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Transferring Servos

by Patrick
(San Antonio Texas)

I haven't yet flown a remote control. I was pretty good at U-control when I was a child, able to do all of the stunts. I understand that remote control is exponentially more difficult, but I have the bug to learn. My question is this: if I buy an electric trainer with at least four servos, will I later be able to salvage the servos for use in a gas powered plane? Will the radio and servos for electric work for gas? Are they durable in a crash, even when the plane appears ruined?

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Transferring Servos

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Mar 12, 2009
 Transferring Servos
by: Pete

Hi Patrick, it all depends on the model you buy, and what you want to put the servos into.
A gas plane usually requires standard size servos, whereas most electric planes use mini or micro ones, which wouldn't be up to the job of operating a gas plane's control surfaces, if we're talking 'normal' gas plane size here.

If you're serious about getting into rc and see yourself starting with electric then moving to gas, probably your best option is to buy a 2.4GHz rc transmitter with multi-model memory (Spektrum DX6i or DX7 for example) and take the models as they come, purchasing the servos as you need them.
Or, get a larger electric plane that does use standard size servos and not micros.
Mar 12, 2009
 Thanks
by: Patrick

Thanks. That's very helpful. I thought maybe the servos were more delicate with electric, due to the light foam construction. I like the large scale gas planes, because they move through the air more convincingly. The electric ones are more erratic, like a leaf tossed on the wind. Anyway, thanks again.

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