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RCUniverse.com,
RCGroups.com,
and other online forums are full of examples of people converting
free flight rubber-powered model airplanes to radio control. Modern
featherweight airborne R/C system components and tiny, powerful
motors makes full-house (rudder, elevator, throttle, and ailerons)
possible. In 1962, however, converting, say, a Guillows SE-5 WWI
biplane to R/C meant installing a Cox 020 in the nose and settling
for rudder-only control using an escapement system. Escapements
saved a little on weight by using a wound rubber band as the mechanical
torque driver, but the NiCad or Alkaline batteries were (and are
still) heavy as compared to Li-Ion and the vibration of an internal
combustion engine wreaks havoc with a stick and tissue airframe.
Still, you work with what you've got, and that's exactly what famed
modeler Ken Willard did with the subject of this article. Here are
a few excellent examples submitted to me by
Bill
Gaylord. How to Add Radio Controls to Scale Free Flight Kits
By Ken Willard
Ken Willard with Guillow's SE-5 R/C conversion.
Guillow's SE-5 conversion to R/C.
The welcome renewed interest in bulkhead and stringer-type construction
for scale models, as advocated by the Guillow's kits for World War
I fighters, and more recently in their World War II models, has
inspired a lot of us "old-timers" to build them. Since it seems
a shame to have to chase them, and even more so not to be able to
make them perform the maneuvers for which they became famous, the
thing to do is to fit them with a small receiver and modify them
for R/C.My all-time favorite of the World War I fighters
was the S.E.-5, so I decided to see what had to be done to make
it radio controlled with as little changing as possible. You could
make sheet balsa tail surfaces, enlarge them a bit maybe, but if
you're going to do that you might as well start from scratch ...so
I used the structure right out of the box as the basic framework,
and added only where absolutely necessary. Wings.
No changes on the upper wing. Build according to
plan. Cut a small notch in trailing edge where cabane ribs fit.
This keeps wing rubber from slipping in trailing edge cutout.
Build lower wing as per plan, fill in structure from rear spar
to trailing edge at center section as shown; sheet over forward
part of center section. This added strength is necessary since wings
must "knockoff" and this part of wing takes a beating on rough landings.
Tail Surfaces. No changes required
on horizontal stabilizer. But you need a moveable rudder, so add
1/16 square members as shown, then cut away moveable part after
framework is dry. I know - entire rudder really should move, but
that introduces more changes. This is an easy compromise and it
gives plenty of control. Landing Gear.
Make up a separate landing gear, with the bracing going
up along struts, across fuselage bottom and down other side. With
this "knock-off" landing gear held by rubber bands you'll save a
lot of minor repair work. It fits in lower wing cradle. This isn't
exactly to scale, but the change is hardly noticeable. Use die cut
wood from kit, braced with 3/64 wire. Since the gear takes a beating,
I used epoxy resin to join wood and wire - it makes a strong bond.
Fuselage. Here come the most modifications.
First, the decision to make wings and landing gear "knockoff" means
changing cabane structure and lower wing cradle. Next, some provision
for radio, escapement, torque rod and escapement rubber is necessary.
But it's not so hard - just takes a little time. Finally, due to
the added weight, it's a good idea to beef up the forward fuselage
with sheeting.
Guillow's SE-5 plans modification
for radio control installation.
Guillow's SE-5 plans modification
for radio control installation - Wing mods.
Start by building framework as on the Guillow's plan. Then begin
at the nose and make the changes. You can use the engine
mounting as shown. However, for easier access, I cut away all structure
back to former B2 and then carved a cowl to fit from there forward.
By careful carving I was able to fit the plastic nose cowl onto
the balsa, then hollowed out the entire cowl block so it would fit
around engine and flush to "firewall" former B2. The top has to
remain open so you can get at the needle valve and to accommodate
the cylinder head which protrudes. If you have one of the newer
.020's make a side cutout for the needle valve. You can fly with
the cowl removed, but it doesn't look realistic. Be sure
that former B2 is a strong grade of wood, otherwise the plywood
firewall will be pushed through it on nose-overs. For added strength
you paint entire former and plywood engine mount with epoxy resin.
Let's make cabane structure. Replace kit wood with "Popsicle"
stick wood, cut to same size, then cut additional fore and aft members
required for upper wing to rest on.
Glue
cabane struts to fuselage, using reinforcing blocks provided, add
fore and aft members. Be careful here - make sure the two are parallel
and at the precise angle shown for required incidence. This is the
most important setting so take your time and do it right!
After structure is thoroughly dry, beef it up by adding 1/32"
wire bracing which comes down and fits over top center keel like
the old R.O.G. wire wing-holders used to do. Bond this wire to keel
and cabane structure with epoxy resin. With this added wire strength
at forward and rear cabane struts, plus a solid glue joint where
cabane struts attach to fuselage side, you won't worry about cartwheels
and nose-overs (and you'll have them). The modification at
lower wing cradle is easy. Just add balsa block cross bracing at
leading and trailing edge formers B5 and B7 respectively. Add dowels
later - after radio and escapement have been fitted and sides sheeted.
Now the part which will vary according to type equipment you
have. Escapement should mount on former B7. To do this, first mount
escapement on 1/16" plywood. The size will vary, depending on whether
you use a Babcock, Citizen-Ship, or Bonner. I use a Bonner. It was
necessary to cut off the base ends so that it would fit. Citizen-Ship
and Babcock need no modification. Be careful escapement doesn't
project at bottom into wing cradle. Cut away former B7 so escapement
can fit in fuselage, then glue plywood to former. While it is drying,
cut away side stringer on fuselage left side from former B-11 back
to tail post, then cut and fit balsa block to go there. Make rubber
retaining hook to fit through block, with winding hook on other
end. Sight down through fuselage and with an X-acto knife cut inside
of formers B-8, 9, 10, and 11 so rubber will pass freely from escapement
to rear hook.
Guillow's designer Lou Andrews with firm's P-51 Mustang free
flight for powering with Quarter-A engine. Spanning 27-3/4",
takes radio controls in fine style a la S.E.-5 described by
Ken Willard.
Push 1/32" wire through fuselage from rear to escapement. If it
meets any wood on the formers, enlarge hole slightly so wire moves
freely when escapement operates. Note rear end of wire is offset
slightly to the left so it will rest against left side of rudder
lower, which is fixed. Rear bearing for rudder torque wire consists
of a U-shaped pin with the head cut off, passed through lower fixed
part of rudder at trailing edge.After escapement, rubber,
and torque rod are working, remove rubber and torque rod and finish
fuselage. Add 1/32" side sheeting over basic framework as
shown. Then poke holes through and glue lower wing dowels in place.
Radio receiver and batteries fit in fuselage just above lower
wing. Make 1/16" plywood base to which you strap your receiver (F&M,
Citizen-Ship, or C&S) on one side with rubber bands and two
E91 Energizers with solder leads on the other. Fit package through
lower wing cradle opening, cut away inside of former B-5 so receiver
package butts against back of B-4. Add 1/16" plywood doubler across
back of B-4 for strength. To keep receiver package from slipping
back and jamming escapement, fit 1/4" square hard balsa retainer
in back of receiver and battery mount, glue it to fuselage so that
when receiver package is held up in fuselage by lower wing, it also
is held forward against B-4 by retainer brace. After you've
made all modifications and are ready to cover, you might want to
use green-colored silk instead of paper. Well, it makes a pretty
model, but take it easy! These models aren't designed to withstand
the powerful shrinkage of silk, and you could ruin all your good
work by warps. To minimize this, use butyrate dope (which doesn't
pull as tight as nitrate) and plasticize it with castor oil.
"Originally we transported it this way because it was too big
to fit into the car. First thing we knew, we got an F.A.I. certificate
in the mail for setting a new R/C distance record!"
Make a light framework, similar to your model, cover it, let it
dry. If it tightens up without warping, you can proceed with your
covering and doping. If it warps - add a little more castor oil
to the dope. If the covering sags even when dry, reduce the amount
of castor oil. For a starter, try four drops to the ounce.
Finally, make the interplane struts removable, and operate without
them; otherwise, they'll get knocked around and maybe through your
covering on rough landings. The reason I mention nose-overs
and rough landings is that the long gear catches in the grass. The
model glides well, but the axle bar can trip it up. As for
flying use the same test procedure as for other models. If you have
one of those fields covered with long grass by all means test there.
Although I've talked only about the S.E.-5, the same procedures
apply to similar models, so pick your favorite F/F Scale and fly
it with R/C.
Posted April 7, 2013
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