Welcome to RC Plane Tech, my channel dedicated to building, flying, crashing, repairing, and modifying Radio Control Planes.
I started this channel in 2020. I thought I’d share some things I do in the RC Plane hobby including building RC Plane Kits, new and vintage kits, ARF planes, RC plane engines, radio controls, and yes - FLYING RC Planes and providing maintenance, repairs and modifications to RC Planes.
I’m hoping to share some flight videos and other RC Plane subject videos like building techniques, flying, crashes, repairing, working with engines, such as OS Engines and Saito glow engines, and DLE gas engines, and who knows maybe electric and turbine rc motors some day. I will also be expanding into rc sailplanes or gliders, and stick and tissue rubber band powered balsa plane kits. I'm not an “expert” but I have been building and tinkering with things my entire life that and maybe I can share what I know and also learn from others along the way. I welcome comments and tips.
Hi, I believe I was using an 11-6 or 11-8. Been a while. I know I tried different sizes based on the OS Manual for this engine, but tended to use the 11s. Based on the manual the length were 10, 11, and 12. The 11 seemed to work the best for me.
Hi there and very nice video and thanks for sharing. I have a few Saito engines and i love them all. At the minute i have an OS95V that i am putting up for sale. It was in an Escapade 61. Im going to replace that engine with either a Saito 100 or Saito 91. I dont have either engine but read tgat the Saito 100 vibrates a lot so that is now pointing me in the direction of a Saito 91. To your knowledge is there much difference between a Saito 91 and a Saito 91s?
Thanks for the comment. Sorry I don’t know the difference. I started looking but kept coming up with comparisons between Saito and OS. Im sure the answer is out there. If I find out, I’ll pass it on.
It's a good thing it's not a K&B you are working on. Great engines, tough work horses but the exhaust port extends out over the mounting lug. Really hard to get at the screws on the exhaust side.
turn the rubber insert in your starter cup around backwards....makes locating the starter on an engine without a spinner better and stops it flogging around on you lol
Nice. but you did NOT "scratch build" a canopy. You modified an existing mass-produced canopy. Scratchbuilding starts with raw materials (a sheet of clear plastic, a block or sheets of balsa, etc.), and YOU create the canopy from that. What YOU did was closer to kitbashing than scratchbuilding. Saying that you scratch built a canopy from an existing canopy is like saying you built an engine when you actually bought an engine and put an exhaust pipe and chrome valve covers on it.
Hello , this is a Great Planes adjustable 1.20 to 1.80 mount. I modified by cutting the center out so the DLE could fit (check the video if interested). Great Planes is no longer in business, but you can still find them on eBay and other sites. They made a few sizes, so check. For the DLE 20 in the future, I would probably use one of the mounts that are available from Red Wing hobby or Valley View RC or similar. Thanks
That is the oil that you should use "after" breaking in the engine. The engines that I've had where the manual mentions to use Lawn Boy ashless oil for break in, another brand that is good for breaking in an engine is Stihl small engine oil. Then you can go to Redline, Klotz or even Amsoil after the engine is broke in.
hi James, I bought this kit a few years back I walked into a hobby and they had this for 50 dollars less than what they what they sale it for online. I also got a brand new OS max 46AX to power this bad boy. If you are going to build this airplane let me know and I will give the cheek cowls to you if you want them as I will never use them. thanks hope to see you build this one! Michael Johnston
Hi, thanks for sharing your story. These kits are certainly more expensive, but good thing is they are typically cheaper than an ARF. I appreciate your offer about the cheeks, but like you I wouldn’t use them. I think it looks better without them. Good luck with your kit, with the 46ax, it will a really nice flyer.
Well done. I had watched the attached video on how to make one out of an old soda bottle. I think I would have tried this rather than finding and modifying a new one. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE--schv7WArn4.htmlsi=6f5_84Cdx3rh2gOX
Hello James, I am Jay. I am guessing that you already changed it, but in this video, it looks like you put the fuel lines on backwards for the way that you were turning the fuel pump (clockwise). You would be taking the fuel out of the plane into the gas can, if you left it like that. Just a thought.
Hi Jay, I don’t think I checked which it was turning it when set up. I know it can go either way. I think I usually set them to fill clockwise and empty counter clockwise?
James, don't forget that a canopy is only there for a pilot to look out from! Planes with cockpits or canopies look awful without a corresponding pilot in there. Even more so if it's scale but if it's clear, stick a chap or chapess in there! 👨✈️
Use Gorilla glue! I never sand magnets. Make sure the wood or foam excepts the magnet. Without too much force. If it falls right in the hole, it is too big.
They are very strong, almost too strong in some cases. With this canopy I can actually slide it away sideways, instead of pulling straight out, this helps since it's not pulling straight on the magnets. I was considering thick CA, but not sure how that would work. Thanks for the comment and tip.
@@JamesRCPlaneTech hi James just use a small magnet through the exhaust port if it attracts then it’s an iron piston and liner! All the early ones where like this an although take a lot more running in will last forever 🎂 same as early enya engines! Cheers
Kinda looks like the plan depicts a linear servo so the servo is totally hidden in the wing. That would have meant no control horn sticking out. Would have liked to see that build. But that’s more of a challenge. I do understand the route you’ve chosen though, most likely I would have done the same ;-)
Hi, I noticed in this video that the FIRE WALL has no angle on it that I can see like you cut in previous videos, is there an angle or is it completely square all the way around? Like the original fire wall is.
Hi, The firewall had no angle built into it per the plan. So I used washers to angle the engine mount, and set it off center a little to the right so the prop was centered.
Built the Sterling Piper Super Cruiser in 1972. The kit had a pressed steel front cowling and all the RC hardware for ailerons, landing gear and the engine hatch. It flew perfectly on the first flight although underpowered with the worn out OS .58 engine. Later on Built the smaller 44" Tri-Pacer powered with a new OS .10 - A great lflyer on three channels. Really didn't need ailerons, Ended up selling it. Wish I had kept it.👍
Very nice! Mine was under powered also, I forgot what engine, I think .051? A .10 or .09 would have been a lot better. I was also young and dumb and thought I could just build and fly it with no experience… lesson learned. So, these come up on ebay time to time, keep an eye out.
Well done. I really appreciate the great and quality work that you do. As you were adding the extra balsa strip around the servo arm I was already thinking I would have cut the slot in the plywood. The only thing I would do differently would be the order in which things were done. For example, place the servo plate over the wood support brackets and then add the trim. Would have saved you cutting the servo plate again but I guess that is how it goes when doing design builds. Well done!!
This is an example of a great video. Lots of good information, addressing real problems with great solutions. Very detail instructions with great illustration’s. No smoke and mirrors if you know what I mean. I really appreciate you taking the time to share this best practices and of course your experience. I am a DlE engine fan for a long time and you covered everything on your Dle series. Keep up the good work and I hope I see more of your videos in the future. I will subscribe
Thanks for the supportive comments. I appreciate it. Lots for me to learn on gas engines. I recently purchased a used DLE-30 cc, side exhaust. I hope to share that soon as well.
Adding lead to airplanes always seemed counter productive to me. we all know lead airplanes don;t fly. I do everything I can to avoid adding lead to my planes. Well done James.
Thanks! Yes I agree. Do all you can to avoid adding unused weight that increases the wing loading. Moving things around my be trial and error but its worth it.
