Setup And Flying Notes; Ic Enginethrottle Setup - advanced scale models C-130 Hercules Instruction Manual

Setup and Flying Notes

If you've followed these instructions carefully you should now have a beautiful model
of the C-130 Hercules that is nearly ready to fly. Notice the word 'nearly'! It's now
time to sit down and understand the final setup of the model ready for that first flight.
This stage is particularly important if this is your first four engine aircraft. The ASM
C-130 Hercules is not hard to fly, it just requires some new skills and understanding
compared to a single or even twin engine model.

IC EngineThrottle Setup

Everybody has their own preference for throttle setup, but with a four engine model
we recommend the use of two separate throttle controls. Many modern transmitters
have an additional variable channel available, and ideally, this should be easily
reachable using your throttle hand. The best option being a side mounted TX control
or slider. You can use a rotary knob but this is just a little more inconvenient to use as
it is often located away from the throttle hand. The best setup is to have the inner
engines coupled together via a Y-Lead and operating off the normal throttle stick
control. The outer engines are again coupled together via a Y-lead and operated by the
aforementioned variable control. The reasons for this will be explained in the flying
notes. If you can assign a trim to the second throttle then great, but if not, make sure
that there is enough movement to close the throttles completely and shut the engines
down. In this case you will have to be careful when coming back to idle at any time
during the flight.
Work with each engine individually by running it.
Set up each engine in a pair for correct idle, full throttle and throttle response
individually. This has to be achieved via carefully ensuring that each throttle linkage
is the same length, the servo arm operates over the same arc of movement and the
same servo/throttle arm hole is used on each pair of engines. Set the arms at 90
degrees to the pushrod for half throttle open on the carburettor and mid throttle on the
stick/rotary control (see diagram). Adjust the TX end points after this. It is also
important to ensure that you use the same servo (2 x Futaba S-148 for instance) on
each pair of engines. Different servos can give different arcs of travel and different
responses. Once you are happy that each engine of the pair is running well
independently then run them together as a pair. Remember, each pair is coupled
together via a Y-lead and any TX adjustments affect both at the same time. Individual
engines can only be adjusted mechanically. Golden Rule 1 -Never be tempted to try
and match RPMs !! The most important requirement is reliability. Always run the
max RPM needle setting a little rich, even after the engines are well run in. Co-
incidentally, the full size C-130 has its propellers un-synchronised on purpose to
prevent harmonic vibrations.
Once you are happy with each pair then run all four together. Start them at an outer
first and work across to the other outer. Take great care of the rotating propeller on
adjacent engines when starting or adjusting. Trying to start four engines often results
in lapses of concentration, take your time!! The noise of four engines running together
for the first time is awesome! You will learn to hear if an engine is not running
correctly but a tachometer will help in the early stages. Never lean an engine to peak
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