Hello,

I have installed on my FB Rafale, a TJ smoke pump and 1 TJ sprayer. I have test run turbine and tried the smoke and this thing is pumping smoke fluid like hell....
I have several issues i want to try to sort out:
I am using a Futaba 9 Z radio, and hooked smoke on a three position switch (have tried the slider but did not feel confortable with it). Anyway this is what to do and wonder if and how i can do the settings:
a) reduce maximum pump output to 80% (third position of switch)
b) have the possibility to have 40 to 50% rate when i hit second position of switch.
c) ajust position of single sprayer order having smoke exiting from both exhausts.
d) found out that when smoke switch is in off position, fluid keeps on dripping from tube into engine bay.
e) mix throttle to smoke chanel to activate smoke at a set point on the curve for both positions.

- First should i change smoke chanel to linear (same as throtle)?
- Can i use ATV and D/R to reduce pump output? or it doesn't work this way?
- should i have ATV set to -100% for off position?

Thanks for your feedback and explanation.

Best regards.

the output of the Tam pump is proportional, ATV is how you set the flow rate. set your travel for each desired switch position and flow. the dripping from the smoke stick is an indication your stick is below the level of your tank, it's gravity, you need to get the smoke tank below the stick or put a cock valve on it and don't open the valve till the turbine is running. I've got mine set to a mix with throttle so when i flip the smoke switch it smokes at any stick setting above 1/4 and i adjusted the flow rate so the smoke stays pretty consistent throughout the throttle movement, i use a JR radio and have different stick points i can mix at, not sure if the Futaba has that or not.

KC36330,

Thanks for the feedback. Unfortunately, my tanks are located higher than sprayer but yet i have a cock valve installed and do as you mentionned, i have noticed dripping when i shut down turbine...

I hope that someone with Futaba experience will come forward and explain various steps which will make my settings the way i discribed above as i intend to maiden the Rafale this wekend hopefuly!!

Best regards.

all the drips should be burned by the exhaust blast as long as the valve is only open when the turbine is running and then closed before you shut down, otherwise you can hook an extra fuel solenoid up to the smoke line and Y it to the ECU fuel solenoid and it'll open only when the ECU has the fuel flowing to the turbine (turbine running). more convenient to some people, but more expensive to me so i just open the valve after i start up and close it before i shut down, I've got to where i do this on all my aircraft regardless if they are dribblers or not.

KC36330,

Thanks again. Now i hope tat someone with Futaba experience will come forward and help with settings i discribed above.

Regards.

Anyone using Futaba 9Z and Tamjets smoke pump cares to help in this respect??

Regards.

Hi extra 300,

If you use freemixes you don't need to play around with ATV and D/R.
Asign one mix for each of the second and third switch position.
Throtle as master, and pump as slave. just set max output on the pump and you are ready to go.

Brgds
Svein-Roe

Svein-Roe,

Thanks for your feedback and advice. But should i change pump channel to linear (same as throttle) or this is not necessary?
I have done much more difficult settings for various applications but don't know why i am not able to go around this one although it should be very simple....

Regards.
Dany

No offense here but in all honesty it could well be because you tend to ask the same things over and over and after someone gives you the answer you continue to PM/post/ask the same questions, this gives me the impression you're ability to comprehend is lacking. i don't intend this to be rude just what I've noticed in allot of your posts. if you have any understanding at all of how your radio works then it takes about 10 min tops to figure out this mix and if it really is just that confusing to you, you should put it on an on/off switch and be done with it.

KC36330,

Appreciate your coments and fully understand what you are saying but i guess a small explanation is necessary.
I live in Lebanon and although i have been flying for many years different sorts of airplanes, i have only started flying jets a couple of years ago. You also know that for time being i am the only onr flying jets / turbine in this country with no help whatsoever but the help and reading i get from sites, mainly RCU.
So far i have been able to put together and fly succesfully, a baby boomerang, boomerang XL and 10 days ago maidened my FB Rafale.
I am fully aware that i am sometimes repeating myself by asking same questions, but please understand that i have to get the right answers order avoiding possible problems.
Lack of experience and know how cost me my first jet an SM F-15 bought used RTF through RCU, which caught fire during flight on its maiden flight actually and obviously jet was completely lost. This unfortunate incident has been really dificult to accept and have since been extremely cautious and over doing things sometime.

Please accept my appologies if i have in any way offended you or any other RCU member.
Best regards.
Dany

asking the same question repetitively doesn't get you the right answer and if you ask it enough times you'll get the wrong one.

Dany feel free to ask the questions as much as you'd like. Different people learn different ways. I asked a LOT of questions when I started with Ducted Fans 4 years ago!!

This is the KISS approach (keep it simple).

- Use your end point adjustments to control smoke flow.
- If your tank is sitting above the spray bay, leave it as is, don't waste time trying to correct that, not worth it if you ask me.
- I use an on/off switch with excellent results. Try to use one if you have one available, rather than the 3 way switch. Having 3 positions gets kind of confusing while you are doing aerobatcis and flip the switch.
- DO intsall a shutoff valve so the tank doesn't drain on your pipe with the model sitting on the ground. (don't ask me why! )
-Enjoy!!

This is the 5 minute set up I have and has been working pretty good. I opted for heavy flow with less smoke time. Heavy smoke looks amazing on vertical, but you do have to regulate the on/off time because on a 16oz tank you will only get about 30 seconds. Just to give you an idea, my F-16 will dissappear behind the smoke on the vertical, so practice caution if you decide on that setting. However, it looks like a fraking real Thunderbird!

Aother cool pointer........don't leave the smoke on for a while, it looks sloppy. Turn it on and off just like a real demo jet. You rarely ever see a Thunderbird turning right/left with the smoke on.

Later, and good luck.

David