- Cleaned up and honking on a fast flyby . . . this is a fearsome aircraft!
I've had so many folks buying servos, extensions, and batteries for the gorgeous Hangar 9 OV-10 Bronco I've put this guide together in self-defense (else I'm repeating myself several times a week).
First, and to be frank, I completely understand the attraction of this 30cc powered OV-10 because I saw it fly (a bunch) whilst attending Top Gun in Lakeland, FL. I was there visiting with Bret Becker, who used ProModeler servos in his Lockheed U-2. If you're not in that loop, that's the model with which he won the title Mr. Top Gun, (e.g the top award), not once but two years running! They were the last of the Frank Tiano events.
- Bret Becker, his Lockheed U-2, and a fair bit of deserved hardware!
Second, the crew at Horizon seemingly kept a Bronco in the air the whole time . . . and to me it seems to fly ever bit as good as it looks - fantastic!
Third, allow me to add (because I'd be remiss if I didn't mention how great the trailing link landing gear system handles the occasional rough spots in the sod part of that field), this thing handles rough terrain with aplomb! Basically it plows through the rough like a freaking ATV, seriously!
- Down and dirty - flaps out, gear down, final approach - it's solid as a rock!
Servo and other equipment recommendations
Anyway, this is what you need servo-wise . . . and note, all three servo recommendations sport all-metal gear trains - and - our good, better, and best alternatives are equipped with all-steel gears. Don't cost you a nickle more, either - surprised? You shouldn't be because our goal is always to do things better than the competition and not screw you in the process. Here's proof!
- DL-series are equipped with our best stainless steel gears (303-bulls and 18/4- pinions)
Steel especially matters when using gassers for power (because of the high vibration level of the single-cylinder engines). Matters less so, with electric powered version. Anyway, I offer this by way of a heads up, eh? Not trying to 'sell' you something. Just information so you make the best decision for your circumstances, capice?
But what especially matters are shortcuts in construction because that's what determines how long your servos hold up. For example, all ProModeler - all servos, no exceptions - even our economical DL-series (economical as in 90-360oz-in in torque, but ranging from $30-50 per servo - so not exactly cheap, either) get the full alloy center treatment complete with cooling fins. These are machined into this foundation component of all our servos because this helps the servo shed heat when it's working hard.
- The center-case is the foundation - with 10-bolts (with o-rings) we call it the porcupine
Servos for the model (ranked in order of good, better, best) - and 9 means 9-servos
Note; you can also mix and match, like a D505BLHV on elevator (but if it were mine, I'd make a set of mounts to use two of these on elevator instead of one servo), with your choice of DS360 or D415 on the flight controls, plus a pair of DS90DLHV instead of DS360DLHV for the two throttle (and maybe choke) servos - after all, there's no need to throw money needlessly at a low torque requirement, agreed? Point being, savvy shopping lets you equip it with the best for little more than good or better.
- Building pockets for 2 elevator servos would be tops on my list of mods for this bird
Servo arms
Speaking of the elevator servo, let's talk about servo arms for it and the rest of the flight controls (plus throttle and retract doors):
- Elevator servo arm: PDRS25-25T - a 1" aluminum arm made of 7075-T6 alloy
- Flight control servos: PDRS101 - HD polymer arm (or more PDRS25-25T)
- Throttle/choke: PDRS105
- Landing gear doors - included arms are fine
- DS505BLHV with PDRS25-25T - repairing heavily damaged DS505s, click this link
Also, remember to get your extensions at the same time. And yes, there are a butt load of extensions but there's no point in putting them off because without them you're dead in the water servo-wise (so you may as well open one box and have everything you'll need).
Extensions (for the plane itself) - note, we have both regular and locking type
- Locking-type extensions can be handy during an installation
Servos for the retract doors - two choices, good, and better
Extensions for the retracts (separate from the ones for the model)
- Roy Maynard's lovely example sits in the pit area awaiting another sortie
Avionics battery (receiver and servos)
Ignition battery (two modules for 2 engines)
Retract batteries (if electric retracts)
Last thing; Horizon is on a roll selling the PowerSafe system. I don't necessarily buy it because batteries are the single most reliable part of the whole avionics package, but whatever, I'm sure are reasons.
So because what really sucks in the avionics-power chain of components are the switches. Switches fail and bring down models.
Also, getting enough juice (current) to a receiver which is feeding a butt load of servos is an issue. Maybe investigate some kind of *box* system, or do what I like to do, which use two receivers - one for each boom. Now a battery with two leads delivers ample current for servos.
- All ProModeler batteries include two DuPont connectors (worth 3.5A each and one XT30
ProTip: circling back to the two-receiver idea, just bind both at the same time and the transmitter never knows two receivers are listening. Then power each with it's own independent battery, using two leads, and two switches for each receiver, and avoid a lot of extra complication and connections. But, I recognize others have a different way of skinning this cat. Me? I'll leave it at that, just reach out if you want to chat further about the idea.
Final notes;
Also, depending on the engines, you may need two more packs for the ignition modules. If it were me, I'd use the same as for the retracts. We've had many, many customers buy servos for this model. You're embarking on a wonderful journey, have fun!
- John
- End of day, sun going down, this is what scale modeling is all about!
Last thing; we have David Hart of CapturedFromThe Hart.com to thank for these gorgeous Bronco images. As one of our country's most talented sports photographers, we gratefully acknowledge his gracious permission to share these.
But note; these represent but the tip of the iceberg. Why? Simple, it's because if you're an aficionado of world class aviation, automotive, and nature photography, then stop in and visit his Flickr and scope out albums on model aviation, full scale aviation, his gorgeous '63 Impala, and more.
Bottom line? If I say he creates art . . . no, I'm not overstating the case!