All linkage hardware is included with aileron control rods (above right) crossed for better geometry. The wheels are made from foam, laser-cut card -
To aid stability, washout is sanded into the underside of each aileron clearly shown on the plan. The provided carbon reinforce- ments are installed in the wing, horizontal stabilizer and fuselage with Sobo glue and allowed to dry.
Next the laser-cut cardstock stencils are taped to their proper locations as shown on the plan sheet, then painted using a stip- pling action to build up light coats. The gold registration number is outlined with black marker before removing the stencil. I had some reservations about this process but the results came out good. Just be sure to stipple not brush on the paint.
The fuselage center and sides are sanded round before assembly and then the right side panel is glued in place and servos test fit along with planning wiring route which is neatly hidden in center of the fuselage. The laser-cut plywood motor mount is assembled and glued in place. The wing and stab are glued in place with Sobo checking alignment
stock, plywood and aluminum tube to produce scale looking wheels (above right) that weigh almost nothing.
while drying and laser-cut plywood control horns are epoxied in place. The landing gear is made from carbon fiber rod stock with plywood gussets and an alu- minum axle epoxied in place to the fuselage. The wheels are made of foam, plywood, card- stock and aluminum to produce a lightweight, scale-looking wheel. Servos are glued into pre-cut cutouts with control linkages made up from the included hardware and tested. The 10-gram outrun- ner was soldered to the 6-amp speed control, checked for proper direction of rotation and finally mounted to Pete. The cardstock land- ing gear fairing and spreader fit well and re- ally dress up the model. Finally some stretch thread was used for the flying wires (not pro- vide) and Hazel, the pilot, was glued in place in the cockpit. Pete’s control throws and c.g were set up as directed by the manual. The final all-up weight of the 4-channel Pete, with a 2S 240 mAh Li-Po, is 3.9 ounces.
On the day of the maiden, the winds were calm and the skies were clear. I lined up Pete on the runway and, with my left finger ready for a bit of right rudder and power applied, Pete took to the air in a few feet. Control was positive and flight was brisk but stable and smooth. The model could be flown at less than full power and, when powered back on final, was easy to land.
My flying buddies, who got to see the build take place and then the subsequent test flight, all felt that the model flew very well and really looked great making those pylon turns. Retro RC’s Pete is a very complete model of a scale subject. There are some new tech- niques, such as Sobo hinges and the art of stenciling, which may enhance your next project. The 10-gram outrunner used in Pete is a common powerplant for many of my smaller models running on two or three cells; I can attest to its reliability and longevity. Take a look at Retro RC’s offering of models for your next building project.
The 3-piece fuselage allows the electronics wiring to be hidden (at right) in the hollow center section for a clean look. Some black stretch tread is used for the flying wires and the Pete (above) is ready to fly fast and turn left.
FLYING MODELS 55
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