RC India

RC Equipments => Electric Power => Topic started by: asinghatiya on November 02, 2010, 01:09:30 PM

Title: Rejuvenating an old Nikko glider
Post by: asinghatiya on November 02, 2010, 01:09:30 PM
I purchased a used NIKKO glider some 5 years back. It's  now not availabe in market. Its body is still intact with a strong foam wing. But its circuit and servo not working.

It was a one channel glider with only rudder movement and constant speed. It was fitted with a geared normal moter and 4 aaa sized battries were used in that (rechargable).

So the story is, 5 years back I used 5 battries instead of 4 to increase its power but that was horrible and that deactivated its circuit and servo.

From last so many years its lying ideal but now I have this forum to discuss that is it possible to give a new life to that glider?

It has a geared motor fitted with a small foldable propeller (but now foldable propeller is not there and I installed a small similar sized nylon propaller)

Its complete body is intact (made of strong thermocol and foam)

Can a normal receiver ( I have Spectrum 6 channel), and a micro servo be fitted with a cheap battery.  (do lipo battreis always need a ESC or we can use them without it)

Can i use a brushless motor instead of that geared normal motor (are brushless moters light wt than geared system). It was having a weight of about 350-400 gm when it used to fly.

Its picturs on net are not available (i tried to find that but will upload the same soon for a better prespective, I am saying so because that glider is lying at my home town and will be going home this diwali so will click and upload the same)

Title: Re: Rejuvenating an old Nikko glider
Post by: anwar on November 02, 2010, 01:34:40 PM
You should start by posting dimensions and pictures :)

Even a flat sheet of foam can be made to fly... so why not this ?!?!?

A brushless motor is more efficient.
Title: Re: Rejuvenating an old Nikko glider
Post by: asinghatiya on November 04, 2010, 04:59:32 PM

Hi - Here are the pictures. This is small glider I need help in deciding on the following.

a) Which motor for it (it already has a geared motor)
b) Which battery for it.
c) Which ESC for it (if a brushless is suggested)

[Admin Note] Converted to lowercase letters ;)
Title: Re: Rejuvenating an old Nikko glider
Post by: ujjwaana on November 04, 2010, 06:54:23 PM

a) Which motor for it (it already has a geared motor)
http://www.rcdhamaka.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=58_59_93&products_id=513

http://www.rcdhamaka.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=58_59_93&products_id=513

<I wish to have found an In runner under 16-19g and less than 2200kV range. Nevertheless>

b) Which battery for it.
2S/500mAh or 650mAH Max

c) Which ESC for it (if a brushless is suggested)
12 amp
http://www.rcdhamaka.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=58_59_95&products_id=33

http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idproduct=2161

D) Prop : 7x4 or 8x3

Title: Re: Rejuvenating an old Nikko glider
Post by: findvikas on November 04, 2010, 11:14:58 PM
This thing might look ugly to some, but to me it looks as beautiful as it can get.

If I were you.. then I would fix the model first, remove all the tapes, decals. Take a smoothing sandpaper and smooth the entire both to get rid of any adhesive/dust/what not.

Then I would cover the entire plane with some colored tape and give it a new life, a beautiful one :)

I would then use this motor
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=5429

this ESC
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=6456

and this battery...
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=7307

Total weight of electronics is near about.. (including all above + 3 servos + Rx should be near about 200gm), assuming glider's weight without electronics is 200gm.. you should have a pretty decent climb rate with the 8x4 or 9x5 propeller.

The fun with wide wing gliders is that you can turn off the thrust once you are at high altitude and just glide using surface controls. Make it a 4C atleast. Have fun.!!!
Title: Re: Rejuvenating an old Nikko glider
Post by: asinghatiya on November 04, 2010, 11:43:00 PM
Thanks Vikas, I will make it beautiful as you suggested, will also buy all three, please how will I charge this battery (any suggested charger for it ?) I am absolutely new to electirc so no idea.

This was a single channel glider with only rudder movment but after I add ESC it will be a two channel.

thanks again for your valuable suggestions.
Title: Re: Rejuvenating an old Nikko glider
Post by: spitfire on November 05, 2010, 12:01:50 AM
You can use following charger

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=11060 (http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=11060)

This will be good one time investment if you want to continue in hobby as it is 50W and and can charge upto 6 cell batteries.
I hope this helps..!
Title: Re: Rejuvenating an old Nikko glider
Post by: findvikas on November 05, 2010, 12:35:49 AM
ESC does not make any change to channel, its prime purpose is to control the speed of the motor and provide power to RX (radio)
Your RX will make it 2,3,4,5,6+ channel along with the TX

So you want to have an elevator, ailerons, and rudder to put it through best use. I am going to do same with my rubber glider and post the progress.
Title: Re: Rejuvenating an old Nikko glider
Post by: prateek13 on December 28, 2010, 03:21:39 PM
got it's real name and info!

its a nikko windjammer glider

and a video too

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAoqTxULJcA
Title: Re: Rejuvenating an old Nikko glider
Post by: atul_pg on December 28, 2010, 07:51:14 PM
Nice..Vikas gave a nice tip on rejuvenating it..

All the best man..Do post pics after the final touch.

If you are planning to sell it, let me know :)
Title: Re: Rejuvenating an old Nikko glider
Post by: asinghatiya on February 16, 2011, 01:33:48 PM
Hi so finally I added a moter, ESC and battery. Had a sorti today...but I found that motor is very powerful for it and battery is heavy for it. I am using 1300 Mah 11.1 v battery 30 amp ESC.

I need a smaller battery and a lower rating ESC. Can any one please suggest that for this (Emax CF2822) motor lowest possible battery and ESC?

It is a small glider but with this setup it took off like a jet from my hands and reaches 100 feet in few seconds...it has no elevator so ...difficult to manage its climb or descend.

Title: Re: Rejuvenating an old Nikko glider
Post by: anwar on February 16, 2011, 02:05:47 PM
As a stop gap measure, can you try lowering the "top" endpoint settings on the throttle channel :headscratch:
Title: Re: Rejuvenating an old Nikko glider
Post by: SunLikeStar on February 16, 2011, 02:13:37 PM
Run it on a same capacity 2S, that would resolve both problems.
Title: Re: Rejuvenating an old Nikko glider
Post by: asinghatiya on February 16, 2011, 02:15:37 PM
this ESC is cutting power on a 2s battery, so I think I need a lower rated ESC.
Title: Re: Rejuvenating an old Nikko glider
Post by: SunLikeStar on February 16, 2011, 02:21:35 PM
I use that esc on a 2S, works fine for me. Follow this post to reset your ESC...
http://www.rcindia.org/electric-power/hobby-king-mystery-30-amps-esc-programming/msg47461/#msg47461
Title: Re: Rejuvenating an old Nikko glider
Post by: asinghatiya on February 16, 2011, 02:34:48 PM
Wow, great...it worked thanks  {:)} now its set for a 2s battery.
Title: Re: Rejuvenating an old Nikko glider
Post by: SunLikeStar on February 16, 2011, 02:41:32 PM
 :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Rejuvenating an old Nikko glider
Post by: asinghatiya on February 17, 2011, 09:55:46 AM
Flown it with a 2s battery yesterday......great flying and very smooth one....but my battery was 1800 Mah...so..landing was a problem.

It come down with its nose tilted down.....when I check its CG on ground it looks balanced...but when I cut motor...it came nose down and hit the ground. I can't pull it coz there is no elevator in it... :banghead:

Its earleir setup was a light weight one as compared to the present setup.

I am confused if this is due to more weight or ...improper CG... ???
Title: Re: Rejuvenating an old Nikko glider
Post by: SunLikeStar on February 17, 2011, 10:11:34 AM
1800 mAh is just too much weight, i'd not use any thing bigger than 1000 mAh 2S on this baby.
Title: Re: Rejuvenating an old Nikko glider
Post by: asinghatiya on February 17, 2011, 10:20:18 AM
thanks  :).....I am of the same thought.....alredy ordered a lighter battery....but still how the CG was commming perfect when I was holding it on the ground? ???
Title: Re: Rejuvenating an old Nikko glider
Post by: anwar on February 17, 2011, 10:24:14 AM
"CG being perfect" can be imperfect if you what you understood as CG is not really the CG. 

A glide test (with everything connected... RTF) into some high grass will help confirm.
Title: Re: Rejuvenating an old Nikko glider
Post by: asinghatiya on February 17, 2011, 10:34:42 AM
Yeah, you are right..... sometimes....we think its "perfect" ......is not that perfect...as it was expected to be..... ....:thanks:
Title: Re: Rejuvenating an old Nikko glider
Post by: asinghatiya on February 17, 2011, 11:49:10 PM
Finally,  :thanks: with the help of this forum, a glider (more than 10 years old...lying in the basement from last 5 odd years) is rejuvinated... some of the picturs of this newly born baby :)