The Hawks' Nest

January 2004

Vol 2, Issue 1

Air Age Inc. RC Encyclopedia Series (cont')

The picture above shows how the forward cabane support struts are positioned and then placed in the holes on the side of the fusealage (per the plan). Rich uses a triangular balsa piece, cut for the proper angle of the cabane, as a jig in soldering the support to the cabnae. He notes that minor adjustments in positioning may be needed before soldering in place.

Well we tried to give you a sample from this publication as a way of showing the utility in having these types of books as part of your RC reference library. We hope this may have helped some in determining the sort of reference books you may want to own before you start your next project.
‘Till next time...
keep ‘em flyin!

Jim

Prop Wash

4 Stroke Power What’s The Advantage?from Model Airplane News

I guess this month you could say I have a thing for Model Airplane news. One of the major sections in our original Club Website was on engines. In this section, at that time, I had provided what I considered fairly detailed segments on two stroke, deisel, and on four stroke model airplane engines. In this past months’ issue of Model Airplane News they discuss some of the differences many modlers believe about 4 strokes and what the actual advantages are with a 4 stroke VS a 2 stroke model engine.

So as you will see on the following page the articale states a number of beliefs modlers have regarding four stroke engines. Beliefs favoring them such as “four stroke engines run cooler and produce higher crankshaft torque to turn large propellers. Or, “4-strokes are more fuel efficent” than 2 stroke engines. As well as beliefs not in favor of 4 strokes such as “they have more parts, they demand more care, and are proportionally more expensive” than 2 stroke engines. Or “4 strokes are heavier, and less powerful”

Before reading any further take a minute and determine for yourself which of these beliefs do you agree with then continue on and see how you make out.

The power output of a 2 stroke the power and torque curves that were shown in the article indicate that the 2 stroke produced more peak power at the extreme high end of the rev range. This was a comparison of a 2-stroke Enya SS against a 4-stroke Saito FA-40. The curves also showed that anywhere under 9,000 rpm the 4-stroke produced more power. (see charts)

The article goes on to the basic operation of both a 2-stroke and a 4-stroke engine. It both cases it shows pretty good color illustrations for each basic operation of the engines.