Ok. Im pretty sure of the answer but I just want it confirmed. Sometimes the control surfaces of my glider start to rapidly flutter back and forth. Is this something to do with a low battery or the TX or RX I gave the battery a good 3-4 hours charge so Im a little unsure. Thanks for any help.

Cheers

Charge the batteries overnight and then the next day do a 100' range check with the antenna down. If the surfaces stay still your Ok, if not you have a radio problem!!!

Gibbs

If it happens when you turn on the airplane (and don't have the Transmitter turned on) it's fairly normal. Novices often forget that you should turn on your TX then your RX. And you should turn off your RX, then the TX. That way you don't beat your servos to death.

If it happens when both the TX and RX are on, you have a problem in the airplane need to trouble shoot it. There are pages and pages written about how you do that. Basically, you unplug one servo at a time and see if one of them is causing the problem. If they all pass, then reconnect all your connections everywhere. Then try a different battery. Then a different RX. Then a different TX.

If it happens when you're flying around, you are seeing flutter and are lucky as heck. It is often powerful enough to trash your airplane before your very eyes. It's caused by loose connections between the servos and the surfaces. Use components that fit together better, and make sure pushrods are supported.

BTW, a good 3 or 4 hour charge actually isn't a good charge. Reread the manual that came with your radio about charging the batteries. Most RX batteries take an initial charge of about 18-20 hours and after every flying session, take an overnight charge at minimum.

One piece of equipment you really should get is an ESV. Those battery checkers are worthwhile and might be the best piece of equipment every beginner should get first thing. They're dead cheap. And they teach you how to handle your batteries. The ones Tower sells are something like??? $20????

Thanks guys

In that case I think its the charging is the problem. The battries I have have been modded from another model. I had to take a one or two batteries off the pack and then re-connect the leads to fit inside the model. When I start out it doesnt happen as frequently so I think a nice long charge is what is needed as I as I think the most amount of charge was about 6 hours, the RX and servos are brand new and the TX I have had for a while but it hasnt much use so it might just be a case of a long charge and see how it goes.

As for the tester I was thinking about getting one of those recently, might be my next purchase.

Rich.

Just to thank you for your imput. It was the batteries. I gave them a good 24 hours charge and I had a great afternoon flying this afternoon!

kewl.........

Ain't gliders fun!

Was it sloping or thermalling you did?

BTW, I noticed you're from Bloody Old England so allow me a tongue in cheek question of you....... How DO you thermal in neverending mist? (I've only been over there a few times but never saw the sun on any trip.)

lol

Well we have been lucky and were getting a few weeks of sun. At first people were curious to what the orange ball was in the sky. Next thing we knew people were running into the street lifting their shirts shouting BURN ME ! So Im making the most of it before the rain comes again.

anyhoo .. It was more of a toss it into the wind to see how high and far I could get it but it was fun. Iv had RC planes before but most of them crashed and burnt. Me little glider has lasted the longest and there is no messing around with fuel and greasy engines and you can play until the batteries die which is great.