Nur Iskander Taib ntaib@silver.ucs.indiana.edu has been kind enough to establish an ftp site for the use of the rec.models.rc community. Use anonymous ftp to log in to "bigwig.geology.indiana.edu" and go to the directory called "models". You will find subdirectories called "airfoil", "faq" and "circuits". These contain, respectively:
This FAQ is available from rtfm.mit.edu,
the news.answers archive. It
is in /pub/usenet/news.answers/RC-flying-FAQ/part* (which is a very
busy site. If you have WWW, you can also try:
http://www.cis.ohio-state.edu/hypertext/faq/usenet/RC-flying-FAQ/.
These sources are guaranteed to be up-to-date, since it is all done automagically.
If you have ever played a note by blowing over the end of a piece of tubing, you are using the principle involved. This is that any tube has a natural resonant frequency, usually dependent on its length, and the speed of sound in air. This means that some oscillations will die away quickly, but one in the right range will resonance, and be strengthened in force, when the wave---length matches the resonant length of the tube. As a pressure wave in the sound reaches the end of the pipe, a reflection is set up, and moves back up the tube. This occurs at the end, whether open or closed, and at changes of section or taper. Now, if we arrange a length of pipe as a muffler for a two stroke engine, we will find that at a certain rpm, the pipe will resonate, and boost the engine's rpm up. This is because the reflected pressure wave arrives at the exhaust port just in time to push some fuel/air mixture that was about to be lost out the port (due to timing overlap), back into the cylinder, where it will be burnt, producing more power than without the pipe. All we have to do is arrange the length of the pipe so that the boost in rpm occurs at a rev range that is useful to us with the relevant load (propeller). It may be that the engine cannot produce enough power to turn the fitted prop at a useful speed. Some engines have port timing that cannot benefit usefully from any pipe.
The major factor in setting up a pipe is the length for a given propeller and rpm range---some examples are given later. Some different designs of pipes will produce different lengths, because of the effects of diameter, taper angle and type of end reflector. Many pipes also have a muffled section which hides the rear cone or reflector's shape. Here are the basic questions to ask yourself before trying a pipe:
Record the static rpm on the prop of your choice with a muffler before doing anything else, so we know where we are starting from. Try to get a starting point for the length from a similar set up if possible, and fit your pipe. If you have a choice, get a header that is a bit (1") longer than you think you need---it is easier to shorten than lengthen the header. Now start the engine and tune for slightly rich from peak revs. Note that this may require a richer setting than usual, as we (hopefully) are producing more power than before. If we have fewer revs than with a muffler, something is wrong---if your mixture is correct, the pipe is probably too long. Try shortening the header (or pipe if more convenient) in 1/4" increments until the revs start to rise. If the pipe is too short, the motor will run harshly, and the needle setting will be unstable and critical---add 1/4" spacers between the header and the pipe. Now to fly it. If it is not visibly faster in the air, try a shallow dive. If there is a distinct jump in revs and speed, the pipe is too short, and the `coming on' is caused by the prop unloading in the dive and coming up to a resonant rpm. If however the dive produces no change, but the vertical performance is better, the pipe is too long. Note that the references to `short' and `long' are relative---the pipe cannot improve the speed over all rpm ranges, and you will have to decide what the most appropriate compromise for your case is yourself. Most fliers do not need to have the engine speed up while descending, only to slow down in level and upward flight, so most adjustments will be aimed at improving level and upward flight.
Remember that pipes will vary in their boost and tolerance of non-optimum length.
The lengths given below are from the exhaust port face to the high point of the two cones of the pipe, or if muffled, usually to the point where the muffled section joins the first cone.
Prop Length Rpm
OS 46 SF MA 10x6 345 mm 14000
OS 45 FSR MA 9.5x6 305 mm 15000+ (10x6 cut down)
OS 45 FSR MA as above 305 mm 16200 (exhaust port lifted 1.0mm)
ROSSI .60 MK 11x7.5 375 mm
symmetric .45 MA 11x7.5 320 mm
These examples used a variety of pipe makes, but I have found that MACS
pre-tuned pipes are hard to fault---i.e. they will come up straight away.
Some other types and makes of pipes will differ---GRAUPNER pipes will
give bigger boosts, but are MUCH more critical on almost every parameter
---length, prop, plug, fuel etc. Don't forget to record what you try so you don't repeat mistakes or dead ends in your trials. I have found good muffled pipes, properly set up, frequently are quieter than mufflers, especially when set up long with big props---the best result I have had was an OS 46 SF with a 12x6 and a pipe about 40mm(1.5") longer than for a 10x6, measured about 85db (at 3m/10ft) over grass, and in the air it was inaudible if there was anything else in the air.