and elevator and the seemed to be tight, not that id know what loose was but they looked normal.
The idea for the receiver and batteries is good! Ill have a look inside my fuselarge and see what i can do, thank you

Hey Phil, when are you gonna bring that sucker to the flying field


Terry

Well i have this saturday off so i thinking of taking a trip over then. Will you be there then?

Another way you can secure the battery and receiver is:

Wrap them in foam and secure the foam with some masking tape. Then use a couple of strips of self adhesive velcro - one on the receiver/battery, the other on a suitable surface inside the plane.

I use this method on my planes and even though I have had some hard crashes They have only come loose once.

FWIW - I usually mount my battery IN FRONT of the receiver. In case of a crash, I don't want the battery to plow into the receiver if it should come loose.

Phil,

Yep, planning to take the SIG SE out for a few gentle circuits on Saturday

Be good to see you out there.


Terry

WOBBLE is NOT acceptable on a flying aircraft of any description. In your case you should "cage" the vertical and horizontal stabs, all around.
By this I mean attach wires or strong threads to both sides of the vertical and to both sides of the horizontal stab and link them together.
For reference look at the tail of a Piper Cub or similar.
If you don't I have a slight "feeling" that the CLAMATO won't be around too long.
Even downunder.

Phil,


Assuming that there is not a design flaw in this model (I'm not familiar with it), and assuming that you have put it together correctly it should not be necessary to add extra bracing.

Its hard to make a call without seeing just how much the tail surfaces are vibrating. If you are able to get out on Saturday someone will give the plane a check over. If it checks out and there's an instructor around you could be flying

Terry

It is comforting to see that the RUSH TO FLY NO MATTER WHAT syndrome is also alive and well in Australia.
ADVISE, in my opinion, when given should TEND towards cautioning somebody, not pushing toward the abyss.
I guess the premise of : it's somebody else's plane so who cares..... applies here

J3FAN

I suggest that you read mails before you jump back with a reply.

You will then note that what I suggested was that he bring the plane out to a flying club where it could be checked over by experienced fliers. I am not sure how you interpret that as being a "rush to fly no matter what".

If there is a problem a check over should get to the root of it, rather than trying to patch over with wire or thread.

Begging your pardon sir, i would like to inform you that i bought my plane in August of last year, that is one two three four firve six seven months ago now. Im only eager to fly now as i feel i have sufficiantly done everything right. If there is a problem then i will be more than happy to wait another week and make sure my plane dose not land nose 1st and at full throttle

I do hope that there is nuthing wrong with it and all the vibration is normal and that im just being a big worry wart!

Terry what time do you get out there usually?

Phil,

I usually get out about 10 and stick around until 2 or 3 as long as the weather is OK. Morning crew drifts away about midday (early birds already been there a couple of hours), then there's usually a smaller afternoon crew turns up.

As I mentioned in an earlier mail you will need to get through the gate or walk a way. Happy to assist you getting in if I can, mobile stays in the car when flying so this not much use. What time do you plan to get there?


Terry

i was thinking of getting there early but if you are going to arrive around 10 maybe i can try to arrive at about the same time so i wont be so lost and nervouse :P. It should not take me to long to get to im thinking maybe a45 min drive, thats if i dont get lost hehe :P

If im there and i cant get over the gate, do i jump the gate with my plane and gear or leave my car there and jump the gate and find you or sumone else?

This is quite nerve racking :P

Phil,

Best plan is to leave the car at the gate and walk across to get someone to let you in. If you turn up earlier with luck you could find someone going in at the same time

One time I forgot my keys on a weekday and walked it with a plane in one hand and my flight box in the other. Definitely would not recommend it.

45 mins is about right from Hornsby, maybe a bit longer depending which side you are. Hopefully the weather will hold out, didn't fly last weekend so the thumbs are twitching!

See you


Terry

Morning Terry,

I will do as you have said, should i ring the club president and speak with him before hand as well? I was thinking of buying a flight box because it will take many trips back and forth to my car to bring my transmitter my starter batteries for starter and glow starter and fuel, what sort of box are you using? Sorry for asking so many questions i hope you dont mind :P

Cheers Phil.

Phil,

No need to ring, just turn up, you'll be welcome no prob. SRCS is a pretty relaxed place to fly as long as you follow some common sense rules. Sat am there should be some committee members around that can give you info on joining.

I use a home made flight box cunningly designed by stealing ideas from others. You should be able to take a look around what others have and see what suits you.

No prob with the questions, happy to help


Terry

Hey Terry,

Thank you for all your answers and help! I am very excited to get out there now !!!!

not so cunning any more are you? lol.

bushman, vibrations are normal but too much shaking isn't good. the calmato is an excellent flyer and i've maidened several for friends and buddy boxed even more at the flying flied... i not only love the way they fly, i love the way they look! just to make sure, you did epoxy the wings, right? i've flown some that didn't and although nothing happened, i wouldn't recommend it. epoxy everything!!! (um... other than the CA hinges)

Hey forestroke,
Im glad to hear that the calmato will fly well, i was a little nervouse cause i had not herd any1 really talk about them on here. I did epoxy everything i had to put on apary from the landing gear, do you think i should epoxy that on as well? I hope i did a good enough epoxy job on the wings as well!


Cheers Phil.

no... keep the landing gear bolted on :-) but you can epoxy the block from inside since that is generally a weak point on ARFs though i have to say none of the calmatos i've seen have had a problem with the main gear blocks.

it is an easy flyer and the only time i've had trouble flying one is when someone was yelling for help because he couldn't get the plane down. we fly off pavement so landing speed is important. he hadn't adjusted the engine idle and so the idle was quite high. couldn't cut the throttle either since i think there was a leak in the carb (GMS .47 engine that wouldn't quit and until you literally threw in the towel). he had taken it around half a dozen times and couldn't get it to stay. i had to take it around twice to get it slow enough to land safely.

many people try to cut corners before their flight. if a plane won't idle low, that's okay... but make sure it can shut off. it is critical to safety. if the engine is running inconsistently don't just make sure it doesn't die at full throttle and tell yourselves to make a mental note not to move the throttle too quickly. so many "accidents" could be preventable.

the calmato is an excellent plane and so easy to build. it was my number one recommendation as a trainer. that has since been replaced by the world models raider mach 1 because of price.

This is all very good to hear and is helping me with my confidence, i just ran another tank of fuel thru it and at full throttle there isnt to much wobble, only alot when it is idleing just above stall, i think the wobble yesterday was due to the way i had it secured to the ground.


Hopfully on moday fourstroke, i can let you know how my 1st flight went !!

Cheers Phil.

i hope that you will be buddy boxed! i'm sure terry can do the honors of the maiden and then buddy box buddy...

um... not that i know terry...

here are a few pics of my little kite
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Phil,

Looks a nice job but you will need to secure the battery. If you wrap it in enough foam it should hold inside the fuse.

Where's the Rx switch? Normal place is on the fuse side away from the muffler. Also, did you fit some short lengths of fuel tubing on the clevises to stop them popping open?

I'll try and remember to bring a few extra bits on Saturday just in case.

BTW, don't forget to bring the big flat thing that fits on top


Terry