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Charge the Batteries
Follow the battery charging instructions that came with your
radio control system to charge the transmitter. You should
always charge your transmitter batteries the night before
you go flying, and at other times as recommended by the
radio manufacturer.
PROPER CARE OF YOUR MOTOR
1. The included motor will benefit from a short "break-in"
by running the motor without the propeller for at least 15
minutes. This will seat the motor brushes on the
commutator, insuring that the motor will provide full power
for your first flight and extend the life of your motor. If you
notice a decrease in motor power after several flights, it may
be due to carbon build-up on the brushes or commutator. To
remove this build-up, repeat the above break-in procedure.
2. The bronze bushings in the motors are self-lubricating,
but their life may be extended by applying a very small
amount of light machine oil to the point where the motor
shaft contacts the bushings after every hour or two of run
time. Note: A drop of oil is far too much. You should apply
the oil with a toothpick. Never oil the inside of the motor.
3. Using multiple battery packs to run the motor for
successive flights may cause the motor to become excessively
hot. We recommend at least a 10-minute cool-down period
between flights.
4. The ideal power source for the ElectroStreak ARF is a
7-cell, 8.4 volt 1700 – 3000 mAh battery pack. The use of a
higher voltage battery may reduce the motor life and
damage the electronic speed control.
PERFORMANCE TIPS
1. A new battery pack should be "cycled" for best results.
You should peak charge the battery, then discharge it
almost completely by actually running your motor with the
propeller attached. Do this 2 or 3 times on the ground before
actually flying. Be sure you remove the battery from the
airplane between each cycle and allow it and the motor to
cool before recharging.
2. The standard Tamiya battery connectors supplied with
your electronic speed control and motor battery are
adequate for most installations. However, if you are looking
for maximum performance, you may want to consider
installing high-performance battery connectors such as
DuraTrax
®
Powerpole
™
connectors (DTXC2300).
3. Examine your propeller for irregularities caused by the
injection molding process. Carefully remove the imperfections
with fine sandpaper.
Ground Check
After you break-in the motor on the model, inspect the
model closely to make sure all screws remained tight, the
hinges are secure, the prop is secure and all pushrods and
connectors are secure.
Range Check
Whenever you go to the flying field, check the operational
range of the radio before the first flight of the day. First,
make sure no one else is on your frequency (channel). Have
an assistant hold the model, staying clear of the prop. With
your transmitter on, you should be able to walk at least 100
feet away from the model and still have control. While you
work the controls, have your assistant tell you what the
control surfaces are doing. Repeat this test with the motor
running at various speeds. If the control surfaces are not
always responding correctly, do not fly! Find and correct the
problem first. Look for loose servo connections or corrosion,
loose bolts that may cause vibration, a defective on/off
switch, low battery voltage, a damaged receiver antenna, or
a receiver crystal that may have been damaged from a
previous crash. If the radio appears to only be affected
when the motor is running, try moving your receiver and
receiver antenna farther away from the motor battery and
motor. Also, installing a couple more capacitors on the motor
may help.The capacitors should be soldered from the terminals
to the motor case, and from one terminal to the other.
AMA SAFETY CODE (excerpt)
Read and abide by the following Academy of Model
Aeronautics Official Safety Code:
GENERAL
1. I will not fly my model aircraft in sanctioned events, air
shows, or model flying demonstrations until it has been
proven to be airworthy by having been previously
successfully flight tested.
2. I will not fly my model aircraft higher than approximately
400 feet within 3 miles of an airport without notifying the
airport operator. I will give right of way to, and avoid flying in
the proximity of full-scale aircraft. Where necessary an
observer shall be used to supervise flying to avoid having
models fly in the proximity of full-scale aircraft.
3. Where established, I will abide by the safety rules for the
flying site I use, and I will not willfully and deliberately fly my
models in a careless, reckless and/or dangerous manner.
7. I will not fly my model unless it is identified with my name
and address or AMA number, on or in the model.
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