Readers write From Bart Prater, Monteta, VA: “At
age 12 I mowed a summer’s worth of lawns in order to spring for the old Aerotrol trans- mitter and receiver kits along with a Berke- ley Bootstraps. After the initial series of crashes the Bootstrap’s wing was salvaged for a glider. I never could get the receiver to work for more than about two minutes with- out adjustments; I’d like to try one more time.
“After getting sidetracked over the years
by full-sized airplanes and boats I recently edged back into the hobby by playing with home-brew electric powered magnetic actu- ated regens. Made my first gassie flight in 40 years a couple weeks ago—what a learn- ing experience. I can no longer kneel to start an engine; I have to sit in the grass. Once it starts, it’s not easy standing up. No more running hand launches. If I fly too close to the sun the plane dis- appears for several seconds. When I can see it again, it’s in an inverted dive at 50 feet. If I fly too high the plane very suddenly disap- pears for more than several seconds. I can guide it back by listening for the sound of the idling engine with my one remaining good ear. I still enjoy it as much as ever—maybe more. “I’ve really enjoyed getting back to my
R/C roots over the past several years by tin- kering with the much maligned regenera- tive receiver—the kind that most of us old guys cut our teeth on. They’re incredibly simple and easily built, sensitive, small, light, versatile and inexpensive–albeit not at all selective. “As N4ZV I started playing with them in
the 6-meter ham band to get around the se- lectivity issue, but found I can use 27 MHz at my rural solo field. That led to a one-transis-
Here’s a comparison of a 3-tube, 3-channel home brew receiver from the ’50s compared to a modern 4- channel 2.4 GHz receiver. The home brew weighs 280 grams (10 ounces) and the 4-channel weighs 4 grams (1⁄8 ounce).
tor, two-chip digital regen that works fine with my old OS Digital transmitter from ’66. However, for some reason a Guided Mite with servos just doesn’t seem quite proper to me! I’d encourage hams or any others with a little electronics background to reconsider regens. “Finally, I noticed in an old column that
you had a Gyro transmitter years ago. My first successful flight was with a Gyro 22 receiver. I’ve scoured the web to no avail
for a schematic for that old two-tuber. When I find it I’ll build one. Ditto the Aerotrol MK IV. “Any leads on a repository of old R/C schematics? “Great column; keep ’em flyin.” What a great letter. It’s heart warming to
hear from you old timers like Bart that have come back to R/C and still enjoy recreating the past. Good luck, Bart!
Gary Neal with his TrainerMaster (above left). Gary is the hard working custodian for the Rogue Eagles club field in Medford, Oregon. A 1964 Digester
FLYING MODELS
built by Bruce R. Tharpe of Rogue River, Oregon (above right). The original was designed by Dick Mathis as a test bed for a then-new proportional system.
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