Laser / Turbo prop build

[forgues research]

Here are a few pictures of the boost tab control links installed yesterday, the tabs on the wings are not done yet but soon.

Also here is the latest electronic board I just finished , with 10 built in regulators, up to nine Fiber Optic drivers, three electronic failsafe switches, one for the receiver, and two for servo battery packs
Two power buss, etc....

Roger

[forgues research]

Been installing the boost tab controls on ailerons, and will have pictures shortly.

Also been quite busy making fiberglass transmitter case for our new Multiplex 4000 replacement
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/beyond4000/

And assembling the new all in one electronic board ....

But the airplane is alive and well and going forward, just been a bit lazy with pictures

Roger

[forgues research]

Well my friends as John MacCain would say I have removed the foam from the fiberglass fuel tank I made.. This thread is not only for success but also for failures... I will have to start over.

Here is why.

I used Acetone to melt the foam and believe me it melts it very well, but , here is the problem I had not realised.

Acetone is the liquid we use to dilute or clean polyester resin used for the fiberglass layup, yes I used this instead of epoxy..

so by leaving the acetone in the tank to get rid of all the foam, the acetone also attacked the fiberglass, sooooooooo I will start over with what I have learned and use paint thinner as polyester resin is immune to thinner. Live and learn...

Roger

[jack01]

Woops! Gasoline should melt the foam too.

That's awesome you're making your own fuel tank too. What did the acetone do to it? Did it just turn the resin back to a gel/liquid?

[forgues research]

	Quote: Originally Posted by jack01
	Woops! Gasoline should melt the foam too. That's awesome you're making your own fuel tank too. What did the acetone do to it? Did it just turn the resin back to a gel/liquid?

Yes, the acetone basically softened everything. Yes gosoline will melt it also.

The reason I am making the fuel tank is because of the size I need and the limited space in the fuse, so this way I can make it to accomodate it.

Roger

[forgues research]

Today, I worked on installing the tail servos for the elevator. and while at it, I installed the Fiber Optic decoder right at the servos themselves .Also I developped my own fiber optic drivers so this is a bit of a change
Also I am finalizing the main control board to the fiber Optic encoders and batteries for the receiver and servos.

hope to have more photos of interest soon.

Roger

[forgues research]

As I mentioned before, when you are 80% done, you only have 80% to go.

Here are a few pictures of the distribution board all inclusive with electronic switches, buss system, regulators and fiber optic drivers.
The whip antena
and some wood work for the elevator servo installation.

Roger

[zoomer260]

	Quote: Originally Posted by forgues research
	Here are a few pictures of the boost tab control links installed yesterday, the tabs on the wings are not done yet but soon. Also here is the latest electronic board I just finished , with 10 built in regulators, up to nine Fiber Optic drivers, three electronic failsafe switches, one for the receiver, and two for servo battery packs Two power buss, etc.... Roger

Hey Roger, loving the "build". I have an old 30% Laser in the basement that has never flown due to a new wing needed. Please don't ask because then I would have to tell ya I ran over them with my truck.

Anyway I've asked this of you before and I may have missed the answer.

Doesn't counter balanced control surfaces work in much the same way as a boost tab ? It is on the other side of the hinge line and the airstream is pushing on it assisting the servo in much the same way ? Or am I too far gone to understand ?

I guess my question really is why do boost tabs work so much better ?

[forgues research]

	Quote: Originally Posted by zoomer260
	Hey Roger, loving the "build". I have an old 30% Laser in the basement that has never flown due to a new wing needed. Please don't ask because then I would have to tell ya I ran over them with my truck. Anyway I've asked this of you before and I may have missed the answer. Doesn't counter balanced control surfaces work in much the same way as a boost tab ? It is on the other side of the hinge line and the airstream is pushing on it assisting the servo in much the same way ? Or am I too far gone to understand ? I guess my question really is why do boost tabs work so much better ?

counter balanced control surfaces simply balance the control surface to be neutral, but don't add boost to the surface such as boost tabs do.

If you are refering to spades , yes they do work and seen mostly on ailerons.
The reason I don't like spades is because they are fixed and hard to adjust on a model as compared to a full size airplane where you can see first hand if they are ok

And since they are not seen on elevators or rudder, the boost tabs a perfect fit and on full size airplanes these boost tabs are also used as trim tabs.

So Boost tabs are deffinately the way to go for models.

Roger

[zoomer260]

	Quote: Originally Posted by forgues research
	counter balanced control surfaces simply balance the control surface to be neutral, but don't add boost to the surface such as boost tabs do. If you are refering to spades , yes they do work and seen mostly on ailerons. The reason I don't like spades is because they are fixed and hard to adjust on a model as compared to a full size airplane where you can see first hand if they are ok And since they are not seen on elevators or rudder, the boost tabs a perfect fit and on full size airplanes these boost tabs are also used as trim tabs. So Boost tabs are deffinately the way to go for models. Roger

Unfortunately the only way I have gotten counter balances to balance is by adding lead. Drill a hole and put cut off rod lead in them. Only on models I covered. Which makes them "hang" neutral with no strain on the servo.

My point is, since they are on the OTHER side of the hinge line they actually help deflect the control surface due to the airstream. More deflection, more assist.

By saying "balance" are you saying that the added assist is to only counter balance the weight of the surface ?

I understand that boost tabs apparently boost more than counter balances, I'm trying to find out how or why ?

[forgues research]

	Quote: Originally Posted by zoomer260
	Unfortunately the only way I have gotten counter balances to balance is by adding lead. Drill a hole and put cut off rod lead in them. Only on models I covered. Which makes them "hang" neutral with no strain on the servo. My point is, since they are on the OTHER side of the hinge line they actually help deflect the control surface due to the airstream. More deflection, more assist. By saying "balance" are you saying that the added assist is to only counter balance the weight of the surface ? I understand that boost tabs apparently boost more than counter balances, I'm trying to find out how or why ?

Unless the counter balance is quite large in the airstream, it doesn't do much with the airflow.

Did you have a chance to read the article I posted on the boost tab thread I had a while back, it does wonders in explaining the whole contraption.

Here it is http://www.geocities.com/roger_forgues/Boost-tabs.html

The boost tab goes in the opposite of the control surface so it like a power steering on your car it forces the control surface to deflect .

Roger

[3Dguy]

Sounds good!