|
|
Beginner
Information
|
General Information
Radio Control Airplanes
Radio Control Helicopters
Radio Control Cars
Radio Control Boats
Radio Gear / Radio Control System
Radio Control System - What is Mode 1 & Mode 2
Basic of Engines
Basic of Motor
Basic of Battery
Basic of Electonic Speed Control (ESC)
Flight Model Simulator on PC/notebook
|
General
Information
Have you ever dreamt about being a Formula 1 driver, piloting your own
jet fighter/warbird, or just sailing off to the sunset on your own
yacht? Your dreams can easily come true with radio controlled models.
We offers extensive line of products suitable for your needs.
What
is a Remote-Controlled (RC) Hobby Product?
A RC Hobby Product is an artifact that is the scaled replica of the
real thing, from cars, airplanes, helicopters to boats. RC Hobby
Products like any other hobbies such as gardening, collecting stamps,
playing instruments, or even the upper echelon activites like yachting
and golfing will provide you with year round entertainment and
preoccupy most of your spare time.
Unlike some of the other hobby activities, hobby products require a
certain level of skills, knowledge, and expertise; in order to fully
enjoy this RC Hobby, you will need to constantly test, and perfect your
skills; the payoff will be a new level of satisfaction that you
probably have never experienced before, and the pleasure of discovering
a brand new world!
What
is a Remote-Controlled (RC) ?
RC stands for Radio Control or Remote Control, and in the hobby
industry, any model aircraft, helicopter, cars or boats that are
remotely controlled, we refer them as RC products (since you use a
radio gear to control a hobby apparatus). To those of us who enjoy
hobby, it is one of the most interesting and rewarding activities
around. Those who are unfamiliar with this field would generally refer
RC hobby products as "toy". Unlike a toy, with RC Hobby
products, you can'tjust take it out of a box,plug in a couple of
alkaline celss, and expect it to be ready for action. RC Hobby requires
time to familiar (study the instruction manual thoroughly) with it and
customize (build and paint if need be) it, good benching tools and
proper equipment are all required to properly build a hobby
product.
How
do I select a model?
First of all,you should decide which kind of model
you wish to be involved with; a wide range of products are available
for your selection, including airplanes, helicopters, cars or boats;
the power source can either be Electric, Nitro or Gas Powered. For
novice modeller, it is better to choose a beginner set or an
almost-ready-to-run (ARTR) , or almost-ready-to fly (ARTF) set
to start with.
Is
RC Hobby suitable for kids?
Yes, why not but preferably 12 years old and above.
Parental Guidance is required for younger kids.
What
will be the start up cost?
Our products range from $100 to $1000+ depending on
your budget.
Where
can I get information on RC Hobby?
|
Radio Control Airplanes [Top]
Ca you imagine the excitement of piloting your own
model airplane,
flying gracefully through the sky responding to your commands? RC
Airplanes will offer you just that kind of thrill.
What
is R/C Flight?
Radio-controlled Model Airplane is the illustrious
blending of science and art that requires the precise skill of building
and the artfull skill of remotely controlling a flying apparatus.
Today's replica R/C planes are so sophisticated and detailed that you
can actually build an airplane that might surprise Wright Brothers had
they been alive. Most planes are propeller-powered by engine or quiet
electric motor, and are constructed by balsa, liteply, styrofoam or
composite materials. Basically the lighter the plan the better.
Basic
of Airplane
How
to start?
We would recommend you to go to the flying field
(e.g. Bukit Batok Flying Club) and
observe the skilled pilots fly their planes. It's a good way to see the
maneuvers visually and know how are these maneuvers done.
Here is what you
need to fly a R/C airplane.
1) Airplane
2) Radio Gear or Radio Control System
3) Power Unit (Model Engine or Motor)
4) Field Equipment
Example of a Electric Powered
Airplane Set
Example of a Nitro-Powered
Airplane Set
|
Radio
Control Helicopters [Top]
When it comes to RC Modellig, Model Helicopter is
probably the most interesting and challenging R/C model there is.
Flying a RC Heli is quite a taunting undertaking. In order to become a
good heli pilot, constant practice, good concentration and great
patience are all virtues that are required. Remeber the first time you
tried a bike or skating, it wasn't easy, right? However, with enough
practice and patience, sooner or later it will just come to you. In
many ways, flying a helicopter is very similar to riding a bike or
skating, just like the old cliche "Practice makes perfect". If you
practise long enough, it will just come to you. And we will assure you
that as soon as you put your hands on the transmitter, and experience
for yourself the thrilling sensation of hovering; you will not be able
to ever let it go again! If you are interested, don't hesitate, join us
and have fun!
Basic
of Helicopter
What
equipments are needed for flying a RC Helicopter?
1) Radio Gear / Remote Control Set
2) Helicopter Kit
3) Gyro System with matching radio gear
4) Helicopter Engine
5) Field Equipment (e.g. 1264 Carry Master)
Example of a Nitro-Powered RC
Helicopter Set
Example of a Electric-Powered RC
Helicopter Set
What
is a Gyro?
Helicopter has a big Rotor Blades on top; the body itself will
naturally turn to the opposite side (counter-clockwise) of the rotor
blades rotation's direction (normally clockwise). This could be avoided
or stopped by increasing the pitch of the tail rotor blades to create
an anti-force. Slight changes in the pitch or throttle control will
change the amount of anti-force needed to hold the helicopter still.
The Gyro is the device designed to assist the tial into solving this
problem. It detects any slight changes on the tail and automatically
provides a quick anti-force compensation; this will give the pilot the
peace of mind to concentrate on other controls helicopter. (My boss
used to fly RC Helicopter without a Gyro!)
A Gyro system is composed of 2 parts, one the gyro itself the other is
the gyro gain. They are installed between the receiver and rudder
servo. Due to the quick compensation on the tail rotor pitch, a speed
gyro servo might be necessary to be installed on your gyro system.
Normally, gyro is either located in the front or rear of the helicopter
body. It has to use quality diuble-sided tape to secure it in place. If
the gyro becomes lossen during flight, crash will be inevitable. Some
people might wonder, how can a heli flown without a gyro? The answer is
a resounding "NO"; never fly a helicopter without the installation of a
gyro. It can be extremely dangerous if you do so.
There are a lot of gyro available in the market. Some come with heading
lock function or non-heading lock ones. If you wold like to try 3D
aerobatics, it is advisable to have a better gyro system.
Safety
Flying RC Helicopter can be a lot of fun, however, you must be aware of
the dangers as well. It is important to take the necessary precautions
and aware of warnings. Serious injuries can be inflicted upon misuage.
It is important to read the instruction manual before flight. Consult
an experience flyer for more infomration.
|
Radio
Control Cars [Top]
RC cars are probably the most popular items among RC
modelers since they are suitable for omst hobbyists, from beginner to
performance-minded expert. Compared to controlling a RC airplane that
flies all over the sky, RC car is much simpler to control. It performs
all its maneuvers on the ground, and for obvious reasons, it is much
easier to control something on the ground than it is in the air. And
when something is easier to control, the fun doubles up!
Depending on your needs or skill levels, a hobby shop would normally
offer a wide range of selection to choose from. Ranging from a 1/10th
scale electric powered car to a nitro powered monster truck. If
simplicity and easy control is what you're aiming for, then electric
powered cars are just for you and should be the best choice to start
with. If you are an advanced modeler, crazy about the speed, you might
consider 1/10th true-scale on-road nitro powered touring car, te sound
of the model engine will definitely fulfill your expectation. If you
are serious with breathtaking off-road racng and want your car to be
competent on the pavement during a big jump; then trucks and buggies
are probably the right choice for you. However, if you want to feel the
freedom to tackle even he roughest terrain without any emphasis on
speed, you should go for the Monster truck! 4WD high CG and oversized
wheels/tires.
Basic
of car
1) Caster
Caster angle describes the angle of kingpin relating
to vertical plane of ground when looked at the side of the car.
Bascially the more volume of the caster will increase the amount of
steering exiting corners, less caster angle tends toward over. In other
words, it affects how quickly your racer turns. But the more stable
traction in line while driving in fast, bumpy condition. Less caster
adjustment gets opposite result.
2)
Camber
Camber settings will change the amount of area on
your tires that make contact with the track surface. This can product a
drastic change in the amount of traction your tires will provide. In
general, the more contact the tire has with the track, the greater the
traction.
3)
Toe-In/Out
Toe describes the variation from parallel of the
tires inward or outward when viewed from directly above. When the tires
appear to be steering slightly toward each other, it's toe-in. When
they appear to be steering slightly apart, it's toe-out. Toe-in may
increase the steering, stability of traction abd handling during
acceleration. But the extra steering may cause slight difficulty to
enter corners. Toe-in angle can be adjusted by adjusting the turn
buckles.
4)
On-Road vs Off-Road
There are two main types of R/C Car, "On-road" and
"Off-road".
On-road cars are designed to run on smooth terrain, such as a parking
lot or a professional racing track. The most common On-road car
includes Formula 1, Indy racing car, and touring car.
Off-road cars are come with higher center of gravity than On-road cars
and the longer travel of the suspension system provides the durable
handling while the car is running on a rough ground. It can be
categorized into several grades, such as monster truck with giant
wheels and tires, or an off-road buggy with extra long suspension arms
or a realistic-looking rally car. These models are powered either by
electric motor or nitro gas engine.
2WD
Traction is the resistance or friction happening between each tire and
the ground surface. To transfer the motor/engine power into moving
force an equal amount of traction is needed preferably much
more traction than torque. In 2WD, the traction of only two wheels is
used. The other two tires have traction as well, but they are just
rolling along. In rear wheel drive model, the front two tires are used
to steer the vehicle. If more torque is applied than the traction
available, the 2 tires will break lose and start spinning. Once the
tires are spinning, we say " we lost traction". Therefore, if there is
a need for more power/torque to go faster, moretraction is needed. So,
in 2WD power is divided towards 2 tires and the traction of those two
tires has the burden of supporting the motor/engine's power, each
powered tire has to deal with 50% of the available torque.
 |
4WD
In
4WD, the power is divided equally among 4 tires and the traction at
each powered tire has to deal only with 25% of the torque created by
motor/engine, transmission, transfer case, and axle. Since each tire in
4WD has to carry a much smaller torque load (25% instead of 50%)m it is
much less likely for the tires to break loose. That is why a 4WD can
climb much steeper terrain than a 2WD. This is because much more torque
is needed to move te car up a steep grade, and only when the torque
load is spread out over 4 tires instead of 2 tires, it is supported by
sufficient traction.
In order to use the traction of all 4 tires
to drive on surfaces with marginal traction, differential locks and
traction control were needed, and all driven axles have to have a
differential to make it possible in turns to send more rpm and more
torque to the outside wheel and less rom and less torque to the inside
wheel of a turn.
 |
How
to start
For the electric cars, you will need a battery pack and a charger for
the start. Most cars doesn't come with either one. It would make the
kits too expensive. The most useful chargers for beginners are units
that will charger five-and-six-cell packs, and can operate from house
current as well as 12-volt sources.
For
nitro-powered cars, it's much more complicated and requires more
support equipment, that is, a glow starter, fuel and even an engine
starter. It's important to break-in your glow plug engine before it is
ready to run. Another crucial factor in order for your glow plug engine
to work properly is the fuel. When racing the car, you can get fuel
that contains up to 50% nitro , bit it isn't necessary for running
under normal conditions. Most of the car engines develop enough power
on 15-20% nitro to set records. Excessive nitro in fuel results in
higher costs and shorter lifespan of engine.
Furthermore, you'll
need to equip yourself with a few basic tools to do the job right. You
should prepare some handy tools such as hobby knife, cross wrench,
phillips screw drivers and needle nose pliers.
|
Radio
Control Boats [Top]
Welcome to the exciting world of Radio Control boat
modelling! There are a growing number of people who are starting to
enjoy th epleasure of RC model boating. Unlike airplanes and cars, RC
Boats offers a relaxing way to sail a yacht. Enjoy the nice breeze and
pinic by the lakeside. For fast thrilling experience, you can consider
a powerboat such Bandit or Desperado.
Basic
of Yacht
Basic
of Power Boat
Type
of Radio Control Boats
How
to controla sail boat?
What
do I need for a boat?
Sail
boat
Normally a surface 2ch radio control system for a sailboat. For big
yacht, a winch servo (sail servo) is highly recommended for higher
performance.
Power
Boat
Depending on Electric -Powered or Gas-Powered
(Nitro), various equipment will be required. An electric-powered boat
will require an ESC, a suitable battery pack, and a field quick charger.
For gas-powered boat, it requires a suitable engine, tune pipe and
field equipment that pumps the fuel and starts the engine.
|
Radio
Gear / Radio Control System [Top]
All RC models require a radio gear/radio control system
to operate. Each radio unit includes transmitter, receiver, servos,
battery holder/pack and switch harness. Some RC units include a
charger. The transmitter is held by the user and control the sticks or
the turning wheel (pistol radio) to input commands. The receiver
receives and decodes commands from the transmitter and activates the
servos to move under your control accordingly.
Caution
at the flying field or racing track
- Always check if there is anyone operarting on the same frequency (for
radio gear/radio control system running on MHz frequency), If so, make
sure that you do not turn on at the same time.
- Do not operate the model or use the radio in rain, lightning, or at
night.
- Do not operate the model or use the radio if you have been drinking
alcohol or under the influence of any other substance that will affect
your skills.
- Always check battery power before you operate.
- The servos will glitch ±25° if there is any frequency at about 200~250 MHz bearby when using this radio.
Application
of 2CH Gas Powered Car Radio
Application
of 2CH Electric Powered Car Radio
Application
of 2CH Electric Powered Boat Radio
Application
of 3CH Pistol Radio Control for Nitro Powered Car Radio w/Reverse Function
Application
of 3CH Single Stick Radio for Electric Powered or Nitri Powered Airplane Radio
Application
of 4CH Nitro Powered Airplane Radio
Application
of 5CH Nitro Powered Airplane Radio
|
Radio Control System (For Helicopter Use) - What is Mode 1 or Mode 2? [Top]
Throttle on the right refers to a Mode 1 Transmitter.
Throttle on the left refers to a Mode 2 Transmitter.
|
Basic
of Engines
[Top]
Two-stroke Engine
Two-Stroke engine running cycle: The piston moves upward in the cylinger, drawing the fuel/air mixture into the
crankcase while at the same time compressing the micture prior to ignition. The fuel/air mixture is ignited
when the piston reaches the top of its travel, and the combustion drives the piston down in the cylinder,
resulting in power output.
As the piston descends in the cylinder, it releases the exhaust gas through the exhaust
port and draws the fresh fuel/air mixture into the cylinder through the intake ports.
Four-stroke Engine
Four-stroke engine running cycle: The piston moves downward in the cylinder which introduces the fuel/air
mixture into the cylinder through the intake valve, which then closes as the piston reaches bottom. As the
piston moves upward in the cylinder, the fuel/air mixture is compressed and ignited which drives the piston
downwards through the power stroke.
The exhaust valve opens as the piston reaches the bottom of the cylinder,
and the exhaust gases are released as the piston moves upwards again in the cylinder.
Micro Turbojet Engine
Unlike a two or four-stroke engine; the turbojet engine is not a reciprocating-piston internal combustion engine.
Air is drawn into the compressor section, combined with atomized fuel, and ignited.
The rapid expansion of the ignited gases drives both turbine and the compressor section of the turbine. The extremely
high RPM of the turbine section is what provide the thrust on a turbojet engine.
|
Basic
of Motor
[Top]
Motor
Different type of motors will be used on different applications in the RC world. The motors can be classified as brush,
brushless and coreless motor.
Though inexpensive, traditional "brushed" electric motors offer short run times and limited power. Current passes into the heart
of the motor through soft to semi-hard blocks of material called brushes which contact the spinning commutator.
Friction from this contact reduces power and causes wear, eventually requiring brush replacment.
"Brushless" motors avoid these inefficiencies. Current passing around the outside of the motor's can causes
magnets on the motor shaft to follow in a circle (imagine the passing current acting like one agnet, pulling the
magnets on the motor shaft towards it). Brushless technology is slightly expensive, but also
more efficient - and can be MUCH more powerful!
Classify with the rotating type, brushless motor has two type of mechanical design.
One is outrunner motor, the other is inrunner motor. Each of them has their own usage.
"Coreless motor" is special motor that has been used on the high performance servo. Normally, it is used on the servo.
|
Basic
of Battery
[Top]
Nickel Metal Hydride (Ni-MH) battery provides incremental improvements in capacity over the Nicket Cadmium
at the expense of reduced cycle life and lower load current.
Ni-MH batteries do not use heavy metals that may have tpxic effects. In addition, they can store up to
50% more power than Ni-Cad batteries and do not suffer from memory effects.
Nicket Cadium (Ni-Cad/Ni-Cd) battery is a well known and understood battery the NiCd is used where long life, high
discharge rate and economical price are important. Most Ni-Cad battery packs are assembled in 6 or 7 cells for
use on cars or airplanes. Each cell provides 1.2V therefore a 6-cell pack is rated at 7.2V and a 7-cell pack at 8.4V.
The most popular batteries in use today vary from 1500mAh to 3300mAh. The mAh rating of the battery pack
determines the length of time your model will run, while adding cells will increase the speed of your model.
Lithium Ion fragile technology requires protector circuit. The Li-Ion is used where very high energy density
is needed and cost is secondary. (In recent years, it is getting cheaper.) Lithium Polymer (LiPo/Li-Poly) technology
provides extremely high capacity in an ultra-low weight package. Unlike any other battery chemistry, Lithium batteries
are designed for parallel or series/parallel operation. The more cells you parallel, the more current you can
draw from the battery pack.
|
Basic
of Electronic Speed Control (ESC)
[Top]
As the name implies, this device controls the speed of your electric powered vehicle, very much like the throttle
control on an engine. Most efficient ESC eliminates the need for a servo as it connects directly to the receiver
and provides smooth, liner throttle control and variable brakes. Some units are even available with reverse, or
programmable setting function.
|
Flight Model Simulator on PC/notebook
[Top]
Practice makes perfect. Try flying using FMS on a computer to improve your skill. Go to http://shop.rotor.com.sg/fms for more information.
|
| Most of the Information above is extracted from Thunder Tiger Corp. Catalogue.
Updated on 30 Jun 2011. [Top] |
|
|
|
|
|
|
