RC India

How to people clean their planes and helis after a session/day of flying ?

More so, for fuel (glow/gas) based monokote covered ones ?

Planes:

The simplest way is to keep some tissue paper rolls handy. Spray some Colin or Surf water using a hand held spray bottle and wipe it off with the tissue paper. Simple and sweet.

Also, I always close my exhaust with silicone cover to avoid oil flow during transport.. Thats about it.

@home, for cleaning the engine, pure methanol is the best !!! Just brush off the external dust/oil with a thick brush drenched in methanol.

What I use is isopropyl alcohol (easily available in pharmacies) and soft tissue paper on both planes and helis (canopy and blades), for my glow powered ones.  Most people on the field use glass/window cleaning liquids/sprays (like Windex) to clean their nitro models.

Every once in a while (2 or 3 times a year), I use an engine cleaner to clean out the outside of the engine, taking then back to a "like new" state.  Something like this :

http://www.blowoff.com/lubricants/engine_cleaner.htm

i used to cover the parts that get dirty with clear packing tape. After a few sessions just remove the layer and lay down a new one. Quick and easy way to keep your model looking shinny and new :)

As for cleaning a glow model, while the electrics are convienent, the effort required to clean a glow model after a day's flying also gives the flyer an oppurtunity for closer inspection of the model and detect any dings/cracks which would remain unnoticed but may prove costly. Therefore in a way cleaning the mess helps you identify any potential problem.
To quote an example, I have been flying a kit built GP Decathlon for close to 10 years, and there were no issues with the model, being a glow powered one the obvious cleaning was required. However two Sundays back while cleaning the model back at home, I realised how close to disaster I was.
The entire tailplane (both halves) were holding on just with the cellotape which was applied (when the model was built 10 yrs back) underside of the tail plane/elevator hinge line in order to block any air passage here, All the 6 cyano hinges had cracked up and seperated (probably with age) and it was only the tape which was acting as hinge, dont know how far it would have held if remained undetected.

For me tissue and Easyoff works like a charm to remove all the castor gunk

anwar bhai is there any local alternative to this engin cleaner.

regards

puneet

Similar stuff should be available in car accessories shops.  This "Engine Cleaner" one and the "Carb and Choke Cleaner" used to de-gum the carb (of full scale cars and RC engine carbs and even the inside of RC engines) are common place items.  You should find them in places where you can get WD40, for example.

What is suggested for cars?Can I use isopropyl alcohol too?(especially for driveshafts and the chassis and stuff)?

It won't damage the car in any way right?(especially the plastic composites)

Why not convert to electric and there is no need to waste your precious time on cleaning.

WD 40 is commonly available. Virtually all hardware stores - at least in Mumbai - stock it. Carb cleaners are available in motor part stores and in many stores that are now part of petrol filling stations, like the "In and Out" outlets at BP pumps.

we use a special mix

2 parts denatured alcohol, 1 part wd40, i part simple green/colin/ Mr. muscle, mix it up, and u are ready with a great cleaner.

Also trinity makes a great product called nitroblast which can be used for both nitro and electrics

You can use this on all parts of the car right?

This was the composition of a cleaner mentioned by Chris Chianelli in one of his Youtube videos.

great research dear....very true

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8B7ASlKhDxc

What do u guys use to clean ur nitro plane&engine after a flight?
Cheers..

[Admin Note] Merged into existing thread on the same topic.

Thank u anwar sir..

when we buy 5 lt can of meth..... we  take out  one liter from it and add one  lite or castor oil...!!

the removed 1 lt is used in  cleaning after flying...! u might have not noticed it when you were here.... but that was  the std practice we used when we had regular flying.... (" it  will start soon again")

PS: @krixx... pauskar learnt flying in only 3days... 3rd day he did 4 landings....! total of 9 flight... u missed only 3  more.... or u would had your cake...!

Thats really gr8 to hear vishvesh !