I'll be recording my experiences with the Trumpeter Kilo Conversion here. I'm using Dave Merriman's WTC as the basis for the conversion. (There are other WTC options, but Dave gave my kids their introduction to R/C subs, so we're going with his proven set-up.) The boys have R/C experience with cars, park fliers, and helis--but have the most time on cars. We also poured over Dave's Cabal Reports on the Trumpeter conversion. This seems an essential resource in taking on this project. The cabal reports are most easily found in this forum under Dave Meriman's Cabal Reports or you can take this short cut:
We started with the Kilo WTC, Kit, and fittings: http://www.caswellplating.com/models/kilo.html (For those keeping tabs, that's a $500 entry fee.)
What's not clear to noobs like me is the requirement for some extras, like fail-safes and pitch controllers. ($95 for a unit with these combined functions).
It should be pretty clear that you'll need some sort of command and control system. Caswell sells a transmitter receiver package that seems both well suited for the task and well priced, too. My son wanted to use his Helicopter T/R (Futaba 9C Super) and the SL-8 Receiver sold by Caswell ($64). Since both units have synthesized transmitters and operate on 72MHz, they should be able to talk to each other.
Our first road block is in connecting the WTC up to the receiver. We haven't found much info on which servos get plugged into which receiver pins. (Instructions for this didn't come with either the WTC, nor with the receiver.) I suppose this is just so well known by the experts that they don't even think to mention it. I suspect that there's so much to the electronics side that it deserves its own thread, if not its own topic area. (I've started a thread in the appropriate area (Model Building Equipment) for this element of the discussion.)
We started with the Kilo WTC, Kit, and fittings: http://www.caswellplating.com/models/kilo.html (For those keeping tabs, that's a $500 entry fee.)
What's not clear to noobs like me is the requirement for some extras, like fail-safes and pitch controllers. ($95 for a unit with these combined functions).
It should be pretty clear that you'll need some sort of command and control system. Caswell sells a transmitter receiver package that seems both well suited for the task and well priced, too. My son wanted to use his Helicopter T/R (Futaba 9C Super) and the SL-8 Receiver sold by Caswell ($64). Since both units have synthesized transmitters and operate on 72MHz, they should be able to talk to each other.
Our first road block is in connecting the WTC up to the receiver. We haven't found much info on which servos get plugged into which receiver pins. (Instructions for this didn't come with either the WTC, nor with the receiver.) I suppose this is just so well known by the experts that they don't even think to mention it. I suspect that there's so much to the electronics side that it deserves its own thread, if not its own topic area. (I've started a thread in the appropriate area (Model Building Equipment) for this element of the discussion.)
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