1/4 Scale Servos ?

Opinion Gang: just finishing a "Concepts Models Fleet Biplane 1/4 Scale. I built and flew this model back in the early 80s. I did NOT use 1/4 scale servos. and it did fine, although I only flew it a few times as it was lost ina garage fire. So !!!! I have a new Futaba 6 chanel computer radio. I am considering using 1/4 servos for the elevator and rudder. But ! is this necessary with todays radios ??.

Thanks

Denis Winters <

Reply to
Denis Winters
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I'd think any 75 oz.in. or stronger servo would do nicely for this plane. Maybe put one on each elevator. There are many really powerful servos out there in standard size cases. No need to go to the larger, heavier servos. Dr.1 Driver "There's a Hun in the sun!"

Reply to
Dr1Driver

One thing to watch with servos these days is that the rated torque is not always a safe figure to rely on.

In an attempt to keep the weight as low as possible, some hi-torque servos (particularly those that are in a standard-sized case) use gear-trains that are very marginal at the rated power.

There have been many documented instances of such servos stripping gears in flight, sometimes with tragic consequences.

I notice that Hitec have now issued some guidelines in respect to some of their more powerful servos in which they still claim high torque figures but add the caveat that they shouldn't be used in models greater than a certain weight (12lbs for most).

IMHO, if you're flying 1/4 scale then you should be using a servo with metal gears for safety's sake. Non-metal gear-trains are just too easily damaged by minor bumps in handling or even a small hint of flutter while in the air.

-- Yes it's true, I really am crazy! Look what I'm doing now

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Reply to
Bruce Simpson

Dr1 thanks: That's sotrta what I figured

Denis <

Reply to
Denis Winters

Although metal geared servos are normally stronger, they usually have more slop in the gear train, too. New technology in plastic is catching up. Check out Hitec's new Karbonite geared servos. Dr.1 Driver "There's a Hun in the sun!"

Reply to
Dr1Driver

Karbonite is harder wearing and stronger but it appears that it's also a little more brittle than nylon -- hence Hitec have made noises about not using karbonite servos on planes weighing more than 12lbs unless you're using at least two per control surface.

-- Yes it's true, I really am crazy! Look what I'm doing now

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Reply to
Bruce Simpson

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