Introduction

This extract from an early LMAC news letter was given for inclusion by Norman Quilter who sadly passed away in 2008. It should stir a few memories for those that can remember that far back, and maybe an eye-opener to those that only know modern radio gear and ARTF that everyone takes for granted these days.

The Ups and Downs of Radio Controlled Models

June 1961
Left Graham Peper (Apex Craft), centre Norman Quilter, right John Shenston,
centre stage Mercury Matador. Hand drill was for winding up the escapment rubber.

My first interest in Radio Controlled model aircraft takes me back to the days when servos were rubber powered and 1/2 pint of KeilKraft Powerplus cost 5/- and if you managed to control the model at all, you considered that your Sunday afternoon had been well worth while, and if you did not have to chase the model over two or three fields, you were in the expert class.

I became interested in model aircraft round about the late 50's when my son first built a free flight model, and when this model almost outlived it's useful life, I was given the chance to try my hand at this model game. After chasing this model over most of the old Braunstone Aerodrome I came to the conclusion that some form of Control was required to bring the model back to me before I expired from exhaustion.

About this time the first copies of the new RCM&E magazine where published and having spent part of my service in the RAF as a wireless mechanic thought that to build my own Radio equipment would be a piece of cake (how wrong you can be, I will relate later). So with ohms volts and amps flashing in my eyes and Junior building a Mercury Matador (price 24/9d For the kit) I began to build my Radio Control outfit, being a supreme optimist I had no doubt at all that we would soon be throwing the mighty Matador around the sky under perfect control to the applause of all the members or the Great flying ace 'Jack Marsh's Flying Circus' of intrepid aviators. Alas this was not to be for many reasons, one or which was my so called Radio Control unit Which I think I can say without any fear of contradiction, never controlled anything at all. For all or you who cannot remember those earlier days I will give you a brief idea of what the equipment has like. The new Ivy RX as it was called, first appeared in the September 1960 issue or the RCM&E. The TX was very crude by today's standards to say the 1east. The TX was a single valve job giving a carrier wave only and a powered by a 90 Volt HT battery and in 1.5 Volt filament battery, it was not crystal controlled and could be tuned anywhere between 26 and 3O Meg's

The RX was a single valve which required 60 Volt and 1.5 Volt batteries plus a further 4.5 Volt flat battery for the escapement, which was rubber driven of course. The all up weight of all this must have been about 2 lbs, and in no way helped when all you had for power was 1 cc.

Part of the instructions for setting up the RX was as follows, 'With a standing current or 3 mA, the armature of the relay must be set (by adjusting the spring tension) to pull in at less than 3 mA, and to fall out at 2 mA.', giving a change of only one milliamp to work the relay. The setting on this relay was so fine that any movement at all sent the whole thing haywire. 'If the RX is not properly tuned or goes out of range this could mean the loss or the model aircraft. Instructions on this point will be given later.' I never did find out what these instructions were, but as it happens it did not really matter, as the model never managed to rise above 10 foot high anyway.

Before I commence with the continuing saga of my attempts to defeat gravity with the aid of balsa wood glue and tissue paper, I would like for the benefit of the younger members of the club, to give a few details of the Mercury Matador as was mentioned above, as I think it is still possible to purchase this kit, and if so, could be well worth considering if you want to enter a vintage event or just want a cheap kit that will fly well on rudder only.

(Remember we are talking 1950's here: Admin)

On the first model that I flew the modifications were as follows and are the minimum I would recommend for R/C use.

(1) The wingspan be increased by 4" by the insertion of a 4" strait centre piece with the kit wings glued on with the required dihedral.

(2) The wing spars to be changed from balsa to spruce

(3) The front of the wing from the front spar to be sheet covered on both top and bottom.

(4) The sides of the fuselage from the trailing edge of the wing forward was constructed of 3/16" sheet instead of the open construction as shown on the plan in the kit

With these mod's and a 2.5cc motor, you can even do rolls with just rudder only and for a sport Sunday only model it can take some beating.

If you want to go even further with the modifications it is very easy to make a tricycle undercarriage, and an elevator.

The Mk.15 was the last one I made, and was fitted with a symmetrical wing and ailerons and was flown with an all up weight of 5 lbs on an Enya .19 engine.

Well so much for the Matador now back to the story of my first Radio Controlled Flight (I think on reflection that the 'controlled' should be omitted..)

This took place on the old Braunstone Aerodrome one Saturday in the summer of 1960. After much finger bashing the 1cc DC Spitfire engine was coaxed into life and must have been turning the 8x4 prop at a fantastic number of rev's which in actual fact must have been about 9000 rpm at most.

After many adjustments and a test glide (yes it was the done thing way back, to test glide all models before they launched under power) the tank was filled up and the engine started. The first attempt carried the model about 10 yards and this included a good heave when it was hand launched. So back to the start again. Engine started, R/C checked and with Junior moving at great speed the model was launched once again into the air. This time it actually maintained height at about 10 ft above the ground, and at this stage in the proceedings, I thought about the Radio Control bit and tried pushing the button of the TX which according to the book of words should have made the model turn either to the left or Right on command. The procedure being, one push of the button to go right, and two for left. As perhaps some of you have discovered, what the book says and what actually happens are two entirely different things, and in this case it was no exception.

What was actually happening, was the escapement being so finely balanced it was rotating continuously due to the vibration of the motor, this resulted in the model flying in a dead strait line at about 10 feet above the ground. To say that it was, Radio Controlled, was about the most ridiculous statement anyone could make.

Those members of the club that flew on the old Braunstone Aerodrome will remember that on the other side of the boundary hedge near the Club House, was what was called the Pig Farm, which as you can imagine was not the place to land a model. As you will have guessed by now my model flopped down in the mess that pigs have a habit of leaving on the ground. Well, after retrieving my model and removing as much of the mess as I could, I walked back to the car holding the model down wind as much as possible. So it was back to the drawing board for some much needed modifications.

You can see the 'actual' red coloured Matador and Norman flying it at Braunstone Aerodrome at the end of this compilation of old cine clips