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This is what a “Transmitter Gold Sticker” looked like in the 1985 to 1992 time frame. If you have an old RC transmitter without this sticker, you best have it checked out by a service center to determine that it has the required narrowband performance. Failure to do that could lead to a situation where you might interfere with a fellow modeler at your flying field. |
Q-76: I recently blew the dust off my old RC model aircraft and RC systems. They were put aside when I went off to college. I now would like to introduce my two little boys to this wonderful hobby. The radios I have date back twenty years or more and operate on AM. Will I be permitted to use these radios at AMA sanctioned clubs or events? Are there any FCC rules or regulations that prohibit the use of AM radios?
A-76: The reader is certainly correct that brushless-motor development has come a long way since Aveox introduced the first ones for use in our hobby back in 1990. There are now at least a dozen different companies making these motors in sizes from 1/4-scale model power all the way down to parking lot flyers.
Building your own brushless motor could prove a considerable challenge, even for a person with excellent machine shop facilities. I feel at this point in time any article on this subject would be of interest to only a handful of modelers, but I still want to encourage you to pursue your efforts in this regard.
A good friend of mine, Phil Smith from Adrian, Michigan, has been developing his own brushless motors for the past half dozen years. During that time his motors have improved tremendously. He does this for his own hobby enjoyment and has no desire to make production brushless motors.
Phil has indicated to me that he would be happy to communicate personally with anyone who is interested in his series of experiments and his progress to date. You can reach him via E-mail at: philsmith@tc3net.com. He asked that you provide your name, telephone number, and preferred time of day that you can accept a call. You can’t do better than that, but please contact Phil only if you are really serious about this subject.