conversion of old single channel half a to 3-4 channel

[swapdaddyxx1]

I have an old midwest Aeronca sedan semi scale, I think was designed in late 50s. I built this kit in late 60s with a cox 049, orion receiver and citizenship escapement. It had been stored in the attic of my shop for years. I recently got it down and found that the heat buildup really got to the old covering and some of the glue joints. I decided I would like to restore it and convert to electric power with 3 or 4 channels. After considering the work involved, I decided it would be better to find one of the old kits,and just start from scratch,but was not having any luck finding a kit. However, I did get lucky, and found from an estate sale the same plane, recently completed and covered with some type of the newer plastic covering. (I have not been back in modeling long, and am not familiar with all the different types of modern covering) Who ever did this apparently did a good job with the construction and the covering, but looks like they followed the old plan exactly as to power and radio equipment. Going to electric and three channels,I don't think will be a problem for me,but I have a question about adding alerions. BTW,this is a 46" span and seems very comparable in weight to the new foam planes. On adding the alerions ,should I use separate servos, one for each side, a single servo placed under the center of wing with torsion rods, or does it really matter? I will be using DX 6 spectrum and equipment. I am leaning toward the torsion rods, would appreciate you input. Jerry PS I have a geared brushed motor with speed control order from Hobby lobby, forget the exact motor, but supposed to be a step up from the 480 as used in the HZ super cub and some of their other planes. I have a super cub and plan on getting a lot of stick time on it before attempting to fly the Aeronca. Oh yeah one more question. I am not particulary fond of the color scheme of the new plane ,yellow fusilage with a rather dark blue on wing and tail. not trimmed out yet. I don't want to get into recovering the whole plane though. Can I paint over some of this film covering, maybe just to add the stock type trim on the fuse?

[TLyttle]

Seems to me that ailerons would be redundant on a model that was designed for single channel; the dihedral is going to stabilise the model just fine. Tearing into the wing to add them would be a complication that you don't need IMHO, and the added weight won't help either.

Midwest made reliable kits, and that one should convert to electric just fine. I don't even think you are likely to damage it with the added weight of the electric power system, as these models were designed for rough use; single channel isn't the most accurate guidance system, and "landings" were more accurately described as "arrivals"...

[olmod]

In your conversion over to 3 chanel electric dont be surprised if you come in under the origonal flying weight if your using an outrunner and lipo's :)

[swapdaddyxx1]

Thanks guys, I guess from somewhere I should have realized that the dihedreal would cancel out my need for ailerons but I didn't . That will simplify matters considerably. Olmod, guess I didn't make myself clear about the power. Its just a bigger brushed motor than the PZ 480 and no lipos. I still really don't anticipate a lot of weight difference, and for some reason, even if it gains a little,I think as long as it is distributed correctly, could even contribute to the stability of this plane.Although I haven't weighed it, it really feels pretty light before any power & radio eguipment is added. Jerry

[olmod]

:) You made your self clear ok ,i just thought id mention the fact if you would like to save some weight as i did recently on a free flight conversion.cheers.

[swapdaddyxx1]

Thanks Olmod, you are gonna laugh, but I'm afraid of them dang lipos. I bought some to use in a rascal, but after reading about them,I haven't even charged em. I guess I just don't want what I perceive as the extra hassle to live safely with them. And too, so far the flying I have done with electrics,I was happy with the power and the duration of the regular batteries. I have gotten so dang forgetful(suppose 70th birthday coming up has anything to do do with that) that I'm afraid I'll leave the lipos charging to long and burn the house down.Jerry

[TLyttle]

I hear ya, Jerry! Old age is not for the weak..

I haven't gone over to all the hitec advances either. I still run nicads (they're cheap if you can find them), brushed motors (they're cheap and you can find them anywhere), and I fly without hassle. Could I get better performance? Certainly, if performance was my only goal.

Have fun with that model, you will learn a LOT from it.

[ragbag]

Thanks Olmod, you are gonna laugh, but I'm afraid of them dang lipos. I bought some to use in a rascal, but after reading about them,I haven't even charged em. I guess I just don't want what I perceive as the extra hassle to live safely with them. And too, so far the flying I have done with electrics,I was happy with the power and the duration of the regular batteries. I have gotten so dang forgetful(suppose 70th birthday coming up has anything to do do with that) that I'm afraid I'll leave the lipos charging to long and burn the house down.Jerry

I have had 69 birthdays and counting.

All I fly is lipo's.

I bow to your good sense in making a wise choice, they don't leave a lot of room for doubt.

Proves to me you have gotten wiser in your "old" age.:)

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[swapdaddyxx1]

Thanks Tlyttle, glad to hear from some one of a like mind. Pretty gutsy of you to admit it tho.
Ragbag, I don't know if I'm any wiser, Its just if I'd known I was gonna live this long, I would have taken better care of my self. you are right tho, my flying (crashing?) kinda stinks, but I'm having fun. Haven't got a chance to actually prove it yet, But I believe this FSone sim. I got is gonna be a big help. Jerry

[olmod]

Thanks Olmod, you are gonna laugh, but I'm afraid of them dang lipos. I bought some to use in a rascal, but after reading about them,I haven't even charged em. I guess I just don't want what I perceive as the extra hassle to live safely with them. And too, so far the flying I have done with electrics,I was happy with the power and the duration of the regular batteries. I have gotten so dang forgetful(suppose 70th birthday coming up has anything to do do with that) that I'm afraid I'll leave the lipos charging to long and burn the house down.Jerry
Dont worry i had reservations also about lipo's i used to series charge themin a crock pot with a plastic bag of dry sand over the top just in case :) but with the advent of the purchase DNS charger wich charges through a cell tap system each cell is monitored and there is no danger as it shuts down charging cell by cell then sounds an alarm when finished ,
i am pleased with the fact there is no heat from packs and its a no brainer way to go ,you can hook it up to an old cb power supply or out in the field you car battery. cheers from a 1939 model,:)

[swapdaddyxx1]

Dang!, Oldmond, you are gettin kinda long in the tooth too, aintcha? All you guys have been helpful, and lord knows, I need all I can get, but I am probably just gonna keep life simple and stay with the regular batteries for now. I really don't have any issues with them as yet, and they are cheaper too.Maybe thats the real reason, I'm just cheap. You have to remember, I am a depression baby( the depression may have been over in other parts of the country,but it was still raging in the rural south until WWII (The BIG ONE) to quote Archie Bunker. Heck when I was born, we didn't even have electricity. Here I go ramblin again, outo here. Jerry

[TLyttle]

I'm kinda short on cash, my pensions are meagre, and I am too lazy to go back to 9-to-5. I, too, was raised during wartime with all the attendant rationing etc., so spending money is to be measured carefully.

Buying a new charger for either NiMH or LiPos is simply out of the question, so I fly nicads. I understand the advantages, but I cannot afford them!

This ain't snivelling, this is just to let beginners know that the latest technology is not always necessary; you can have just as much fun with the old stuff!

[swapdaddyxx1]

Yeah T, I hear you, but i have found a way to support my addiction, without robbing from the houshold money. For a good number of years I was envolved in the old car hobby with mopars only.Still am to some extent, but finding it much harder to work on a an old car than it once was. For the past 3 or 4 years, I have been buying up old parts cars(a friend who is in a rural location is kind enough to let me store them on his property. He is a lot younger than me,also envolved in the same old car hobby and I have way raised him. he spent more time with me than he did with his own dad growing up. he Knows if I am gone that stuff will be his anyway. Anyway, there I go rambling again, by parting those old cars out,& selling on the internet I have accumulated a fair amount of model plane stuff. over about the past year and half, have purchased somewhere around 150 of mostly old rubber powered kits,always loved them,most of the time all I could afford as a kid. Also have around a dozen park flyers, mostly hobbly zone, everthing but warbirds, except one GWS corsair, several dedicated electric cubs & cub type kits some old rc & control line kits and a new spectrum 6000 radio and FSone simulator. All this from playing with junk,and actually i enjoy that too,although some time I think I'm pushing it a little with several of the typical,and some of non typical health problems and a seventyeth birthday coming up in a little over amonth.
But Hell, I'm having fun, no kids to worry about leaving anything to, a wonderful,understanding wife that puts up with me when I don't know if I could put up with me myself and believe it or not, even though there are some associated problems with getting old, even that is fun. You can pretty much say what you want, do what you want,whoes gonna stop you. Another thing and I'll shut up. Having lived thru the times that I did, at least for now,even with another great depression(heaven forbid) I believe I could still make it without taking from someone else. It doesn't apply to all younger people,for there are some great one out there, but i feel that there are far to many that could not honestly make that statmented. Well T, I guess you'll know better than to get me started the next time. Jerry

[swapdaddyxx1]

Well guys, I got my power system in the mail today, and I'm now thinking I may have bought more than I need, or can use in this plane.
It is the Electrifly T 600 gd with a 2.5:1 gear drive. It looks a lot bigger, and seems a lot heavier than I expected. I haven't actually looked at the power unit in my new PZ super cub yet, which I thought might be adequate for the plane, but I don't think it is gonna be near this big or heavy. Whadda ya think? I guess there is something in between the two, and maybe I just should get a complete PZ unit which would be cheaper. Jerry

[john j smith]

About three years ago I tried to convert an 0.20 Miss america kit to three channel ; with a speed 400 and two micro servos. I had a 7cell nicad battery in it . The speed 400 was more than enough motor for that plane. In fact I was trying for the Elexaco electric event[SAM]. The 7cell 270 battery was a little to heavy [I think] I never did get it sorted out; but I am going to try again with Li-Polys this summer.
John J. Smith

[Sky Sharkster]

Hello Jerry, I agree with John, a "Speed 400" sized motor is more than adaquate to power a 1/2A plane, and with a geardrive will provide long, leisurely flights with a 7 or 8 cell NiMh pack. I'd suggest the 7.2 volt motor with a 3:1 or 4:1 gear ratio, GWS and others have complete units ready to go.
The gearing will mean you'll be swinging a larger prop at a lower RPM. While this is great for efficiency, sometimes ground clearence is a problem.
As far as the covering, perhaps you could take a small patch (or the entire plane!) to th local hobby shop and match the color, to find out which brand it is. Try to buy the same brand, in another color for trim. The reason this is important is the application temperature; Different brands may not activate the adhesive properly at different temps. There are some setting ranges posted on the Builders Links "Sticky" under "Coverings"
Good Luck!
Ron

[swapdaddyxx1]

Thanks Ron. Just now found you posting, been sick for a few days and not too attentive. Jerry

[5GRAND]

I also have the Midwest Aeronca Sedan (hanging in my basement), once flown with Controlaire Mule Transmitter, ACE RC Receiver and a Bonner escapement.
Power was a Fox 049. I began converting it to 3 channel in the 1970s, but never finished it. Let us know how the project turns out.
Wayne