[Search for users] [Overall Top Noters] [List of all Conferences] [Download this site]

Conference vmszoo::rc

Title:Welcome To The Radio Control Conference
Notice:dir's in 11, who's who in 4, sales in 6, auctions 19
Moderator:VMSSG::FRIEDRICHS
Created:Tue Jan 13 1987
Last Modified:Thu Jun 05 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1706
Total number of notes:27193

845.0. "electric gliders --- advice needed, especially re Melody" by CDR::VAN_CLEAVE () Thu Jan 19 1989 16:23

    Has anyone had experience with an electric powered Melody MP glider?
    
    Is it easy to fly? Very aerobatic? 
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
DateLines
845.1Kyosho = junk.ROCK::MINERElectric = No more glow-glopThu Jan 19 1989 19:5319
    Is this made by Kyosho?  If it is, DO NOT BUY IT!!

    I have never seen the Melody fly, but all of the Kyosho stuff I've
    seen or heard of doesn't fly very well (read: barely flies at all).

    Before I invested any money in ANY Kyosho stuff, I'd want to see
    someone else waste their money and THEN try to convince me that it
    really does fly.

                       _____
                      |     \
                      |      \                          Silent POWER!
      _        ___________    _________   |            Happy Landings!
     | \      |           |  |         |  |
     |--------|-  SANYO  + ]-|  ASTRO  |--|              - Dan Miner
     |_/      |___________|  |_________|  |
                      |       /           |     " The Earth needs more OZONE,
                      |      /                       not Caster Oil!! "    
                      |_____/
845.2Ditto on Kyosho!WR2FOR::BEATTY_WIThu Jan 19 1989 22:439
    I would echo the previous noters comments on Kyosho Junk!  I have
    seen some of their robin/etude/etc planes and I wonder seriously
    if Kyosho ever flew one before putting it on the market.
    
    If you are looking for a flexible entry level electric, try a Goldberg
    Electra or a Goldberg Sophisticated Lady with the Electric Motor
    Pod.
    
    Will Beatty
845.3I agree...TALLIS::FISHEROnly 56 Days till Phoenix!Fri Jan 20 1989 11:3713
>    Is this made by Kyosho?  If it is, DO NOT BUY IT!!
>
>    I have never seen the Melody fly, but all of the Kyosho stuff I've
>    seen or heard of doesn't fly very well (read: barely flies at all).

My words exactly.
I had the ultralight - never got it to fly.

Bye          --+--
Kay R. Fisher  |
---------------O---------------
================================================================================

845.4Get a cobalt motorROCK::MINERElectric = No more glow-glopFri Jan 20 1989 11:4025
    Other good flying electric gliders are the Astro Flite Challenger
    and the Airtronics Eclipse.

    I also STRONGLY recommend using an Astro Flite Cobalt 05 Geared
    motor with any of these gliders (including the pevious noters
    suggestions).  Any of the listed gliders w/ and Astro Cobalt 05
    geared will fly VERY well.  (At least all of them equipped this way
    that I have seen fly well.)  If you stick with the "stock" motor,
    the performance will be marginal.

    Bottom line: if you invest the money for a good motor (a cobalt),
    you'll be rewarded with a succesful electric.

    I also suggest you read all of note 387.* (Beginners Electrics).

                       _____
                      |     \
                      |      \                          Silent POWER!
      _        ___________    _________   |            Happy Landings!
     | \      |           |  |         |  |
     |--------|-  SANYO  + ]-|  ASTRO  |--|              - Dan Miner
     |_/      |___________|  |_________|  |
                      |       /           |     " The Earth needs more OZONE,
                      |      /                       not Caster Oil!! "    
                      |_____/
845.5RVAX::SMITHFri Jan 20 1989 12:5417
    Can someone tell me the difference, if any, between electric motors
    sold with electric powered planes (cobalt included), and the electric
    motors used in cars. The reason I ask this is because from what
    I remember of the price of the cobalt motor, car motors that will
    turn upwards of 30k RPM can be had in the $30/40 dollar range.
    
    I know absolutely nothing about electric powered flight, so this
    next statement is strictly an assumption, but if you have a geared
    motor, such as is talked about with the cobalt, I would take that
    to mean the motor does not have an extended shaft that the prop
    directly attaches to. Which, I would then assume, would mean that
    you could play around with motors.
    
    Does this make any sense to anyone???????
    
    
    Steve
845.6Motor explainationsROCK::MINERElectric = No more glow-glopFri Jan 20 1989 13:3739
RE: < Note 845.5 by RVAX::SMITH >
>    Can someone tell me the difference, if any, between electric motors
>    sold with electric powered planes (cobalt included), and the electric
>    motors used in cars. 

    Most of the "car-type" motors are the same thing as the motors that
    are included in the plane kits.  (The only exception to this that I
    know of is the Astro Flite Mini-Challenger which includes an Astro
    Cobalt 035 motor.)

    Some of the higher performance car-type motors do indeed deliver a
    similar amont of power/torque/RPM/whatever but at the expense of
    WEIGHT.  The cobalt motors are much lighter (typically 2-3 ounces)
    for the same performance.  This may not sound like much at first,
    but it can mean the difference between an electric plane that flies
    very well to one that will only climb about 10 feet in 5 minutes
    (not really flying in my opinion).

    So the only difference (as I know it) between the high-end car
    motors and a cobalt is: price and weight.  Bottom line is: you get
    what you pay for and the cobalts are worth every penny.

RE: geared motors.

    Geared plane motors are basically just a standard (or cobalt) motor
    with a gearbox added to the front end of the motor.  This gearbox
    has a shaft to attach the prop to.  (Did this answer your question,
    Steve?)

                       _____
                      |     \
                      |      \                          Silent POWER!
      _        ___________    _________   |            Happy Landings!
     | \      |           |  |         |  |
     |--------|-  SANYO  + ]-|  ASTRO  |--|              - Dan Miner
     |_/      |___________|  |_________|  |
                      |       /           |     " The Earth needs more OZONE,
                      |      /                       not Caster Oil!! "    
                      |_____/
845.7ThanksRVAX::SMITHFri Jan 20 1989 14:5914
    Ah yes.....WEIGHT!!!!!!!!!! Could make a difference what????? 
    
    I'm seriously thinking of getting into electric gliders this spring
    so I'm taking little bits and pieces of info here and there for
    when I'm ready to go.
    
    Car motors ARE heavy. I've never weighed one, but would guesstimate
    as much as 8 or 10 ounces.
    
    Thanks for the info Dan!!!
    
    
    
    Steve
845.8plane motor for cars?STEREO::POZZETTATue Jan 24 1989 11:396
    
    Can a plane-type electric motor be used in a RC car?  It would seem
    that someone who was into racing RC cars would want to save 5-6
    oz. of weight on their cars with a lighter motor.
    
    HP
845.9equalLEDS::COHENTue Jan 24 1989 21:207
    Most common 05 sized aircraft motors ARE car motors.  In fact, all
    the Kyosho planes come with the exact same motor they sell in
    their cars.

    Exceptions are AstroFlight and Keller, which manufacture motors
    specifically designed for airplanes.
845.10Cobalt will turn too slowLEDS::WATTThu Jan 26 1989 11:5410
    One problem with using Plane motors for cars is the designed running
    speed.  The cobalt plane motors (The only ones that are light and
    powerful) turn much less rpm than a car motor with a standard 7
    cell battery.  You can't get a tall enough gear ratio to take advantage
    of this kind of motor.  You will have a car that will burn rubber
    with the best of them but the top speed will not be good.  Astro
    makes a cobalt car motor but it has the same problem.
    
    Charlie
    
845.11Glider AdviceCSOA1::RANKINMon Jun 12 1989 14:2717
    My neighbors and I could give the Kyosho interested party some advice.
    We have 3-Goldberg Electra's, 1-Goldberg Sofisticated Lady with
    TeeDee .049, and 1-Kyosho Melody.  The Lady with the D&R power pod
    and TeeDee .049 flys the longest and highest because it is the most
    streamlined and has the longest powered portion of flight.  The
    Electra's come in second (they have the same wing as the lady) and
    a nice large but powerful motor). The Kyosho is pathetic.  The owner
    is verrrry upset with it and is going to get a Sof. Lady.  It is
    heavy and under winged.  It does survive impact better but it's
    1 1/2 - 2 min. flight combined with its poor gliding and flying
    are too much.  
    
    Go with a Carl Goldberg Sofisticated Lady (not the Gentle Lady)
    or the Carl Goldberg Electra.
      
    Good Luck,
    JR
845.12? *not* the Gentle Lady ?ABACUS::RYDERAlton, who practices omphaloskepsisMon Jun 12 1989 16:346
re Note 845.11 "Go with a Carl Goldberg Sofisticated Lady (not the Gentle Lady)"
      
    This may not be the right place to ask/answer this, but   why not
    the Gentle Lady?
    
    Alton, who is about to start his Gentle Lady kit.
845.13Gentle vs. Softisticated LadyCSOA1::RANKINTue Jun 13 1989 18:3613
    I looked at both the Gentle Lady and the Sofisticated Lady.  There
    seems to be two differences.
    
    	1)	The Sofisticated Lady is more streamlined.
    	2)	The Sofisticated Lady uses the newer Goldberg wing
    		the same as on the Electra.  The two hobby shops that
    		I talked with (both specialize in planes) recommended
    		the Sof. Lady.
    
    These were the reasons that I chose.  Your needs may vary.  I have
    noticed a difference in mail order prices of about $5-10.  
    
    JR
845.14Gentle Lady or the Oly 650 for a beginnerIOENG::SEGOOLWed Jun 14 1989 12:2013
    
    When I was looking for a first glider I talked to a fellow named
    Fritz Bien. I didn't know him but I knew he ran some glider meets
    for CRRC. He did not recommend the Sofisticated Lady as a first
    glider because he felt the the tail boom was a bit too fragile and
    was more prone to break on heavy landings. He did recommend the
    Gentle Lady or Olympic 650. He thought the 650 might build quicker
    because many of the parts are precut. I'm still building one, but
    it takes me eons to get anything on the field.
    
    Well, good luck with whatever you decide.
    
    Mike
845.15SIG Riser is also a great beginner's gliderCURIE::ANKERAnker Berg-SonneWed Jun 14 1989 15:4810
        Re:< Note 845.14 by IOENG::SEGOOL >

                I would  also  recommend the SIG Riser 2M as a beginner's
        glider.    The    only    potential  weakness  is  attaching  the
        tailfeathers, which is easy  to beef up with some triangle stock.
        I have been very happy  with  mine and have only damaged it once,
        by walking through a doorway and catching the tailfeathers on the
        frame!
        
        Anker