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by Bob Aberle
 

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When installing the stabilizer on the fuselage boom, it is important that you eyeball the alignment with respect to the wing position on the pylon. When satisfied, apply epoxy to the stabilizer mounting brackets. A slot is cut on top of the stabilizer that will accept the vertical fin and rudder. Eyeball the alignment with respect to the wing and stabilizer, then apply some CyA.

The landing gear is straightforward. Using some of the strong thread supplied in the kit, attach the wire to a plywood bracket. The lightweight plastic wheels are held in place using the thread and some CyA. I applied a piece of double-stick Mounting Tape under the receiver, along with a rubber band to hold it in position.

Up front I placed a short length of Mounting Tape on the top of the fuselage in the area where you mount the motor. I wrapped two nylon ties around the motor casing to secure it in place. Then I applied clear silicone adhesive to the ties to prevent them from moving out of position and to prevent the motor case from revolving.  

The battery pack is held in position with four small rubber bands. This is nice because you can easily remove the battery for charging purposes or swap it with a second battery to help extend your flying time.

The last item is hooking up the controls so that the servos properly operate the rudder and elevator. In the installment on radio-system installation I showed the more common rod-within-a-rod control linkage that is the most popular today. AeroCraft recommends a pull-pull system using a heavy-duty thread. It looked easy and required nothing more than the thread, which is provided.

Before starting to install the thread you must power up your full RC system, making sure that the rudder and elevator trim levers are in their neutral positions. Before applying the power, it's a good idea to remove the propeller to preclude any accident should the motor start inadvertently. After neutralizing the control positions, turn all of the power off. 

You can see in the photos how the thread is passed through the two outer holes of the servo output arm. A drop of CyA will prevent the thread from slipping through the holes. On the particular servos I employed, the output arm touched the wing pylon. It was a simple job to cut off approximately 1/8 inch of the outer portion of the arm, losing the outboard hole (two still remained!).

Run both ends of the thread out to the rear of the model, and attach one to the top of the dowel control horn and the other to the bottom. Pull each end of the thread tight, wrap it around the dowel horn several times, then place a drop of CyA on the thread to hold it to the dowel. Repeat this process for the rudder. You end up with four lengths of thread running from the servos to the rear of the model (two for the elevator and two for the rudder).

I'll write more next month about verifying the correct control direction and the amount of control movement necessary for your first flight. 

I mounted the Electronic Speed Control (ESC) on the side of the pylon with the help of more Mounting Tape. There is some excess wire or cabling because of the short distances between components. I bundled up some of this excess wire and tied it together with a couple of extra nylon ties. The switch, which is part of the ESC, was conveniently tied to one of the landing-gear legs.

The final item was to run the receiver antenna wire out to the top of the vertical fin and attach it with a nylon tie. There is quite a bit of excess antenna wire that trails beyond the model. Don't be tempted to cut any of this wire off because it will adversely affect the radio range. 

How Long Did It Take? I tried to time myself during the assembly process. I was slowed down by the photo-taking process, but I'd say it took me roughly three days total time, estimating approximately six hours a day; I figure a total of 18 working hours.

Final Balance and Weight: As I reported earlier, the Pogo's final weight was 15.8 ounces—slightly more than the specified maximum of 13 ounces. But consider that I'm using a battery of 1100 mAh capacity that weighs 6 ounces by itself.

This model's balance point, or center of gravity (CG), is specified as two inches back from the wing leading edge. With the battery pack located just behind the motor, the Pogo balanced almost perfect. No additional ballast was necessary.  

Next month I will finish the Pogo's checkout, then I will take you out to the field for that first series of flights. I have my student pilot all set for this occasion. The weather situation here on Long Island should soon be improving as spring arrives.

Every installment of this series is posted on AMA's Web site (in the Model Aviation section at http://modelaircraft.org/mag/online features.htm), so it will always be in one place for your easy reference. Your comments and questions are welcome as always. We want to hear from you! MA  

Manufacturers/suppliers:

Complete electric power system described last month:
New Creations
R/C Box 497
Willis TX 77378
(936) 856-4630

Excellent small electric-powered ARFs:
AeroCraft Ltd.
432 Hallett Ave.
Riverhead NY 11901
(631) 369-9319
www.aerocraftrc.com

Dymond Modelsports
3904 Convoy St.
San Diego CA 92111
(858) 495-0092
Fax: (858) 495-0096
and
683 N. Main St.
Oshkosh WI 54901
(920) 303-1100
Fax: (920) 303-2021
www.rc-dymond.com

Great Planes Model Distributors
Box 9021
Champaign IL 61826
(800) 637-7660 or (217) 398-6300
gpinfo@gpmd.com

Hobby Lobby International
5614 Franklin Pike Cir.
Brentwood TN 37027
(615) 373-1444
Sales: sales@hobby-lobby.com
www.hobby-lobby.com

Horizon Hobby Inc.
4105 Fieldstone Rd.
Champaign IL 61822
(217) 355-9511
www.horizonhobby.com

Northeast Sailplane Products
948 Hercules Dr. Suite 12
Colchester VT 05446
(802) 655-7700
www.nesail.com

Tower Hobbies
Box 9078
Champaign IL 61826
(800) 637-6050
www.towerhobbies.com

Hitec Neon three-channel RC system:
Hitec RCD
12115 Paine St.
Poway CA 92064
(858) 748-6948
www.hitecrcd.com

Photo 28  Photo 29  Photo 31  Photo 32  Photo 34  Photo 35

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