I am still buying all the "extra stuff" to be able to finish a Skybolt ARF, I have yet to buy the plane but will be doing so soon so I do not have the manuel to view. I have the smoke system I am planning on using that was stated by MinnFlyer, I am going to be using a O.S.91 four stroke, and I am using the Futaba R168DF receiver and now to my question. What servos?

It is my understanding that the standard S3004 servo is to small or not strong enough. I read the reviews of the Skybolt where the S9001 were used and I am sure they will work perfect for me as well. But could I use the S3010 servos instead. The only reason I am looking at the S3010 servos are that it well save me $20.00 or so and the way I read it, if I am right in my thinking, the S3010 is rated 72(oz.-in) and the S9001 is rated 54(oz.-in.) so would this mean the S3010 is stronger or better. I am using the 4.8v system and I want to stay all Futaba if this will help.

Also if anyone can answer my question could you explain why one is better than the other, in plane english, so this way I can learn and understand the differance my self so that way I don't have to say I went with this servo because that was what I was told to use.

Also if you have any other information about something else I may want to change from what comes with the ARF please let me know, that may save me from posting again when I do get the ARF home and start looking at it.

Honestly dont waste ur money with Futaba servos, they do not last. On my super skybolt i have hobbico 64s which r 83 oz each and r only $20 each. They r the same servo as the Hitec 635 servo. Hobbico and HItec r the same servo as r Tower and Futaba. The same with the recievers. I also have an OS 91 4 stroke in mine and its super to say the least..

You can find the manual online here; [link]http://manuals.hobbico.com/gpm/gpma1242-manual-v1_1.pdf[/link]

I'll leave the answers on the servos to those that have a little bit more experience with Futaba servos than I do

Ken

brooke,
The 3010 servo will work just fine, the 9001 is a coreless motor servo which is much better servo.

Don't believe anyone that says those are the same as hobbico or hitec, not even close. when it comes to servos you get what you pay for. here's a example, go to United Hobbies and you can get a 175 oz in servo for $8.00 made by Hextronic. if you think those are as good as Futaba or JR you are in for a surprise.

I'm using the JR DS821 servos that came with my DX7 radio. They are awful pricy I'm sure there are cheaper ones out there.

My Skybolt is still sitting in it's box. Engine should be here Friday. Unfortunately I have to repair a P-51 and put together a Goldberg Eagle II for my son first.

I'm no where near ready to fly it so I'm in no big hurry to get started on it.

Do you know if you can mix digital and regular servos? I was going to use a regular servo for my throttle.

pkevinb,
Yes, you can mix digital servos with analog servos in the same plane.

Ken

Thanks RCKen. I really appreciate all the help you provide to us beginners on this forum. I have learned so much just reading your responses to others questions.

Thanks Again!

Well, just to let you all know, I just placed the order from tower for the Skybolt ARF since they now have the $30.00 off any order over $225.00. I may need a new place to sleep for a few nights once my wife finds out, guess I can live with that. I figure this way I can start to work on the plane and see the hardware that comes with it first hand and go from their as well. I am still undecided on which servo right now, but I am sure I will have it figured out by the time it comes to putting them in.

In the Skybolt review, I used S9001's, but in my original Skybolt (Kit Version) I used S3003's and S3004's

The Skybolt does not need anything outrageous in the way of servos. It is not a 3-D plane, so it doesn't need the super-fast servo response that a 3-D plane does.

Standard servos will work fine, anything above that is gravy

WOW! Futaba servos do not last, I will have to tell the ones I have that are 20 years old and still going strong!

Please pkevinb, do not feed "The Ken", The doctors said if his head should swell any more it could actually explode and make a gooey mess all over the RCU community

As far as servos for your plane. Pick the brand you like (Trust!) and go with it. I feal Hitech/Futaba/JR are the superior brands and I use all three in my planes. I have never used Airtronics but Ken likes them and I am sure he would atest to their quality should you be interested. I also use a Futaba transmitter/receiever with these servos so don't think that you have to use Futaba servos with your Futaba receiver.

In case any of you are wondering, Ken also owns an Edsel and a Sony Betamax

And don't forget about my Mood Rings and Pet Rock collection!!!

Ken

......and his collections of leisure suits and disco balls........

Take it easy now because I like to listen to Neal Diamond

Let's not talk about Ken's balls.[:@][:'(][&o]

Bruce - get you mind out of the gutter and into the sewer where it belongs.......

Wow, I didn't know ken was so popular around here.

I need to give a big thanks to MinnFlyer as well for his helpfull posts too.

But there are lots of others out there as well with heplfull posts. It is so nice to be able to come to RC Universe and find so many answers to all the questions us beginners have.

Thank you, thank you.

Ken and I will be at the Toledo show next week, shaking hands, signing autographs and kissing babies.

Babies??? I thought you said babes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ken

Shhhh!

I have never had a failure with Futaba servos and mine have lasted years.

Well the SkyBolt just arrived by UPS and I took everything out to check it. Perfect. Man this thing is alot nicer looking than I thought it would be and ALOT of room to work with for a smoke system. I am going to go ahead and use the 3004 servos since all my other planes are Futaba I think I am going to stay with them. All I need now is my O.S.91 and I will have everything I think I am going to need to get it in the air. Thanks for all of your help with my questions in the past about this plane and I am guessing that once I start putting it together I will be back with one or ten more questions

Ask away if you need to. In the meantime - Enjoy!

Brooke, what smoke system are you putting in? I am thinking about adding smoke but still unsure, might just wait and add smoke later, but I think I should do it while I am putting it together.

The area behind the firewall is just huge in that plane. I am just finishing getting a Goldberg Eagle together and then I'll clean my work area for the Skybolt.