Maintenance

Satisfied I with the flight today and several inconveniences were observed as a matter of fact.
Engine mount wooden part in Pegasus broke again at the position once broken and mended, this part should be fabricated completely with new material.
The main gear of Super Tiger 102 made of carbon-fiber permanently distorted because of hard landing following the motor stop. Reinforcement with 2,5 mm diameter piano wire in addition would be effective for the counter measure.
Reinforced main gear of Fighter is not favorable, 2 layer of ribbon spring applied there is still weak, so the same manner as ST 102 would be done on this airplane.
The film plating on Hornet's fuselage bottom surface is opened by the air pressure while the flight. Over 200 km/h speed produces incredible pressure, this hall would be repaired soon today, that was cut previously for the rudder servo burdening convenience.
Regulator angular position is decided in the condition of actual flight, relatively close position that is too lean condition while middle speed operation. About this important report would be done more precisely later.
Every day effort to repair and to adjust is indispensable to continue my R/C hobby, not so easy task for me as my daily work.

Replacing El servos

Trembling elevator servo arm at neutral position in Pegasus obliged me to replace them into new one. Third party servos might have some tendency to be damaged in the potentiometer relatively often compared with Futaba.
Because of cheaper price, still now they have enough reason to be purchased.
We will have periodical rainy season very soon, so now is the time for training myself, I should go out for the flight at any rate so far as I can have enough vigor and physical strength to continue this hobby.
About YS regulator favorable angular position, I'm now piling the datum to come the critical destination, very soon. Problem is the good and smooth transition from low to high after spinning maneuver, seeking I am the the angular position to have a enough confidence to do that.
Tuned pipe equipped YS 45 FR motor has good capability to perform 12-6 medium blade prop at 12,000 rpm

VW 1302 Wheel alignment

A habit of going to the right has been observed after replacing front lower arm bushes on both side and following rough toe adjustment and the phenomena I felt was proved as an actual physical result by measuring the front thrust direction while straight running condition.
The measuring device was constructed by myself few years ago and play a good part of my wheel alignment test & adjustment life. Though it looks like a tiny toy, it is useful enough to satisfy the requirement. It can be set very easily without any exaggeration, this is one of an indispensable advantage to access to the adjusting procedure without stress.
Alignment datum had been changed so carelessly as to have some doubt on the fundamental designing of Super Beetle, but now I have detected the criminal with barely memories, the destruction and decay of the rubber material in front lower arm bushes.
Piled ad hoc adjustment procedure for years based on misunderstandings resulted in ugly wheel alignment datum value as a matter of fact, so regarded I the truth.
The condition feeling so bad after replacement the bushes urged me to inspect the alignment fundamentally this morning.
The wheel alignment datum obtained are followings.

Front toe-in minus 10 mm

Rear toe-in 15 mm

Thrust angle minus 1.2 minutes(angle value)

Judging from the history of front axle maintenance that both of the lower arm bush were replaced, some reasonable discrepancy might be imagined and about the rear axle, right side trailing arm hinge bolt was lost and applied again, and some distortion might have happened because of unpredictable movement of the rear axle.
Rear zero toe-in and zero thrust were established today. Front toe-in value adjusting to zero would be done tomorrow.

Rainy today

Rainfall early this morning prevented me from going out for flight in spite of fully charged batteries preparation.
As weather forecast tells that it will last all day long today, I'll go out just for new model construction to the place.
Keeping the actual flight everyday not by simulator reminds me of a good day 30 years ago the period of time making effort as a competition flyer. Trained intuition nourished by everyday flight has been coming back gradually. But, even now, after a half of century period time with piled experience in this hobby field, interesting new findings appear unexpectedly in every moment. I am surprised to know that just an imagination and an actual attitude are completely different each other, of course an image training is important and indispensable program.
This is why I have come back to this hobby field again, once I had determined to retire completely and thrown away all the things.
I also know that 30 years absence requires more desperate effort than I had been continuing that, if I want to participate in the competition field of this hobby category.
Not a few young competitor are there now, I hope that there might be fine and amazing match with them in near future.

Fighter test flight

Following yesterday went I to the flying place in order to test the memorial airplane "PILOT Fighter" original model with new ENYA 15TV motor.
Arriving at the place, NHK Radio Athletic was the time at 6:30, so I did it there.
ENYA motors require some period of time for break-in procedure, only three times flight did not satisfy the duty, but gradual change for rotational stability was observed, all in Hi, Medium and Slow conditions.
Thank to FUTABA 10J reliable radio, smaller servos and a carbon main gear, the test flight today was so successful as to satisfy my long lasted desire that occurred over 50 years ago, once constructed but destroyed before the first flight.
When I was adjusting the Regulator valve screw on YS 45FR motor, I found out a critical point that over closure mixture control point exists and this angular position of the regulator is the most reliable point to be regarded as a terminal adjusting point. The regulator adjustment is the key to ultimate performance in YS Regulator System including 4 cycle motors.
Though several ways to know the point is reported, revel with the screw head to the holding case, under tank pressurized condition the point that stops overflowing when screwed in from loosened condition, I feel the way to set the terminal position to be adjusted some angle value opening would be far more precise adjustment way, so I feel. I would like to report about this in very near future, probably very interesting for the enthusiast in the field, don't you think?

Flight test

Long postponed 1st test flight of MK Super Tiger 102 was performed early this morning, successfully!
Modified LM Cox Medallion 15 into throttle valve type required not short period of time, especially for decision of throttle valve diameter, venturi size, that is the most important procedure to destine the good future performance, because it has much to do with the mixture control at slow and medium rotational condition. As I applied OS carburetor for LA25, I was obliged to close almost as to 1/ 3 closed position.
In spite of small exhaust pipe diameter on the genuine muffler, Med.15 has enough power to fly a Golden Age 09 class single channel old style air plane vigorously.
The main wing invited today for it is that for Tetra Phimpy12 Clark Y with large area, the flight style was as it was.
Tomorrow, I'm about to set another main wing, that for Rookie 10, semi-symmetric airfoil, the flight style and taste would change remarkably.
Also, the fuselage of PILOT Fighter 09 would be carried with and set the same main wing on it, both of them are so fabricated to make use of the same main wing inter-changablly.
About "Hornet" equipped with YS45 fuel pressurized system and a tuned silencer, setting has become better and better, as for my surprise, 12-6 propeller is fully driven and shows enough performance to make F3A P17 maneuver drawings. The performance might exceed ordinary 60 motors.
Tuned silencer was once experienced, 5 senses of the pilot would be attacked by it's charm, power, torque and specific sound.
Bad manners while knife edge would be eliminated tomorrow by 4-1 and 4-2 mixing application.
Further report would be continued tomorrow after coming back home.

Endeavor

Pegasus 40 destroyed by my mistake the other day was re-constructed and completed, resultant discrepancy were compensated by adjusting the setting thrusts as a matter of fact, to be repaired as that before the accident is impossible   however hard I might pay attention and try to avoid any distortion everywhere destroyed. Probably some adjusting would be required after actual flight test. Remembering the proverb, "Crying over spilled milk."
Rainy season is coming soon, let's make effort to brush my finger AMAP.
Also, several models are thrown and left undone on the way, Star 15, Star 06, Pilot Junior, Grand Master 50 and Ed Kazmirski's Orion, let' encourage repentance!

Flying test bench "Pegasus"

YOSHIOKA Pegasus 40 plays a part of good motor test bench of 40 class motors, because it is relatively easy to construct the motor mounting construction.
So, did I make several wooden beam mounts for various 40 class motors, such as ENYA SS35TV, 35-4C, OS 40&46 LA, 46AX, YS 45FS & 53-4C including OS FS60 & FS61.
Remember the principle that in case of motor replacements, precise adjustment CG is required by moving battery weight backward and forward.
Comparing the weight OS 46LA and ENYA 40 TV, 100gr difference exists. Light weight 46LA has no crank shaft ball bearings but plane metal supporting construction, difference is brought by that of supporting construction including case material physical property.
As my opinion, no crank shaft supporting ball bearings are not always necessary if it is operated below 13,000 rpm. Suppose that this tiny 46 motor has the capability to fly huge Ed Kazmirski's "Taurus", probably the performance would exceeds Veco 45 motor equipped in it. I'm completely satisfied with the performance of OS 46LA motor.
Though the manufacturer had stopped this production few years ago, slim, tight, light and powerful motor like this is nothing but to be continued it's production.

Failure

I must describe about the shameful affair happened a few days ago, my R/C training airplane fell down and destroyed a bit and now she is under repairing procedure, about fuselage almost completed, about the main wing troublesome a little is not yet. Then, why such kind of Mayday occurred on earth, tried by a long trained pilot(over 50 years experience), with the power source well adjusted and in good condition, long established mechanical controlling(over 100 flights) and with the best reliable Radio and servos?
The accident was caused by nothing but negligence and laziness by myself, running short of battery power supply, I didn't charge after the flights.
No control condition was the result at all, how come!-----Just loosening affections!
In addition, another unexpected affair happened on "Begin the Begin" no controlling the rudder because of wire linkage falling down on the left side, just omitted I lockout rubber tube there.
However carefully I may pay attention and check deeply, accident happens through any loophole? The reason why I cannot recognize it is just because of age(Dull sensitivity)?
As I could know OS 46LA motor is suitable for YOSHIOKA Pegasus 40, I would like to try ENYA 40X motor as the next power source, I happened to have 2 of 40X at hand, new supply parts, 2 sets of piston & cylinder, a cylinder head, a G type carburetor and a piston pin came to me as some residual junk part, so I made up my mind to complete them gathering missing parts. Now have I no missing parts at all but 2 completed 40X instead.

Replacing bush

Front lower arm bushes were renewed on both side of VW 1302 Super Beetle yesterday. Donate shaped 5 mm thickness rubber sheets were applied between front and rear surfaces and lower arm in order to compensate the rubber bushes weak property preventing the axial directional movement.
After accomplishing these procedure, considerable front axle "Toe Out" condition was established as a matter of fact.
Remembering the past four years ago when I tried Legal Inspection every two years, too much "Toe In"  in front alignment made her fail the exam, I adjust the inconvenience at that place and succeeded I at that time.  In short, the fracture of the bushes had been occurred at that time causing ill front wheel alignment and constructive geometry.
Over three years did I drive this automobile without recognizing this inconvenience? To tell the truth, I have been feeling any discomfort whenever drive I this Beetle, I told to myself, this kind of problem should be ignored because she is an around 50 years old lady, also I knew that how much effort by muscle work is required if the bushes are replaced by my self because I had done it by myself when she had come to me from Wakayama Prefecture. Just I pretended that I don't know about that.
As for the Special Tool I did was not successful leading to the center bolt fracture, slipping resistor surpassed the strength of the long screwed shaft, more stronger physical property was required such as quenching process.
Disassembling the lower arms thoroughly and conventional method with oil pressure press machinery was performed.
I realized again that "What must be done must be done ASAP, because nothing becomes better than getting worse leading to every abominable affair.
From now I would like to re-establish an ideal wheel alignment and geometric construction of axle with a sincere endeavor.

Lower arm bush for Super Beetle

Unexpectedly, the lower arm bush part for my Super Beetle arrived at my hand this after noon, that due to some desperate effort by VW Shop "Intake". I really appreciate his contribution to me.
Though I promised to remove worn bush and re-insert new one with my intimate friend, an indispensable stuff of Netz TOYOTA, another idea comes up to me.
These parts had lasted me as long as 30,000 km at the longest, so, exactly the same procedure to disassembling front axle thoroughly must be performed after covering the same distance.
Construction of Special Tool that can remove old bush without disassembling front axle but just removing bush hinge center bolt adjusting camber value, eccentric design as it has, and the only bush outer lace could be sliding removed and inserting new one in the same manner. If it is possible to make up such kind of device, I can short cut the procedures, disassembling front axle, reassembling  it again and wheel alignment and axle geometry re-construction.
Designing is almost finished in my Cortex, I would like to proceed to actual making of ST.

Critical defect

I make it a rule to invite pure mineral motor oil to My lovely VW 1302 Super Beetle, TOYOTA genuine Castle Oil 5W30, air-cooled 1600 cc AD motor runs in good mood with comfortable combustion exhaust note. Consequently, went I to Netz TOYOTA dealer this morning to exchange motor oil since 2 years ago.
My intimate friend there immediately saw through the condition of the motor that I adjusted yesterday, exchanging Semi-Transistor Igniters and firing timing adjustment.
Lifting up in zero G condition on the professional large size lifting machine, I was surprised to find out the critical fracture of the rubber bushes on both side, front lower arm hinge main bushes right and left were destroyed, mounted in invisible portion as they were, miserable peeling off of inner race was apparent at all. I have been suffering from some mechanical steel hitting noise when bouncing, have I found out the criminal of strange noise creator.
Displacement of the fundamental position to establish the wheel alignment and axle constructive geometry easily cause poor handling of the vehicle.
To tell the truth, I felt some anxiety about the toughness of the lower arm bushes when I replaced into supplied new bush parts,  too small and too unreliable?
The bad premonition at that time was to the point remembering the past 5 years ago before her running 30,000 km.
I would like to seek more reliable parts on the lower arm bush, such as pillow ball joint or another elastic material?

Equipping condition of the Ig coil

An indispensable physical property of the ignition coil for the mechanical point signal distributor is the resistor value of primary coil, especially in the case of additive of Semi-Tr Igniter.
It is often the case that a more powerful ignition coil should be invited when this kind of device is applied, but most of the case would be led to failure, because the required resistor value 3,0 ohm is not always proved, but most of the case is negative condition, under such kind of ill circumstance the switching transistors in the circuitry would be destroyed relatively soon.
So, remembering the principle above, checked I the primary coil resistor value, 3,3 ohm was the result existing within the tolerance.
Driving my VW 1302 Super Beetle early this morning after setting DIY Semi-Tr Igniter with new switching transistor, 2SC4552, only one twisting starter key could easily activated an air-cooled 1600 cc AD motor, no symptom of rough idling, stable, monotonous, strong torque and powerful combustion condition was obtained. I'm surprised to know the change of driving characters of my Beetle only with changing tiny semiconductors at very cheep price.

Semi-Transistor Igniter repaired

Situating in the very convenient location as my working place is(20 minutes by train), went I Osaka Nippombashi Silicon House for semiconductors and resistors. Switching Tr. C4552s were the amplifier this time instead of former C5352. They will do the work in DIY Semi-Tr Igniter circuitry, have I enough confidence about these alternatives. Also, prepared I an emergency spare module part. Rectifier diode this time is 6A/1000V taking some margin.
It goes without writing that some very quick and smooth combustion could be obtained after setting this device in the ignition circuitry of my air-cooled VW 1302 Super Beetle.

DIY Semi-Tr Igniter broke!

Semi-Transistorized Ignition emphasis module broke the day before yesterday, she stopped at the near part from my garage about 30 meter distance, I was forced to push and to guide by my muscle power alone to my place late at night, how come?
Remembering the past about unusual phenomena, the battery ruin until it could not activate the magnet switch on the starter motor, one of power transistor gradual decay must have proceeded at that time, I should recognize such kind of critical fracture in the important part at that time with out doubting except just a battery ruining because of age itself.
Gradual sealing break phenomena in the power transistor 2SC5352 caused current reek inside leading to the battery ruining! In another words, later additional ignition emphasis could cause battery ruin!

Old Timer & OS 40 FSR motor

Old Timer "Begin the Begin" is now ready for flight, replacing motors from OS 40LA to OS Max 40 FSR produced half a century ago, that was obtained from Yahoo Auction at 5,200 yen the other day. Though the seller said NIB condition, it has a history to be operated for a while, I could dare say so because clogged phenomenon were observed here and there inside of the crank case. Relatively long period time was required to clean and replacing main bearings. This 40 FSR looks new but mischievous chick indeed, disassembling this a part even piston pin retainers to remove sticky clogging material vanish like sludge every where, troublesome so much. Fully overhauled as matter of fact, all the cranking movement recovered smoothness and keeping compression after removing piston ring for piston groove cleaning, anyway all the performance were recovered as a matter of fact. After all, I wanted to listen to the exhaust note of 40 FSR motor experienced over 50 years ago, this is why I replaced motors for Begin the Begin.

45 powered "Hornet"

All the traffics are crowded at all today because of the National Holidays continued 5 days, especially almost of the highway are occupied by automobiles everywhere like a axially extended parking place.
So, I make it a rule not to go out with my autos on any holiday wherever it may be even early in the morning, unfamiliar drivers would go unexpected direction without notice, go and stop actions also. Consequently, no possibility is desired to drive in comfort on National holidays.

Newly fabricated "Hornet" did not fly well even at second trial that is powered by YS 45 FR with fuel pressurized system. As the symptoms, slow to high control does not work well, finally stops though it works well on the ground before taking off. However well adjusted on the regulator the phenomena did not disappeared.
In addition, fuel drops from the carburetor, just leaking out! How come?
Deeper consideration and careful check led me the conclusion, leaking on one way valve or regulator, similar silicon check valve exist inside both of them.
Cutting residue of silicon material, very thin and tiny one, was found in the one way valve, caused pressure leak leading to lean mixture after a while.
However the new part it may be, careful checking must be done one by one  before assembling into a new craft.
It would be succeeded in stable operation next time like a proverb "Third honesty!".