My mate has a smoke system setup on his plane which has an inverted engine. When we tested the system on the stand with the plane upside down the smoke system worked fine. However when the plane is in flight it does not seem to work properly. We can see some smoke but just not as much as on the ground. I have a feeling its just because the plane is further away and the smoke isnt thick enough so is almost transparent.
If this is the case what can we use to create thicker smoke? We have been using kero but was wondering what diesel would be like? Or is there perhaps something else we can use?

Thanks,

Troy.

What type of system is he using?

i dont think you will find much diffrent between deisel and kero (as they are practically the same thing)

try picking up some special made smoke oil like superdry or somthing. you might get a better cloud.

also are you preheating the oil, are you just dumping the oil in the muffler or are you "spraying" it in. as atomizing it makes better smoke.

I'm new to smoke myself but i have already leanred a bunch of stuff needs to happen right to make the smoke system effecient

I'm also new to this myself, but I've read a lot on here and elsewhere about smoke systems. I'm thinking that in flight the muffler is cooler because of the airflow. On the bench it's running hotter.

Check out Here

I put this on my Saito .91 with great results this summer. My problems were with the check valve as it kept getting stuff it in and it had to be cleaned or lose the compression.

Good pre-heating was a must

Bob

The absolutely best way to create smoke is to accidentally leave your credit card bill out on the workbench, where your wife/gf stumbles on it one day, only to see how much you are spending on hobby stuff!

Instant smoke!!

refer to the links under
"Smoke Systems"

Introduction to Smoke Systems - RCModellers.
Mega Smoke
Perry Pumps' Smoke Systems
Smoke Systems - B & B (Bennet built) Super Smoke systems
Smoke - Gavtronics
Smoke systems and exhausts - Macs Products Website
Smoke Systems Made Easy - The Flying Penguin
TME Product Catalog
Ultimate Smoke Sytem - UK

at Alan's Hobby Web Links: http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~atong/
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went thru this about 3 or 4 yrs ago. first to get the utmost smoke
it will take a gas engine glow 2 or 4 will smoke but nowhere near as much if you arn't going with gas it will help alot to pre heat if its gas there is no need also keep in mind the more you use the cooper windings for pre heat it cuts down on smoke fuel.if you useing gas inject it in both sides of the miffler as close to the exhaust port as possible but not shooting in the exhaust port of the motor be sure to use a high volume check valve not the little
small ones.the pump you use is very important you can't produce
much smoke if you don't pump smoke fuel in( on my christain eagle with a 32oz tank and a 4.2 engine its about 4 - 5 mins. of smoke) and the most important thing is the smoke fuel i went thru all the recipes and after not realy being happy went with the real stuff use canopus oil this is the stuff they use on full scale aircraft for smoke.now on full scale they use this straight but since we use a whole lot smaller pumps you need to cut it i've used both diesel or kerosen haven't seen any differnce i usely cut it 50/50 i've been very satisfied with this but you could play around say 60/40 or 70/30 but rember if the volume the pump is pumping goes down so will the smoke .you could use the dry smoke or one of the other prepackaged bottles of smoke fuel but
the last time i looked i believe it was $12 - $14 a gal the cornopus oil is about $260 for a 54 gal drum and if you are going to cut it depending on how you cut it you'll windup with 80 - 108 gals.if dont want to get a lot check out some of the small airports
you'll proberly find some one willing to sell you a few gals. i went to our local one and carried a 5 gal can and he gave me 5 gals .
good luck and smokem up
roy

Thanks for all the tips and advice on smoke systems. We certainly have a lot to go on now.

Regards,

Troy.