control surface throws
 

I have an 85.5 inch Norseman aircraft that I bought during the summer. It is a great looking aircraft complete with flaps! I have just finished converting it over to electric and I am looking forward to the first flight. When I bought the plane it was already built and the original owner did not have the plans. I need to know what the throw settings for the ailerons, elevator, flap and rudder should be. It would also be helpful to know where the C.G. should be. I have searched the web for the plans ( I believe that it was a Unionville kit ) with no sucess. Any help with this would be greatly appreciated.

RE: control surface throws
 

To locate the balance point, here's a good calculator:

http://www.geistware.com/rcmodeling/cg_super_calc.htm

Just fill in the blanks and you'll be OK. Works for almost any model you can possibly build.

For control throws, if you start out with about +/- 25 degrees of control movement as a maximum, with about 30%-40% exponential (-30% to -40% with Futaba systems), you'll have it about right. Fine-tune it from there.

RE: control surface throws
 

If you have a degree meter then 12 degrees of throw up and down is just about perfect for a sport plane.

RE: control surface throws
 

For my first flights I prefer to have max throws and fly with gentle stick movements just in case I need it for whatever reason. I have seen maidens end up in sticks because the flyer needed more throw for whatever reason and just didnt have it. After the first flight I dial it back with the knowledge I can go to the recommended throws.

RE: control surface throws
 

I agree with this if there is ANY doubt about the cg or anything else. BUT I would recommend setting dual rates on both elevator and aileron with a good deal of expo.

Finally have spmeone standing by with the ability to reprogram rates centering etc in an emergency. I once test flew a large glider for someone from the slope and it had a warped wing. Even on full opposite throw it was still rolling gently. Full opposite rudder was added and I was able to keep it airborne although several uinplanned excursion happened when it was slowed.

Some one reprogrammed extra movement on the aileron servos, altered the neutral positions and offset one of the flap servos for me while I was fighting to keep it airborne. This made it controllable. I was real glad to get that one back on the ground in one piece.