Working Vintage Tube R/C Radio with a Rubber Band Escapement Servo.

[@t.iapsingh5651]

You should write a book about developing the RC technology as a whole you are literally the grandpa inventor of this hobby and one of the founding fathers in RC helicopter technology

[@jonas2431]

I agree. He can easily write a book. I'd buy it

[@NightFlyyer]

I appreciate that but many R/C pioneers came before me as well, that I don't have knowledge on for their inventions. Mine would only begin in the 50's. Thanks so kindly. I will ponder that.

[@NightFlyyer]

@@jonas2431 Thanks so kindly..

[@vitorpaixaofernandes1328]

Another one to buy the book.

[@CrashPilot1000]

I didn't know they did it like this back in the day, thank you for your presentation!!

[@NightFlyyer]

This was modern compared to what was even before this. Thanks so kindly.

[@kenkingsflyingmachines2382]

I saw those radios in the mags when I was a kid...but never saw one in action. Thank you! Btw, my first radio was a Spektrum Dx6. I waited 50 years for that thing!

[@NightFlyyer]

Thanks kindly. Dx6i's are still great.

[@xjet]

Do you remember galloping ghost radios? After single-channel, some folk went on to fly reed-radios, others opted for galloping ghost. Having elevator as well as rudder was such a treat for those of us who grew up with bang-bang single channel.

[@NightFlyyer]

Yes, I had the galloping ghosts as well and they actually worked pretty good but hard on batteries. Thanks.

[@3DMOFO2020]

It's always a real treat to see this vintage technology from the past I actually thought you was going to try to fly this plane with that radio again in this video?😊 Thanks for sharing this Dave👍👍😁😁👍👍

[@NightFlyyer]

Well it's a bit heavy to fly this one. LOL. Thanks Cue.

[@3DMOFO2020]

@@NightFlyyer Anytime Dave may you and Ilea have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year as well😁

[@onmyworkbench7000]

Back in the mid 1960's my dad and I flew Singe Channel Escapement on 27 Megacycles, mostly he flew and I chased after it. He had what I think was called quick blip up elevator on a couple of his models where a third push of the button would give up elevator. His first digital proportional RC system was a 4 channel system produced by Controlair it had the transmitter, receiver, battery and for servos. If memory serves me correctly it cost in the neighborhood of $900.00 and it two was on 27 Megacycles. But it was lightyears better than the Singe Channel Escapement crap. When the digital proportional system came out was when we realty started flying RC models. Some place I have some old escapements. Thanks for the trip down Memory Laine

[@NightFlyyer]

Right on. Well, when I worked at Kraft, that was the first Digital proportional radios and it changed everything for sure. Thanks much and happy flying.

[@spurgear4]

My pld Kraft radio still works, Good job.

[@NightFlyyer]

Great to hear. Thanks.

[@confuseatronica]

I got into R/C right as Futaba and other import radios got established, but my dad always had the old Kraft and Orbit radios on the shelf and told me about the 1 channel bang bang rudder setups he started with... Now that I can have default 16 channel radios and flight computers on everything, I still try to set them up so they can be trimmed and fly ok with just a poke at the rudder from time to time.

[@NightFlyyer]

Right on. We have come a long way. Thanks and happy flying.

[@flechette3782]

Back in the 80's I was a kid and didn't have much money. I found a "bargain bin" advertisement in a magazine for a single channel RC system for I think about $10. It used a similar design but did not use a twisted rubber band. The rubber band only held the rudder in one direction. A solenoid pulsed frequently so as to fly "straight" (like a fish). Pushing one button stopped power and let the rubber band hold the rudder in one direction to turn. Pushing the other button commanded the solenoid to be on constantly, turning the other direction. It ate batteries for breakfast.

[@NightFlyyer]

Yes I had a couple of those as well. Your right about the batteries. Thanks..

[@BKD70]

Is this what they called the "Galloping Ghost"?

[@NightFlyyer]

@ No. galloping ghost had the rudder wag back and forth continuously. When you pushed the button, it would wag to the right or left. It was always wagging.

[@foobar201]

Wow, i had no idea! I always thought these button-press radios controlled a geared motor with a return spring, this is much more involved. My respect to you and all RC pioneers.

[@NightFlyyer]

Right on. You are right, I have one of those servos as well, but it is easier to use and understand, compared to this. Thanks.

[@tommegan6500]

As a kid in the early sixties, I could only dream about the Kraft radios I saw in the magazines. My allowance money was never going to get me there, even a single channel was something to be saved for. I don’t know if people realize how much more affordable the hobby is now.

[@NightFlyyer]

Right on. Yes, more affordable and definitely more reliable. Thanks.

[@arthurmroyce]

My first radio was a World Engines Blue Max semi-kit. I still remember it was 72.016 Mhz, the blue and white flag. That was 50 years ago!

[@raymondhuot1684]

It is the same for me and I still have it !

[@NightFlyyer]

Yes, the days of only 7, 72 mhz frequencies. My fave was 72.400. Orange and white. Thanks.

[@budparriott8054]

WOW, Back in the day I was flying paper airplanes and launching match-head powered rockets. And I remember rubber band powered balsa airplanes while you were working for Craft. Yep, we've come a long way and I admit, I'm lucky to be alive from my, not so smart, experiments..! Semper Fi, der Dave, from der Bud aka: RktMan

[@NightFlyyer]

Your experiments are fantastic as well, Bud. Thanks so kindly and Semper Fi.

[@skipstalforce]

THats really Cool, I have an old Kraft on the shelf! Been thinking about building a simple single channel with an old escapement but using simple modern radio, Ideally a single botton car key foob type thing.

[@NightFlyyer]

Thanks. You can do that, but believe me, this rudder only is hard to fly. Just use the Kraft.

[@xjet]

Stop making me feel really old. Ah... happy days. I still have my escapements and super-regen single-channel RC gear from the 1960s. I'd put them in a model but I worry that the 27MHz band is now so noisy it would be a disaster.

[@NightFlyyer]

Go for it. 27mhz is pretty clean these days, since CB is basically pretty quiet. CH 13 destroyed model planes.

[@paulsummers7462]

Cool insight into early RC tech. Thank you!

[@NightFlyyer]

Thanks so much.

[@DonDegidio]

Hi Dave, I remember those rubber band escapement systems, but never owned one. I think my first proportional system was a 4 channel World Engines. After that I've owned Airtronics, JR Propo, and Futaba 72Mhz systems. You and Ilea stay safe and thanks for your service.

[@NightFlyyer]

Great. Surprised you didn't have any Kraft stuff. Happy holidays Don and Thanks kindly.

[@DonDegidio]

@@NightFlyyer Hi Dave, I did want to own a Kraft system, but at the time was to rich for my blood. You and Ilea stay safe for the holidays.

[@NightFlyyer]

@@DonDegidio Me too. I had to go to work there to get mine! Thanks and safe and well is the word for all of us. Thanks, Don.

[@bergkongs]

A similar type video on multi channel reed systems would be interesting. Maybe even a bit more technically detailed. I’ve always wondered how reed radios work.

[@NightFlyyer]

I would love to do that. I had a perfectly operating OS Reed system before the fire destroyed everything. It was cool, because each reed had it's own sound and that is how it was tuned. Someone send me one, and I'll make a detailed video. Thanks.

[@charlesschmidt849]

I used to fly single channel rudder only. It was a blast. And if you setup your plane right you can do rudder only loops and rolls.

[@NightFlyyer]

I never pulled off any rudder loops with the rudder only setup, but that sounds exciting.

[@charlesschmidt849]

I'll explain how: In a rudder only aircraft, the non-movable elevator is set up so that the plane is always in a glide (slightly up elevator to maintain a glide) With that much up elevator, engine power will make it climb too steeply. So the engine is permanently pointed down just enough to allow the aircraft to climb continually under power but not too steep.. To do a rudder only loop - Hold full rudder to put the aircraft in a spiral dive. The aircraft picks up speed in the dive. For example hold full right rudder. When the aircraft reaches enough speed, MOMENTARILY hold left rudder just long enough to level the wings. Then center the rudder! The excess speed will then make the slightly up elevator sensitive enough that the aircraft will do a loop. Rolls work about the same way. In rudder only aircraft, aerobatics are all a matter of speed control combined with correct rudder timing.

[@NightFlyyer]

@@charlesschmidt849 We never had throttle control, so wide open all the time. But still there was definitely not enough power to do a Knife Edge Loop for us back then like I can do today with my planes.

[@charlesschmidt849]

@@NightFlyyer Yep, wide open throttle and only rudder control. Actually, you don't need the engine running at all. The loop is not done in knife edge using rudder control. The rudder is only used to hold the aircraft in a spiral dive 'until' it gains enough speed to 'coast' through the loop. Then use opposite rudder just long enough to level the wings. Release your rudder and now your aircraft is in a wings level, high speed dive. The excess speed from the dive combined with the elevator being permanently set for a glide will cause the aircraft to 'coast' through the loop. No rudder is used during the actual loop. You can do the same thing using a regular four channel aircraft: Idle the engine and trim the elevator to hold the aircraft in a glide. Then use 'only the rudder' in the fashion described here to get the aircraft to 'coast' through the loop. One thing to note though is that regular aircraft both yaw and roll slightly with rudder input. That makes it easy to get into a spiral dive using rudder only. However, in an outright stunt plane, using rudder will only produce yaw movement without rolling at all. Thus it might be hard to get a full stunt aircraft to enter a spiral dive using rudder only.

[@NightFlyyer]

@@charlesschmidt849 Thanks. Too bad you dont have any videos to show this, but know I do know how to fly.

[@4thGloryMonday]

as always good to hear from nightflyer, great vid mr herbert, enjoyed the lesson. right up there with with the one u did on how v tail mixing was done back in the day

[@NightFlyyer]

It is so great to hear from such a long time subscriber. I appreciate you and wish you happy flying and happy holidays.

[@joecserna]

It’s like putting a clockwork inside your plane!

[@NightFlyyer]

Exactly. Thanks Joe.

[@heeder777]

I had an Ace RC escapement that worked pretty well on some free flight models. The worst part was to remember if the next button push would stop it left or right. My first digital radio was a Kraft KP-4, it work well for several years. Always wanted a signature series. Those were beautiful transmitters.

[@NightFlyyer]

Your right about that. I remembering just panic pushing buttons to make it go where I wanted. LOL. KP-4's were good radios. I worked in the Signature Series line building them, and your right, they were pretty sweet at the time. I flew my Signature last summer just to see how it felt. Maybe you saw that video. Anyway, thanks so kindly and happy flying.

[@joserefe5950]

I still remember when I was a kid my father bought one set of four channel Heathkit RC radio system from a PX goods in South Vietnam. I was never used.

[@NightFlyyer]

When I worked at Kraft, we also manufactured the HeathKit radios for them. I wish I still had one. Thanks.

[@paradiselost9946]

should do something with early mechanical proportional systems... Tx side... motor driven drum with a wedge of foil wrapped around it. wiper contact gives a PWM signal. Rx side... motor acting against a spring. same regular "bang bang" CW transmission.

[@NightFlyyer]

I don't have the equipment after the fire, or I would, but you are welcome to do it.

[@NightFlyyer]

In the 1950's I messed around with single channel tube radios and airplanes with only rudder control. They were difficult to make work and fly, so I went back to U-Control. But when I returned from Vietnam in 1970, I became employed with Kraft RC Systems. They invented digital proportional radios and servos, ending the era of Single channel tube Radios and Rubber Band Escapements making R/C easier to fly. I hope this mock up I built from old parts shows how it was laid out in the plane and how it worked so you understand how great R/C has become today. Thanks so kindly for watching and subscribing.

[@samirkorchi]

👍🏽