Curtiss-Wright Junior CW-1 (oz8984)

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Curtiss-Wright Junior CW-1. Scale model pusher parasol design for radio control.

Quote: "Curtiss-Wright Junior CW-1. Sport-scale model for Galloping Ghost or pulse rudder, plus an easy to build servo that fills the actuator gap for small models.

FOR the past two and a half years I have been what you might call a hopeless GG addict. Previous to that time I had spent, as I know others have many frustrating months trying endless combinations of receivers, pulsers, actuators, battery supplies, etc - trying to get a working GG system. But all to no avail. Actuator motor noise and incompatible receivers always shot me down. After my supply of airplanes, engines, and patience had about run out I got a Min-X 1200 system. And Wow! By following their directions very carefully I have not had one equipment failure or serious glitch of any type - having flown hundreds of flights on several dozen .01 to .35 powered planes, slope soarers, sea planes and boats.

What's the point? Just this: I'm dead sure that a tremendous number of potential sport flyers will find that single channel pulse offers the most fun per buck and biggest kick per invested hour of any radio system, provided they start with very reliable, easy to use equipment and simple, inexpensive airplanes on which to learn.

Very reliable radio equipment can now be had from several sources (eg Min-X and Controlaire), and at least two outstanding actuators; Rand and Controlaire. However, both of these actuators are best suited to the .09 and larger sired models with throttle control.

One of the largest and most popular class of sport models around our parts, and I expect all over the United States, is the family of smaller sized, Cox powered .02 and .049 models. The Pee Wee .01, TI) .02 and Baby Bee .049 abound! The reason is simple: these engines arc very reliable and inexpensive. at the same time ideally suited to a wide range of compact. easy to fly airplanes.

With this in mind I set out to 'fill the actuator gap' in my own workshop at least, by building a GG actuator ideally suited to this class of airplane (especially scale, to which I'm also addicted). Simplicity and high reliability were primary considerations.

Dave Robelen's excellent little home-built actuator featured in April 1966 RCM fills the bill nicely for the super miniature .01 actuator, and came close to my needs, but for the following:

(a) Certain tools and skills were re-quired to build the gadget, which the average model builder may not have (translated this means I don't have a drill press and couldn't do anything constructive to a block of aluminum if I did).
(b) In the interest of long term reliability. the Micro-Mo TO-5 motor is a little fragile for average GG knocking around, and their delicate brushes can be bothersome.
(c) For simplicity and for appearance on scale models I wanted push rods instead of the tail bird-cage.

So. if you're ready. here is a tested actuator that will expand your GG system's application into the realm of fun, low cost, .02 scale or sport airplanes. Its very simple to build and will cost you about six bucks total.

Actuator. Figure I illustrates the actuator construction. The Controlaire Furuichi motor was chosen since it is a very low drain, highly efficient, and rugged little unit that will run nicely on 1.25 volts. Add the lightweight, 'forever' brushes, low electrical noise, and the $4.95 price and its tough to beat. The RAND actuator motor was also tried, and was acceptable, although our particular unit had a little higher drain and seemed to be a shade noisier..."

Supplementary file notes

Article pages, thanks to hlsat, JHatton.

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