Popular Articles
Model Rocket Maintenance
You've built a rocket and flown it several times and you are starting to notice some wear and tear on both your rocket and launch equipment. How do you keep your rocket gear looking good while performing at a high level and staying safe?
Gundam Model Basics
Welcome to the fun world of Gunpla. Gunpla is short for "Gundam Plastic Models" (In Japan, it's just a fad if it doesn't have some weird word to describe it's fanbase). Gundam models are perfect kits...
Filling Model Kit Seams
Let's face it. No one, and I mean no one, enjoys filling seams. It is easily the worst part of building model kits. But, it's gotta be done. Nothing ruins a model faster than a poorly filled seam. Today, I will share some pointers with you...
Model Rocket Range Boxes
You've built your model rocket and have it all ready for its maiden flight. You've watched the weather report and have a good day for launch. In order to launch a rocket, you need to gather your range box. A range box is a fancy term for...
Aftermarket Model Kit Parts
Previously, I have talked about ways to save money by using alternatives to aftermarket parts for your model kit builds. Today I will discuss the various types of aftermarket sets out there and point out their strengths and...
Building A Model Rocket
Today, I will show you how to build a model rocket. I will be using Estes Mini Max for this demonstration. This is a basic rocket that will provide a good first step and teach you all the skills necessary to complete your very own rocket.
Model Rocket Recovery
You've just spent the weekend building your new model rocket and it's time to fly. The last thing you want to do is have all that time and hard work come crashing into the ground. So, let's talk about rocket recovery.
F-100 Model Kit Review
The Trumpeter 1:32nd F-100D is the first production styrene model kit of this aircraft in the bigger scale. The kit does come with a hefty price tag, selling for $150.00, though it can be found in the $120 range from...
Model Kit Weathering Guide
Weathering can be as subtle as the discoloration from a super-heated exhaust pipe on a motorcycle or as prominent as faded paint on a plane. A good weathering job will make your model kit stand out and jump off the shelf.
Radio Control Servos
Radio controlled vehicles not only require a transmitter and receiver, but also make use of servos. Think of the servo as the muscle system of RC cars and trucks. The servo is responsible for interpreting the acceleration, deceleration, and turning signals that are fed to the receiver via the transmitter. At their basic form, servos are comprised of an electric motor connected to a potentiometer. The receiver sends a pulse-width modulation (PWM) signal to the servo which then relies on electronics to interpret that signal and make the vehicle accelerate, decelerate, or turn.
Most servos found in radio controlled vehicles are connected via three wires called the ground, power, and control. The servo then moves based on the signals it receives from the control wire via the receiver. This movement is accomplished via the potentiometer which moves by the amount that is required to carry out the signal. Each channel that is used in the vehicle has its own dedicated servo mechanism.
RC Crystals
In our RC transmitter and receiver section we explained that all RC vehicles make use of certain radio frequency bands such as 27 MHz and 49 MHz. So how do crystals factor into your vehicle? Crystals determine what frequency channel the RC system will run on. The transmitter and receiver both require their own crystal, set at exactly the same frequency in order to operate reliably. Crystals enable more than one person to control their vehicle while operating on the same frequency band. These crystals are available in different colors which correspond to channel numbers with which to operate your vehicle. Obviously, two or more radio controlled users using the same color crystals will send each other's vehicles into a mad frenzy so it is always wise to carry a couple of different sets of crystals that you can swap out in case another racer is using the channel you use most often.
There is an exception to the use of crystals in RC vehicles. Some newer systems use the 2.4 GHz band and therefore do not require any crystals. The channel you use is determined at the factory and cannot be changed. This does make it easier to just plug and play and not have to worry about crystals and making sure that the transmitter and receiver crystals match.