Smoke system requirments
 

Wasnt sure what forum to post under but since im a noob to the situation id thought this one was sufficient...lol

I know i dont have the right type of plane for one at the moment (Nexstar, Thundertiger sea master, and a tower voyager which is soon to come) but i was wondering what is required to have a smoke system? think there really cool so was just curious =D

~Matt

RE: Smoke system requirments
 

a big plane and a big engine. adding smoke to a .40 size plane isn't impossible, but it is relatively heavy and you won't get great results from a small engine.

RE: Smoke system requirments
 

lol i know, i know i dont have the right plane yet i was just curious to what was required =D

RE: Smoke system requirments
 

in general, you need a tank to hold the smoke oil, a pump of some sort to pump it, either electrical or powered by the engine, and then in most cases a valve controlled by a servo that will let you start/stop and hopefully also meter the flow.

that said, there is a thread over in the gas forum IIRC where a guy constructed one powered by pressurized air in a air horn cylinder. no remotely adjustable valves, just a needle valve that is started before flight.

RE: Smoke system requirments
 

Gas burners and 4-stroke glow have a higher exhaust temperature than 2-stroke glow, as a result they generally smoke better. Very few people are happy with the smoke production from 2-stroke glow engines. It can be done, but it takes a bit more messing around (a pre-heater would help, maybe even a battery powered pre-heater. I haven't seen this approach in person, but I've read about it being done. Simple enough concept, but a fair bit of work)

Also, it's pretty obvious that the larger the engine, the more volume of exhaust, which means you can dump more smoke fluid in there and get more smoke.

For the smaller planes, a pyrotechnic approach might be in order. There's at least one company selling smoke devices that are small and light enough to even work on many park fliers.

RE: Smoke system requirments
 

You can get SOME smoke out of any engine. You won't be happy with the smoke output with less than a .60 2-stroke. A .50 size 4-stroke can do OK.

The simplest pre-heater is wrapping a few turns of copper tube around the header on the 4-stroke... or atound the cylinder on the 2-stroke. (I've seen one guy use a boat type water jacket for his pre-heater on a .15 2-stroke...) Better pre-heat does equate to better smoke.

***********

There is an ongoing debate about whether the smoke devices being sold (and advertised as approvable by AMA safety code rules..) are actually allowed by the AMA safety code... They are not specificly listed as an allowed type of pyrotechnics. They don't meet the definition of "smoke bomb" which is specificly listed as NOT allowed... Because its not clear... you will get different opinions at different airfields. Some will say to go ahead and use them, where others will take a more litteral view of the allowed pyrotechnics list. (It isn't on THAT list... its not allowed.) The ones who go by the litteral listing will be in a better position to defend thier decision then the ones ho allow it.

I would hold off on buying smoke cartridges until the debate is settled.

RE: Smoke system requirments
 

That's odd about the safty code. I always thought it was pretty darn clear. If it remains attached to the plane, it's fine. "smoke bomb" refers to dropping a burning/smoking object, hence "bomb". I mean, JATO is allowed, and that gives smoke and thrust (and maybe cool fire/flames). So you'd think smoke but no thrust or fire would be pretty obviously allowed.

Is this "debate" you talk about actually in the AMA, or just some guys at your local club or in some online forum?

RE: Smoke system requirments
 

Plane covered in plastic...generates lots of smoke...set the tail on fire :eek:

RE: Smoke system requirments
 

The debate on it came up in the AMA discussion forum... and there are some contradictory opinions voiced by people that are normally very clear on the AMA Safety Code.

Logicly... it seem that the JATO being allowed would make the smoke flares OK... but things don't always get interpreted logically when you get a [:'(]lawyer[:'(] involved.

*I* see nothing wrong with the smoke flares... I just note that there are clubs that have looked it over and thier interpretation is... its not on the allowed list... its not allowed.

RE: Smoke system requirments
 

k thanks guys =D

i was looksing at this... ([link=http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXZ674&P=7]Smoke[/link]) it says .20 to .60 size engines... anyone have any inputs?

~Matt

RE: Smoke system requirments
 

Again... its a matter of the heat present in the muffler system. a .20 engine is going to produce a dismal amount of smoke. A .61 can produce decent smoke. A .46 will be somewhere in between.

Also it hardr to find the different presure locations in the smaller engine to get proper smoke fluid flow.

The system can work... it can be either very easy to get it operating or very frustrating because you are dependant on muffler pressure to overcome muffler peressure.

the Macs mufflers that it recommends you use the smoke system with is appx $30 to $40. If you want to be able to depend on getting the correct fluid injection point... you'll get the muffler as well as the smoke plumbing kit.

RE: Smoke system requirments
 

cool, so with the muffler and kit everything should work ok? like i said i dont have the right plane to set it up but im just looking into it cause they seem like an awesome thing to have

~Matt

RE: Smoke system requirments
 

Well... its entertaining for a few flights. After that you'll probably get annoyed with the hassles of dealing with the smoke system.

If you have a purpose behind using the smoke... its worth doing it. If you are just goofing off and want the cool effect. Its cool for about 3 flights then its just a chore.

RE: Smoke system requirments
 

hmmm... good point, k thanks guys

~Matt

RE: Smoke system requirments
 

Or you can try this -

http://www.hobby-lobby.com/atricks.htm