I found this picture of CPLR's radio (at www.rcaerosport.com). The sticks are really long (that explains the unusual expo in his setup), but more intriguing is that it is in mode 2! I always thought all top flyers used mode 1....

Radio South used to carry the stick extensions if your interested, not sure if they still do or not.
Steve Maxwell

Actually most of the top fliers are mode 2, arn't they?
Quique, CPLR, Hyde, Shulman, McMurtry,etc
Roland Matt uses mode 1 I think, I guess it just depends where you learn to fly rc.

I bet you will also find that the springs in CPLR's radio are quite stiff.

Theoretically (IMO), the most precise way of moving the sticks, is with a tray, long sticks, and high spring tensions.
That along with a bit of expo really helps delete unwanted shakes, or movements of the sticks.
It also gives you a really good feel for the centre position of the stick.

Actually he used very High expo...(I believe) and the long stick has the same effect of removing sensibilities around neutral...so he must have too make fairly large movement to have a strong servo response.

Quique uses mode 1

Mode 1 really? wow, you learn something everday!!!!!!

Folks

I have flown CPLRs models using his radio, for many years.

The stick tensions are not high, I would say average.
The reason for the extensions, is because futaba sticks are short and designed for thumb fliers. CPLR is a finger and thumb flier.

With the use of a tranny tray, it is virtually impossible to fly finger and thumb on the standard sticks.

I use a similar system but with a diff tray layout which means I can rest my palms on the side of the tranny case, but I use stick extns, although only such that they fit between the bottom and top of the normal futaba sticks.

hope this is of use to you...

PS - Many european fliers fly mode 1. Perhaps one reason CPLR and his club mates fly Mode 2 is because their founding members were taught by a british club !?

a little more info for you....

I fly with 2 fingers and thumb and find the stick lengths on Futaba fine(you can adjust them by screwing them out a bit)
I really hate the spiky ends though- the Fleet radios have much nicer plastic stcks.
i don't use a tray though- just a saxophone sling.
Luke

key word luke - you dont use a tray. thats why you can use standard sticks.

I use a tray, and use standard sticks, I will be upgrading to longer ones soon though.

It can work with standard length sticks, but theoretically control and precision should be better with the longer sticks.

if you are not a thumbs flyer then absolutely right !

Hmm, perhaps that is why I never really feel 100% comfortable. I use a tray, but no extensions. Any idea where you can get extensions in the UK? I will have to give them a go.

In the meantime, I will extend to full amount. And try increasing the expo.

Sprink

If you want to try it I suggest a quick ad easy method.
This is what I did at first and then replaced it with a turned aluminium insert instead.

get some 6 mm dowel, cut a piece about 1/2" long.
drill a 2.5 mm hole in each end in the middle.

take the ends of your a sticks off, and the base has a 3mm stud sticking out, screw the open end of the dowel on to here. Now you need a small bit of 3mm stud to put in the other end, and then your normal stick end comes down on to that.

Looks a bit heath robinson but is is a smiple way to extend you existing sticks to your taste. You then decide whether you buy extensions of the required length or get some ali inserts made like mine.

Voila go do it !

Thanks Archie.

Now all I need to do is find some 3mm studds!!

go to a hardware store, by some mild steel 3mm bolts, and thread a nut on, then cut it, and use the nut to restore the thread at the end as you take it off.
job done.