Hopefully someone can help me with this question as I am truly lost as to what to use.


I have setup my planes in the past using the basic ruler next to the surface technique and it has worked, but is somewhat inaccurate. So I started researching products on the market to help with this part of setup to make it as accurate as possible. The three items I found on the internet are better than the method that I have used but not sure which one would be the best to get.

The first item I found was by central hobbies which is a CRC Throw meter which can be found here, http://www.centralhobbies.com/Tools/tool1.html#THROW It is relatively inexpensive but I am not sure if it is accurate as some the other two that I will list below.

The second item I was looking at which was recommended by Tony F in his "How to setup a bobcat article" is by Budd engineering and us a laser pointer attached to the control surface that you are setting up. This one is not to bad in price at a little over 100.00 for the system. It seems as if it would be very accurate, it can be found at the following location. http://www.buddengineering.com/Merch...egory_Code=LMS

The third item I found while reading Model Airplane News was the Aeroperfect Digital Control Throw Meter. This product seems as if it would be very accurate in taking control throw measurements, but at a cost of 200.00 is it really worth the money? This product can be found here http://www.aeroperfect.com/

If anyone has used any of these systems please chime in and let me know, currently after reading the instructions for the Aeroperfect product I am leaning in that direction but if someone has found a better way or even another product I would not be opposed to hearing about it.

Thanks for looking,

Patrick.

Patrick,
I personally use the Budd Engineering unit and found it to be very accurate if used properly. Nicely made unit that is worth the $$. Havent used the other two you mentioned so I cant comment.... I would be happy to send you mine to try if you wish to play before you pay ;-)
Todd

Try http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXPW71&P=0

Woody...that's a Incidence meter, not a Deflection guage[sm=bananahead.gif]

Patrick, got the order...thanks, meter going out tomorrow with the rest of your items... Call me if you have any questions on using it

No Todd, Thank YOU. Look forward to giving it a try.

Patrick.

Patrick,

I don't want to berate any of my competitor's products, but I felt I should point out what I believe are significant differences in features and capabilities.

Budd Engineering angle meter:
The AeroPerfect does not require an initial calibration procedure before use as does the Budd Engineering meter.

Budd meter doesn't lend itself well to making comparative angle measurements such as when setting elevator halves as the measurement stand would have to be moved for each elevator half (Comparative measurements with AeroPerfect are made by simply pushing a button).

Budd measurement stand must sit on top of a flat surface near the control surface (AeroPerfect's digital readout can be placed anywhere within 6 feet).

Budd measurement range limited to the height of the measurement stand (AeroPerfect's is 360 degrees- great for extreme 3D throws).

In terms of value consider Great Planes AccuPoint Laser Incidence Meter has similar components and costs $19.99 at Tower Hobbies.

CRC:
Great value and allows comparative measurements to be made easily (such as matching elevator halves). It's measurement resolution is limited (1 degree?) and care must be taken to avoid parallax errors. AeroPerfect’s meter is .05 degrees (or 1/20th degree over a 360 degree range).


Hope this helps in your selection.

Marl

Hanger 9 just come out with a digital incedence meter that is awsome for about 60 bucks I just bought one today just for my bobcat
Hope this helps

I bought a digital carpenters level at a local hardware store for about $65.00 and it reads to .1 degrees. I also attach it to the fittings from my old incidence meter.

Good for incidence as they are accurate near level and plumb but since accuracy decreases for angular measurements greater than 10 degrees, it's not the best choice for measuring control throws.

I have been meaning to update this thread for sometime but never got around to it. After trying all three, thanks to Todd and the loan of his budd engineering laser meter. I got the aeroperfect and tried it out. The only thing I can can say is WOW!!! This thing really is the cats butt. Talking about accuracy this device blows everything else out of the water. I used it to set up throws on a bobcat after switching radios. After that I used it to check a hotspot and the throws were somewhat off and not equal at all. The other really nice thing about the device is that it does not take up alot of room to set it up.

So the price tag of 200 is a bit much but if you can go in on it with a couple of friends that really makes it worth while in the long run.


Patrick.