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ARF Reviews
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The Ladies Justina and Dietrich 42% Extra 260
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ARF Build Review TOC Extreme 40% Extra 260
Build Review by Rockin' Rick Part 5
I'm going to work on the elevators and the horizontal stabs now. After hinging the elevators, install the servos and control linkages. One Hitec HSR-5995TG servo is used for each elevator. Again, I'm not going to use the manufacturer supplied linkage hardware. I'll use the Aeroworks style control horns and CF push rods with ball linkages. I didn't like the servo arms either that were supplied from the manufacturer. They were the aluminum type that bolts on to the round plastic servo arm supplied by the servo manufacturers. I find that this type has a great chance to slip on the splines of the servo when placed in stressful situations. I'll choose to use the SWB double-lock type servo arms for rock solid control and a greater degree of piece of mind. These don't have a chance to slip on the splines.
OK, I guess by now you really want to know why I'm so dead set on not using the manufacturers supplied control linkages. Let's test your memory first. Can you remember back when the control surfaces weren't double beveled at the hinge axis? The supplied control arms for the ailerons, elevators and rudder are made to meet the requirements of such components. I believe these are the older "Rocket City" type. You could get a rock solid connection at the control post bolt by only drilling back 3/8-1/2" from the edge. It wasn't beveled!!!! Nowadays, both surfaces are beveled and this type of control horn installation really leaves no strong point to anchor the control horn bolts. You would have to drill and attach the bolts right at the edge of the control surfaces, leaving hardly any wood to hold the bolts in place. This worries the devil out of me and I won't use this type of control linkage for that reason. I've found that my Planes always fly better if the proper geometry is maintained. In the picture at the top left you can see that there is only 1/2" max from bolt to pivot point. In order to keep the geometry correct at the hinge axis take a look at where the bolt needs to be drilled for the aileron in the next picture. This could rip out during easy sport flying. Who knows what would happen if you tried a hard 3D maneuver? The third picture shows the Dubro #866 control horn that has an offset of 1/18". I feel a lot better installing these as they will find sure footing in the aileron hard points. Qui Que Somenzini recommends using these in the hardware packages for his planes, so I guess they're good enough for me. I'm going to modify them a bit for more strength. The last picture on the right shows another application I'm not going to use. The aluminum servo arms were supplied by the manufacturer. I've found that this type of servo arm will slip on the servo splines when placed in extreme conditions.
I want to use the supplied 10-32 bolts (this is a good thing, they're pretty damned strong) so I'll drill and tap out the control arm and the retaining nut as supplied by Dubro to fit this size. The Dubro's are already tapped for 8-32 and I guess you could use them as is if you wanted. Don't worry, there's plenty of meat left in the plastic control horn after drilling and tapping. Now that's a whole lot better and proper geometry has been achieved without sacrificing strength!
I've cut out the stations for the servos in the wings and after gluing the hinges with 30 minute epoxy the servos and control horns and linkages are installed. Two Hitec HS-5955TG servos are employed at the in innermost and outer servo bays. I did not use the supplied servo horns, control arms or linkage rods. The linkages are made up with 4-40 hardened rods surrounded by C/F tubing for extra strength. SWB 1 1/2" servo arms are used at the servo with a 4-40 ball link connected to the control horn. The Wright RC virtual cockpit was installed along with the Lite Pilots "Bob" pilot. I've got a new installation for a "Patsy" LitePilot on my other Extra 260 and she's a knock-out. Yeah, I like this plane so much that I've got another now for a back up. Check it out, at Patsy build. Thanks
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