more | Antics Help and Advice (Linkages)
Servo arms & horns
Control arms are a type of lever attachment on a servo. The servo arm may have one or more arms to allow for multiple positions and control rods. Some attachments that have multple positions are circular. It's the control arm that transfers leverage from the servo to the control rod.
A control horn is on the receiving end of the servo leverage, either being pushed or pulled. The control horn is simply a lever that is mounted onto a control surface, perpendicular to the edge of the control surface, that connects to the end of the control rod allowing the surface to pivot on a hinge point.
Control push rods
Control rods or wires can be made from various material such as plastic, metal, carbon fibre. What is used is often determined by the size and desired weight of the model, what is being controlled and the appropriate linkage types.
Control rods are often attached to the control horns and other levers by 2mm clevices, ball joints, or other specialized adapters. Small craft and park flyers often use a simple z-bend (bend in the wire the shape of a "Z", all angles being 90 degrees) to attach to a control horn, secured by swing-in-keepers. Larger models sometimes require a heavier duty solution, and in this case we can supply 3mm clevices or ball joints.
Closed Loop Systems
Closed loop systems are generally the reserve of the Radio control purist. It's true to say that they are a lightweight solution, and extremely precise if set-up correctly, but they can require specialist fitting and precise adjustment. Most systems comprise of nylon line, and specialist fittings, and are most suited to elevator, rudder or tail wheel control. They also give a scale appearance to classic aircraft.
Hinges
There are a number of different products available to hinge control surfaces. Some models utilise pre-made pinned hinges which give a great deal of strength, and if fitted correctly with pegs, cannot shift. For more lightweight solutions you could use Mylar hinges or hinge strip, which are generally adhered with cyanoacrylate glues, although this will not give the same degree of flexibility as a pinned hinge.
Assembly
Linkages are often made by soldering metal extenders on to 16swg piano wire, this allows you to use the threaded end of the extender to give adjustment to the clevice or� ball joints. A more professional solution is to use pre-manufactured plastic "snakes", like Sullivan golden rods. These are made from strong and durable plastic, and give ample strength to even large models. Sullivan golden rods must be used with Sullivan branded clevices as they use a 2-56 thread pattern, as opposed to the 2mm standard fitting.
Control horns are usually bolted straight through the control surface provided strength and durability. Larger planes will often have retractable landing gear connected to one or more servos using the same kinds of linkages and components.
Throttle linkages are generally made with threaded push rods, fitted with a metal clevice at one end, and secured from vibration with liquid threadlock. The other end is usually bent into a Z bend and pushed through the throttle arm on the engine. Making Z bends is best done with Z bend pliers.
Small planes and park flyers often have more restrictions. Materials must be lightweight (plastic, thin wire or cable) and as small as possible. Small tube wire guides are often used to encase the flexible wire or cable to its control surface destination. There are also some moulded fuselage opening components to allow the rods to neatly penetrate the covering. more.. | |
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info | Radio Active Swing In Keepers (Pk10) (5509640)
Swing in Keepers are a great solution to installations where there is very little space to work. Using just a right angle bend in the control rod, these clips will secure the rod through a horn, so there can be no popping back out. A good alternative to the Z bend method of linkage. | |
more | Du-Bro Aileron Connector (Dual Take Off) (183)
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more | Du-Bro Strip Aileron Horn Set (103)
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more | Radio Active Control Horn Large & Base (Pk2) (RCA109A)
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more | Ripmax 2mm Pushrod Connector Pack 2 (RMX300)
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more | Perkins Single ball joint x4 (5508011)
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more | Perkins Mini Quick Keepers (5508025)
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more | Du-Bro Large Scale Control Horns (366)
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more | Perkins Solder Extenders M2 (5508043)
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more | Ripmax Closed Loop System (FMG194)
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more | Du-Bro Lazer Rods 36" Snake (2) (500)
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more | Slec Yellow 1Mtr Snake Fitting (SL026)
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more | Robart Robart 1/2 A Hinge Point Pack Of 15 (306)
Round, barbed hinge 'fingers'. Simple to install for high strength and reliability. Ideal for shielded 'knuckle' hinge lines. | |
more | Robart Robart Super Hinge Pack Of 15 (308)
Round, barbed hinge 'fingers'. Simple to install for high strength and reliability. Ideal for shielded 'knuckle' hinge lines. | |
more | Kavan Precision Turnbuckle M2 (3050)
Turnbuckles will allow you to adjust cable lengths with the minimum of fuss. These are great for closed loop systems, saving you the effort of making those critical cuts to the cables. | |
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info | Kavan Light Weight Snake & Silver (0010)
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info | Kavan M2 Kwiklink Pk of 10 (004/10)
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info | Kavan Polyester CA Hinge Pack of 12 (0081)
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info | Kavan Clear Hinge Tape (0382)
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info | Du-Bro NULL Push Rod Seals (trade pack of 6) (3108)
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info | Sullivan Threaded Rods 4-40 To suit Heavy Duty (494)
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info | Sullivan Threaded Rods 2-56 To suit F-GNC525 (499)
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info | Sullivan Semi- Flexible Snake 48" (506)
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info | Sullivan H.D S/Flexible Snake 36" (517)
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info | JR Macgregor Small Control Horns (5508030)
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info | Perkins Large Control Horns (2) (5508035)
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info | Sullivan Natural Rubber Standard Adapter (605)
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info | Kavan Slowfly Control Horn 1.2mm Pack of 3 (6386)
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info | Flair Products Brass Closed loop Coupler Pack of 4 (ANTRC002)
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info | Flair Products Plastic 2mm Snap Links Pack of 4 (ANTRC003)
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info | Flair Products 2mm Metal Adjuster Pack of 4 (ANTRC005)
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info | Flair Products 2mm Nipple Link Pack of 4 (ANTRC006)
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info | Flair Products 2mm Ball LinkPack of 4 (ANTRC007)
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info | Flair Products 3mm Metal Adjuster Pack of 4 (ANTRC008)
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info | Ripmax M2 Clevis Extender Pack Of 10 (FIRV1030)
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info | Flair Products Pinned Hinges (FL2075AC)
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info | Flair Products Metal Clevis M2 Pack Of 4 (FL2172A)
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info | Flair Products Flair Super Snake 1Mt. (FL2482)
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info | Radio Active Control Horn 12g Pack 4 (FRCA144)
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info | Great Planes Ultragrip CA Hinges (GPMQ3950)
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info | Hangar 9 CA Hinges 24 Pack (HAN3612)
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info | Radio Active Tail Plane Horn 104 Deg (RAA1082)
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info | Radio Active Control Snake c/w Links (RCA116)
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info | Radio Active Mylar Hinge Strip (RCA160)
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info | Radio Active Closed Loop Horn (RCA185)
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info | Slec Quick Link & Extender (SL016)
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info | Slec Solder Extender M2 Pack Of 4 (SL016C)
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info | Slec Closed Loop Extender M2 (SL016E)
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info | Slec Snake Lightweight With Outer And Qwiklink (SL025)
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info | Slec Lightweight Snake Inner/Outer (SL025A)
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info | Slec Lightweight Snake Plus Outer Tube (SL026A)
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info | Slec Polypropolene Hinge Strip 18mm (SL038)
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info | Slec Big Ball Link Standoff 2mm Ball (SL086)
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info | Slec Big Ball Link M3 (SL087)
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info | Kavan M2 Kwiklink Pk of 2 (0011)
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info | Kavan Precision Turnbuckle M2.5 (3051)
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info | Kavan Precision Turnbuckle M3 (3052)
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info | Robart 3/4 Inch Ball Link control Horn (329)
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info | Robart 1/2 Inch Super Ball link Control Horn (330)
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info | Robart 3/4 inch Super Ball Link Control Horn (331)
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info | Sullivan Metric Coupler 2mm Standard (537)
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info | Perkins 10 SWG Steering Arm (5508028)
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info | Great Planes Standard Hooded Pushrod Exits, pack of 2 (GPMQ3730)
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info | Radio Active Aileron Horn Only 14SWG (Pk4) (RCA135)
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info | Radio Active Ball Links M2 (Pk10) (RCA137/10)
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info | Radio Active Steering Arms for Noselegs (RCA170/10)
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info | Slec M2 Threaded Rod Brass 1" Length (SL017)
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info | Slec LARGE CONTROL HORNS (SL058)
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info | Slec Polypropelene Hinge Flat (SL37)
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more | Thunder Tiger Z Bend Pliers (TT1306)
Pliers for bending piano wire - particularly suited to RC aircraft controls. | |
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