In this episode of DIY Radio Control Hobbies, host Chris Chianelli looks at a sampling of some of the more unusual and outrageous items from the vast and widening field of radio control hobbies. Included are an RC dirigible airship, some robotic desktop rovers, fighter flyers that can "shoot each other down" with on-board sonic guns, light-equipped night flyers and miniature turbine jets.
RC Dirigible Airship In this segment, host Chris Chianelli assembles an easy-to-build inflatable blimp that can be operated indoors. The model built in this segment is the Airship-1 (TM) from MegaTech (TM ) (figure A). This is an ideal starter-model for beginners who've never built or operated an RC model before.
Materials: MegaTech Airship-1 kit
Helium for inflation (may be purchased at florists or party shops)
Phillips jeweler's screwdriver
Transparent tape
A few pennies for extra ballast
Important: This demonstration shows basic instructions for assembly and operation of this particular model airship. There are variations in assembly for each particular model. Read and carefully follow the manufacturer's instructions that come with yours, whether it is this particular model or another. Additional information about assembly as well as running, troubleshooting and fine-tuning the model can be found in the manufacturer's instructions.
Steps:
- Once you've purchased your model airship kit, take the air-body to a florist or party shop to have it inflated with helium. The airbag is filled by means of a self-sealing valve on the bottom of the bag (figure B).
- Once you have the air-body inflated, tie it down with helium to prevent it from floating out of reach as you work on it.
- The airship kit includes a power gondola (figure C) with motorized propellers that direct the finished ship and raise or lower it. The gondola is simply taped to the bottom of the air-body.
- The kit also includes four rear air-fins and some clay ballast (figure D). The ballast is used to help the inflated ship achieve neutral buoyancy so that it can float in a stationary position.
- Other items you'll need include transparent tape, a jeweler's screwdriver and a few pennies for extra ballast (figure E).
- The kit comes with the radio transmitter (figure F).
- Make sure that the switch on the power gondola is in the "off" position, and remove the retaining screw allowing you to open the battery compartment.
- Install a 3-volt lithium battery, according to the diagram inside the compartment (figure G), then replace the battery-compartment lid and retaining screws.
- Tape the self-sealing inflating valve to the side of the air-body to keep it secure and out of the way.
- Secure the flat surface at the top of the gondola to the air-body using four loops of transparent tape. There are two centerlines on the air-body. Locate the center of the gondola about 3" in front of where those lines intersect.
- Apply some strips of tape all the way around the edges of the gondola to secure it further (figure H).
- Pre-bend the air-fins to form two tabs on each (figure I).
- Secure the fins to the air body with transparent tape (figure J). Place them equal distances apart -- top, left, bottom and right -- at the rear of the air-body.
- In our demonstration, Chianelli started with one penny taped in front of the gondola (figure K) to help achieve neutral buoyancy. Additional pennies and/or ballast putty can be added to the gondola if necessary.
- With the proper amount of ballast, the completed airship should remain fairly stationary when let go (figure L).
- With proper batteries installed in the radio transmitter, the airship is now ready for a trial run.
In the segment that follows, Chianelli builds two park flyers that can be flown in combat and shoot each other down using sonic guns.
RESOURCES :
RC Modeler magazine
RC Modeler magazine
Sierra Madre, CA 91025
Fax: 626-355-1476
Website: www.rcmagazine.com
Airship1 RC blimp, by Megatech
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