RC India

RC Models => Gas/Glow/Nitro Planes => Topic started by: divay99 on August 23, 2011, 10:44:21 PM



Title: Help / Advise Needed - For Installing a Smoke System on a DLE 20cc
Post by: divay99 on August 23, 2011, 10:44:21 PM
Hi Guys,

Wanted to check if anyone has installed a smoke system on a DLE 20cc engine, the problem that I am facing is that I am not able to get any information on how to modify the muffler to be able to have the smoke system installed, niether is any muffler (for DLE 20cc) having the capability of smoke system application available in the market.

Your kind help will be greatly appreciated.

Ps : I have the Sullivan Slywritter smoke system.


Title: Re: Help / Advise Needed - For Installing a Smoke System on a DLE 20cc
Post by: gauravag on August 24, 2011, 12:03:09 AM
Divay,
Smoke setup on a 20CC gasser may not be a good idea. In my opinion the smallest airplane for Smoke is a 50CC and ideal one is a 100CC or above. This is because, you will be adding a lot of weight to the airplane. Smoke oil tank, pump, battery ( always use separate battery and never share with Rx) , tubing etc. Plus you need to have at least 12 oz of smoke oil. All this adds 500-700ms of weight.

A 20cc gas airplane by itself is on the heavier side. The extra weight might induce bad characteristics and can make the plane 'snappy' or it might tip stall easily.

About the muffler connection, this is another tricky issue, unless you a find a ready to use muffler with a smoke oil input.
If you must make it, then you will need to carefully drill the muffler, and weld a pice of copper tubing, and then use Neoprene thing to connect that to the pump. Reason being, that the muffler gets so hot, that if you directly attach a tubing, it will melt and leak.

Lastly, smoke on an airplane looks good, but is a very very messy job. Messier than glow. After you land, be ready to do a massive clean up job.  If you don't, your car seats will smell of diesel ( if you use home made smoke oil ) .

One more thing. Plan to add smoke after you have flown and trimmed your plane, and very very comfortable with it.

Oh, and did I mention CG issues ? Do you have enough space on the 20CC to mount all the equipment ? Smoke oil tank needs to be right at the CG.
And also, the smoke oil tank - pump - muffler level needs to be properly set up.
If you have the oil tank too much above the muffler, the oil will siphon out. If it is too low, then there may be an issue when you fly a  vertical uplink causing the pump to loose its prime.

Sorry if i discouraged you. But the above does from my experience.
-Gaurav


Title: Re: Help / Advise Needed - For Installing a Smoke System on a DLE 20cc
Post by: divay99 on August 24, 2011, 12:08:06 AM
thank you for the knowledge gaurav sir... I will look into each of the aspects with caution.