Radio Control Model Planes, Cars, Helicopters, Boats, Model Accessories

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Q1 - Do Avicraft do Mail Order ?: Yes we do.. While we don't have our full stock on the online shop site yet. we would be happy to quote for mail order on any items available from the shop or from our normal distributors.
Please call 0208 460 0818 (International +44 208 460 0818) for the Mail Order Service. Feel free to Email your order and leave a contact number, we will call you back to help with any questions and confirm your order and take your payment details.
Q2 - How Can I get My Model Engine to start and run: Many of my customers have never run any form of model engine before . You must be sure that everything is in your favour... Check that your glow plug is working. The plug should glow bright orange. The main fuel needle (usually the largest and most obvious) should be about 2 turns out from fully closed. If using a pull start (model car) short sharp pulls are the secret, if you have an electric starter or rotor start make sure the battery is fully charged. There should be an air filter fitted if in a car, don't drive you car without it. The carb barrel should be open about 1.5mm at tickover (when The stick is at neutral). Make sure you have the correct fuel and Try to start your engine. If the car wont start,check that there is fuel in the pipe and there is a flow into the carb.(you can put your finger onto the exhaust pipe when turning the engine over to help pump fuel into the engine). If the engine starts but keeps cutting it could be either too much or to little fuel. Too much fuel and there will be a lot of oil from the exhaust. If it is too lean the engine will rev up then stop suddenly. The adjustment for this is the bottom end needle, usually in the side of the carb on most carbs screwing the needle in will make for a leaner mixture. Once you have got the engine running a good way of telling whether the engine is running rich or lean is as follows. Squeeze the fuel pipe close to the carb and see how long the engine keeps running for If the engine stops almost immediately then the engine is too lean (undo the idle needle a small amount and try again) If however the engine continues to run for mor than about 6 seconds it is probably too rich and you must screw the idle needle in slightly about 1/8 turn at a time I hope this helps if not please phone 0208 460 0818 and we will be pleased to help
Q3 - Why wont the videos play ?: Most of the videos are YouTube videos and as such you need a connection to YouTube (some schools and offices block this site) and you need Flash Player 10 or above (Google Adobe Flash Player for details).

Aeroplanes

Q1 - How do you get your plane to climb in a spin: For years the panic team have been doing shows during which we all spin together. There's always been a bit of rivalry between members as to who could get the flattest spin. Lots of rudder is a must, and an engine that will turn at least a 14 x 6 prop. The c/g must not be less than 4inches back from the leading edge of the top wing. The spin must be with left rudder as you need the gyroscopic effect from the prop. Start the spin with both the sticks to the bottom left, let the ailerons off back to neutral, let the up elevator off then feed in the power. Depending on how much rudder and aileron movement you have start to feed in right aileron(too much will roll the aircraft out of the spin). now ease the up elevator back to full up. If you have got this far, have got a nice flat spin and no broken model you are doing well. If you are lucky enough to have a 91 engine then put a 15 x 6 prop on it and try a flat spin landing. On occasions my panic would stop coming down and would gain height. Lots of trying showed that letting the rudder off for a split second would cause the plane to start climbing. If you would like more info please ask for Rob and I will try to help
Q2 - What is the difference between a sailplane and a glider?: Gliders are planes that glide down to earth without power. A good example might be a WW2 troop glider. It's not designed to catch or ride thermals and climb, just to be released from its tow plane and glide down to earth. The space shuttle in its landing mode would be another example. A sailplane, on the other hand, is designed to ride the wind and climb in the thermals and other updrafts. In truth, just about any plane, even powered ones, can climb in thermals and updrafts if they are strong enough, but "sailplane" is usually reserved for planes that are purpose-built to take advantage of this.
Q3 - What Propeller should I use on my IC Engine ?: Propeller selection is always an interesting subject as there are so many variables, to simplify the process we have a propeller calculator online - please see the Prop Calculator for more details.
Q4 - Whats in model diesel fuel?: The basic formula is equal parts ether, castor oil and kerosene plus 2% Amyl Nitrate or Isopropyl Nitrate (IPN) ignition improver. Depending on the engine, you can vary this. Stick to the above formula for a vintage diesel. But with a modern diesel like the Irvine 40D or 20D you can drop the oil content to as low as 20%. Take the ether content up to 35%, add the ignition improver and the balance is kerosene. Basically you reduce the oil content as you add the following feature in an engine: Single Ball bearing, Twin ball bearing ABC piston/cylinder assembly. Some people use automotive starting fluid instead of ether. It doesn't contain 100% ether so increase the amount of it and use less kerosene. It is possible to use old fashioned automotive mineral oil instead of castor oil. Say SAE 40. But generally, castor is preferred.
Q5 - Whats in normal model Glow fuel?: The major constituent of model airplane fuel is methanol (methyl alcohol). So a typical RC fuel might be 70% Methanol, 20% oil (synthetic or castor oil, or a combination of both), and 10% nitromethane. If 0% nitromethane then you would have 80% methanol with 20% oil. (These are volume percentages, not weight!,)

Helicopters

Q1 - Whats in normal model Glow fuel?: The major constituent of model airplane fuel is methanol (methyl alcohol). So a typical RC fuel might be 70% Methanol, 20% oil (synthetic or castor oil, or a combination of both), and 10% nitromethane. If 0% nitromethane then you would have 80% methanol with 20% oil. (These are volume percentages, not weight!,)

Cars / Trucks

Q1 - Whats in model diesel fuel?: The basic formula is equal parts ether, castor oil and kerosene plus 2% Amyl Nitrate or Isopropyl Nitrate (IPN) ignition improver. Depending on the engine, you can vary this. Stick to the above formula for a vintage diesel. But with a modern diesel like the Irvine 40D or 20D you can drop the oil content to as low as 20%. Take the ether content up to 35%, add the ignition improver and the balance is kerosene. Basically you reduce the oil content as you add the following feature in an engine: Single Ball bearing, Twin ball bearing ABC piston/cylinder assembly. Some people use automotive starting fluid instead of ether. It doesn't contain 100% ether so increase the amount of it and use less kerosene. It is possible to use old fashioned automotive mineral oil instead of castor oil. Say SAE 40. But generally, castor is preferred.
Q2 - Whats in normal model Glow fuel?: The major constituent of model airplane fuel is methanol (methyl alcohol). So a typical RC fuel might be 70% Methanol, 20% oil (synthetic or castor oil, or a combination of both), and 10% nitromethane. If 0% nitromethane then you would have 80% methanol with 20% oil. (These are volume percentages, not weight!,)

Electric

Q1 - Tell me about LiPo, Li-Poly batteries ?: Modern Lithium Polymer batteries (LiPo, Li-Poly) are a preferred source of power for flying models because of their ability to store and deliver large amounts of energy from light-weight packs. Performance wise, these new batteries have much more in common with model aircraft fuel than with any previous battery technology and they deserve similar respect: For safe handling it is useful to Think of Lithium Polymer Batteries as Fuel.

Treated with respect in knowledgeable hands, Lithium Polymer batteries have been proven world-wide to be a controllable, practical and enjoyable power source for model aviation.

What can go wrong:
Fire can be caused by: ‘Overcharging’ (wrong charger or charger setting, unbalanced battery load, charger fouled by poor power supply), charging a damaged cell or pack and short circuit (including crash damage).

Cells or packs can be damaged by: Over discharging (running ‘too flat’ and/or too hot, discharging an unbalanced battery load), short circuit and crash damage.

With the exception of a very small number of fires that have resulted directly from crash damage at the flying field, fires have almost always occurred during charging. These fires have been almost exclusively permitted by avoidable human error.
so to recap - Always use the correct balancing charger, Always double check the charge settings before pressing Start, always charge on a fireproof surface (not on the living room carpet !) and Never leave the battery unattended while charging.

Would you store an open can of petrol under your bed ? - treat the li-po battery with the same respect and you will be fine..

IC Engines

Q1 - What Propeller should I use on my IC Engine ?: Propeller selection is always an interesting subject as there are so many variables, to simplify the process we have a propeller calculator online - please see the Prop Calculator for more details.
Q2 - Whats in model diesel fuel?: The basic formula is equal parts ether, castor oil and kerosene plus 2% Amyl Nitrate or Isopropyl Nitrate (IPN) ignition improver. Depending on the engine, you can vary this. Stick to the above formula for a vintage diesel. But with a modern diesel like the Irvine 40D or 20D you can drop the oil content to as low as 20%. Take the ether content up to 35%, add the ignition improver and the balance is kerosene. Basically you reduce the oil content as you add the following feature in an engine: Single Ball bearing, Twin ball bearing ABC piston/cylinder assembly. Some people use automotive starting fluid instead of ether. It doesn't contain 100% ether so increase the amount of it and use less kerosene. It is possible to use old fashioned automotive mineral oil instead of castor oil. Say SAE 40. But generally, castor is preferred.
Q3 - Whats in normal model Glow fuel?: The major constituent of model airplane fuel is methanol (methyl alcohol). So a typical RC fuel might be 70% Methanol, 20% oil (synthetic or castor oil, or a combination of both), and 10% nitromethane. If 0% nitromethane then you would have 80% methanol with 20% oil. (These are volume percentages, not weight!,)

Boats

Q1 - Whats in model diesel fuel?: The basic formula is equal parts ether, castor oil and kerosene plus 2% Amyl Nitrate or Isopropyl Nitrate (IPN) ignition improver. Depending on the engine, you can vary this. Stick to the above formula for a vintage diesel. But with a modern diesel like the Irvine 40D or 20D you can drop the oil content to as low as 20%. Take the ether content up to 35%, add the ignition improver and the balance is kerosene. Basically you reduce the oil content as you add the following feature in an engine: Single Ball bearing, Twin ball bearing ABC piston/cylinder assembly. Some people use automotive starting fluid instead of ether. It doesn't contain 100% ether so increase the amount of it and use less kerosene. It is possible to use old fashioned automotive mineral oil instead of castor oil. Say SAE 40. But generally, castor is preferred.
Q2 - Whats in normal model Glow fuel?: The major constituent of model airplane fuel is methanol (methyl alcohol). So a typical RC fuel might be 70% Methanol, 20% oil (synthetic or castor oil, or a combination of both), and 10% nitromethane. If 0% nitromethane then you would have 80% methanol with 20% oil. (These are volume percentages, not weight!,)

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