Which Servos do you guys use for your scale combat planes? I have a JR radio and could use some tips on size, torque, brands, prices. Which servos do you use for ailerons vs. elevator vs. throttle? Thanks in advance for the tips!

Kurt,

You ask a question which will sure have a variety of answers based on each person's choice. For my scale planes I will use a Hitec HS-81 for throttle, HS-225 mighty-mini for elevator and either another mighty mini for aileron or a standard size servo depending on the sizeof the plane. I really like the mighty mini. Less weight but still enough torque to do the job. They are available in metal gears versions as well but I use the plastic gear versions and keep a supply of replacement gears handy if needed.

More people to follow I'm sure!

Bill Davis
RCCA 644

HS 85 metal gear are the best I've found. the 81's have alot of problems with the pots going south.

In B class, I use standard servos on flight controls, usually JR 517 or 537 picked up on ebay. Throttle is an hs-81.

In A class last year, I used a JR standard servo (505 or 517) on ailerons and a hitech standard (4xx, I think, they are really old) on elevator because that's what I had sitting around gathering dust. I'll have a mix of the same this year and maybe some hs-85 or hs-225s mixed in, depending on how much of a threat Bill and Chris turne out to be. Again, hs-81 on throttle

For 2510, I'll have have the same hs-81 on throttle. And another mix of JR 5xx and hs-85 and hs-225 servos on flight surfaces, mostly determined by my cash situation.

Oh, and lots of spare gears for the hs-81. Some guys use the hs-81 on flight surfaces in A class around here, but I personally don't trust it for that.

Oh, btw, I'm not claiming my servos are the best options. It's just what I have been using and what I'm comfortable with, and what I have spare parts for. I was thinking of going to more hitech standard servos, but keeping spare arms, gears, cases, etc stocked for too many servo models is a pain.

After going through the HiTec HS-81 and 85 servos as well as most other 'name brand' micro/mini servos and having them strip, refuse to center or quit altogether, I settled on the Tower Hobbies TS-35 Hi Power mini servo.

http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXPB46&P=7

Replacement gears are only $2.65 a set, but I've only had to replace 4 sets of gears over the last 3 years.

D

Thanks for the info guys. What would you use for 2610 class to mount in the wing for ailerons (one for each control surface). Can I go with something smaller (i.e less weight) since I will use one on each aileron? Or would you just go twith the HS-81's or TS-35's? Thanks!

This is by far the best servos for combat. I started out with HITEC225 they break gears easily even in SSC, I then went to Hitec 81 and they have centering problems so I now use them for throttle only since there is no center problem, and now for the Kicker, my 3 new planes for this season have 64" winspans with 28"X 1 1/2" of aileron each side, they are all Jett 30 powered and go like heck. I use a HITEC 85MG one for each side. With 3 planes identical in every way I knew one of them had a slower axial roll rate than did the other two at the first outing. Since I use a JR 10X (big JR fan from 85') as a combat radio and set all planes up identical throws using there own specific model memmory, using a CENTRAL HOBBIES accurate throw gauge I was puzzled. The last contest someone wondered what servos I used and said back to me while looking at the model, OH HITEC 81's,,,, YIKES now it dawned on me, I screwed up,,,,,,,,

I have put in over 50 rounds of combat with 85MG in various models and I have not stripped one or had one quit on me yet. The Hitec 81 would quit or jitter in one outing. There real good for throttle servos thats about it.........

I fully agree about the 81's. Good for throttle, that's it. I have flown a lot of slope combat lately (during winter when I'm not chasin' streamers), and had 81's in my Zagi. I was out at the slope 3 days, and went through 4 sets of gears !! Granted it is full contact, but not all hits were that bad. I would've went to metal gears, but like Hat said, lots of problems with the pots on these servos, so I didn't want to waste the money on the metal gears. So I put in full-size servos. I do use 81's for throttle, and agree that 85's and 225's are good servos.

Only slight drawback to tthe HS 85 MG is that it has one plastic gear in it which can get stripped. Of course you can't buy the one gear and have to by an entire plastic gear set to get the one gear. It's the real tiny one. If any one has a bunch of them sitting around I'll take those extra tiny gears off your hands!

How are are the hs-85 nylon gears to strip?

I use HS85mg now. Had way too many problems with the pots on the HS81mg's.

Mo,
I can honestly say that after trying to find a suitable combat servo in the last two years, using any nylon servo gear set I would go home with atleast one set to replace. When I started with the 85's I started right away with the MG since it is cheaper up front than doing them later as a gear set. I have not stripped a 85MG gear set out in 50 rounds of battle. I think there well worth the extra 9 bucks...............

Doc says they will strip the one remaing plastic gear, so time will tell me how one accomplishes that. I sure have put them to the test otherwise, but then again I'm not as EVIL as the DOC who strategically tries for head on collisions as he took me out once, that one cost me a JETT 30 still MIA in the god forsaken jungles of Minnomonee WI.

I have managed to strip the plastic gear in the HS 85 mg several times but they are far superior to anything else I've used. If you would slow that Jett powered beast down a little I wouldn't have to lead you so far and my ability to get the stramer and not the plane would be greatly improved! I lost a FX with a Ultrathrust in that same midair too! It was a perfect sidewinder shot. I had him lined up perfectly but lead you a little to much! Result was a engine to engine shot!

Missed it by that much!

Doc,

Can you recall what type of impact be it planes or ground that has stripped a Hitec 85MG nylon gear.?????//Just Curious???????

No I don't recall. I've been known to go down from midairs or just flying into the ground!

I've got some HS 81MGs . Of the eight I have, four or five have "twitch". So I have switched over to 85MGs. Does anyone know if the metal gears from the 81 will fit in an 85?

Hi Mark V
I was wondering the same thing a while back. Came across this thread, answered by Mike Mayberry himself. http://www.rcuniverse.com/showthread...highlight=HS81 Bummer (

Thanks, Seimberg. Too bad.

Mo, great minds seem to think the same- I've switched over to 85MG's also. Been buying them in Londonderry- Servocity prices locally. Have you flown your new scale ship yet? I've gotton reports that you and Dorian have been flying lately, just no report on what.
See you Wednesday ( or so the rumor mill states).

JESTER

SHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ancient German secret...

D

"Ancient german Secret"
Darin, I sent you a PM.