Wow, your location is even more impressive than I'd imagined. I thought you'd be on a small airfield, not one large enough to operate jets. Will you be able to fly models from the site as well?
I'm even more jealous now!
Mike
Shiny Boxes aka Controlaire Tx's
- Mike_K
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- Wayne_H
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Re: Shiny Boxes aka Controlaire Tx's
Unfortunately, and officially, no model flying allowed under the Air Navigation Regs. There is no official modeling Club, but I do have virtually unrestricted access to a private farm only 10 minutes drive away
There's also a very strong antique and vintage vehicle and farm machinery group on 5 acres in town - cars, bikes, trucks, ambulances, fire engines, tractors (diesel, petrol, kerosene, steam), headers, plough's, stationary and traction engines, etc., etc. - supported by local Council.
Plenty to stop any of us getting bored
There's also a very strong antique and vintage vehicle and farm machinery group on 5 acres in town - cars, bikes, trucks, ambulances, fire engines, tractors (diesel, petrol, kerosene, steam), headers, plough's, stationary and traction engines, etc., etc. - supported by local Council.
Plenty to stop any of us getting bored
Cheers,
Wayne
Once a Retrobate, always a Retrobate............
Wayne
Once a Retrobate, always a Retrobate............
- Wayne_H
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Re: Shiny Boxes aka Controlaire Tx's
Sorry lads, but just back on topic briefly
I've had a Corona Tx module and Rx sitting around forever, not being used, so it's going into the MAN 2-3-4 Tx.
I like Paul's method of disguising the 2.4g antenna, but rather than have the telescopic antenna there just for cosmetic appeal(?), I'm going to recycle a 29Mhz RF board and have switch selectable frequency bands. The 29Mhz RF board and matching Silvertone Rx, although old, have been 100% reliable. Just feels like a perfect match for the MAN Tx
I've had a Corona Tx module and Rx sitting around forever, not being used, so it's going into the MAN 2-3-4 Tx.
I like Paul's method of disguising the 2.4g antenna, but rather than have the telescopic antenna there just for cosmetic appeal(?), I'm going to recycle a 29Mhz RF board and have switch selectable frequency bands. The 29Mhz RF board and matching Silvertone Rx, although old, have been 100% reliable. Just feels like a perfect match for the MAN Tx
Cheers,
Wayne
Once a Retrobate, always a Retrobate............
Wayne
Once a Retrobate, always a Retrobate............
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Re: Shiny Boxes aka Controlaire Tx's
Mike,
your is factory built because it has a serial number, kits and semi kits lacked a serial number.
I think the 234 used a uni-junction for the master clock.
your is factory built because it has a serial number, kits and semi kits lacked a serial number.
I think the 234 used a uni-junction for the master clock.
- Wayne_H
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Re: Shiny Boxes aka Controlaire Tx's
Finally got the MAN 2-3-4 Tx finished
I couldn't get the old Corona tx module working back when, so temporarily shelved the tx conversion. Then COVID hit (which meant I couldn't travel to NZ as I had been for my work on the road project which was financing construction of our airfield retirement dream) so we (my very understanding wife & I) moved into a small caravan parked inside the hangar to cut costs & save dead money on rent. We've been surrounded by storage boxes & house building supplies ever since. Thankfully, the van is now gone, as most of the mezzanine has been converted to laundry, bathroom, kitchen, office (for teleworking) & bedroom.
Whoops, got a bit off point there Anyway, I rediscovered the MAN 2-3-4 in a box I was unpacking, along with a heap of Frsky gear & thought why not. I downed construction tools & took some time off and here is the result. I dropped a Frsky DHT (diy) module in to replace the kaput Corona, wired the DHT and the 29Mhz AM rf board through a selector switch (the blue s/w in the picture) and secured the loose wiring. The bind board & telemetry s/w are both left inside the case. The UHF antenna is hidden in the pennant, Paul's idea that I shamelessly nicked . Phil's 4 ch Digispark (ATtiny85) encoder is the smartz, doing everything I need from this tx. It's worth sharing the lessons I learnt with this particular conversion:
P.S. thanks yet again to Phil, Martin, Ron, et al
I couldn't get the old Corona tx module working back when, so temporarily shelved the tx conversion. Then COVID hit (which meant I couldn't travel to NZ as I had been for my work on the road project which was financing construction of our airfield retirement dream) so we (my very understanding wife & I) moved into a small caravan parked inside the hangar to cut costs & save dead money on rent. We've been surrounded by storage boxes & house building supplies ever since. Thankfully, the van is now gone, as most of the mezzanine has been converted to laundry, bathroom, kitchen, office (for teleworking) & bedroom.
Whoops, got a bit off point there Anyway, I rediscovered the MAN 2-3-4 in a box I was unpacking, along with a heap of Frsky gear & thought why not. I downed construction tools & took some time off and here is the result. I dropped a Frsky DHT (diy) module in to replace the kaput Corona, wired the DHT and the 29Mhz AM rf board through a selector switch (the blue s/w in the picture) and secured the loose wiring. The bind board & telemetry s/w are both left inside the case. The UHF antenna is hidden in the pennant, Paul's idea that I shamelessly nicked . Phil's 4 ch Digispark (ATtiny85) encoder is the smartz, doing everything I need from this tx. It's worth sharing the lessons I learnt with this particular conversion:
- the throttle function was very erratic. I'd previously checked all the pots so knew it wasn't that. Close inspection showed that the pot shaft was slipping intermittently within the plastic clamp. When I tightened the clamp screw I found it was stripped.
- soft throttle lock - a great idea, that I clean forgot about after I had fixed the slipping pot shaft. Didn't that cause a head scratch or two for a shortwhile!! Duh
- Either (or both) Phil's PPM & PWM Tester/Analyser
http://mode-zero.uk/viewtopic.php?f=41&t=155
- & Martin's PPM Tester -
http://mode-zero.uk/viewtopic.php?f=41& ... eter#p4490
- are must-have gadgets for these situations.
P.S. thanks yet again to Phil, Martin, Ron, et al
Cheers,
Wayne
Once a Retrobate, always a Retrobate............
Wayne
Once a Retrobate, always a Retrobate............
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Re: Shiny Boxes aka Controlaire Tx's
Beautiful job! I am curious about the UHF range. Does the VHF metal antenna act as a shield and limit the UHF transmission range?
Thanks,
John H.
Thanks,
John H.
John H.
"Here's another fine mess you've gotten me into."
"Here's another fine mess you've gotten me into."
- Wayne_H
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Re: Shiny Boxes aka Controlaire Tx's
John, I did a quick (ground) range test this afternoon and got a comfortable 900m. I had the Rx & servos while my wife had the Tx while we spoke on the mobile phone. At 900m I got her to turn around, wave the Tx about, point it towards me, etc and the link was solid. While I haven't flown it yet, based on the ground test, I'm more than happy to use it 'in anger'
Cheers,
Wayne
Once a Retrobate, always a Retrobate............
Wayne
Once a Retrobate, always a Retrobate............
- PaulJ
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Re: Shiny Boxes aka Controlaire Tx's
This has just popped up on ebay though at the price he is asking, I doubt if it will sell quickly........ 'Nice though. It must be a very early shiny box....
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VINTAGE-CONT ... 0005.m1851
Paul
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VINTAGE-CONT ... 0005.m1851
Paul
- Wayne_H
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Re: Shiny Boxes aka Controlaire Tx's
Ouch..... the asking price is "out there"
I'm no Controlaire expert, but I haven't seen one like that before. Maybe Jay or one of our other American cousins can provide some more info?
I'm no Controlaire expert, but I haven't seen one like that before. Maybe Jay or one of our other American cousins can provide some more info?
Cheers,
Wayne
Once a Retrobate, always a Retrobate............
Wayne
Once a Retrobate, always a Retrobate............
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