"WRAM's Show — 1981"
"The columnists I most admire ... write not about what is secret, but about what is latent; the kernel of principle that exists, recognized or not, 'inside' events ..." George F. Will, Newsweek, 1/19/81
We feel the same way about reviewing an event like the WRAMs show. It would be easy to photograph those who attended and list what was displayed, but it is more useful to discover the trend behind that attendance and those displays. Therefore: 1981 will be the year of the chip — the NE5044.
The NE5044 trend
Last year the NE5044 appeared only in premium-quality transmitters such as the Ace RC Silver Seven and the Airtronics XL because it simplified control conditioning (like XPO) and mixing. This year the NE5044 is even being used in basic 4-channel, no-frills sport-model transmitters. There is good reason: the NE5044 permits manufacturers to vastly simplify the transmitter encoder, reducing the number of parts and manufacturing operations while improving performance and reliability.
World Engines Expert Mark IV
Dave Brown, master pattern flier and representative of Dave Brown Products (8534 Huddleston, Cincinnati, OH 45236), pointed out the printed-circuit board of the World Engines Expert Mark IV transmitter. Note the small number of widely spaced lands compared with previous designs — part of the simplification due to the NE5044. Another part is the use of linear slide potentiometers for electrical trims instead of rotary types; the slide pots are soldered directly to the board, saving many manufacturing operations per installation. Virtually all the wires are gone — only the wires to the control sticks, batteries and antenna remain — and each wire eliminated lowers cost.
The World Engines Expert Mark IV features interchangeable frequency modules and a red flashing LED (in place of a meter). Otherwise it closely resembles the previous World Expert system. World Engines: 8960 Rossash Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45236.
Ace RC and Pro‑Line
Donna Runge (accompanied by her husband Tom) explained that Ace RC, Inc. has purchased Pro‑Line and will support existing Pro‑Line radios through Ace’s network of service centers. Pro‑Line will receive the NE5044 by producing a built-in version of Ace’s Silver Seven kit. Ace also showed a new Silver 28 module.
Other manufacturers using the NE5044
- Kraft: new 5X system.
- Futaba: using the NE5044 in low-priced systems.
- Airtronics: long-time user (XL systems have sold in the thousands and are well liked).
Airtronics: 12160 Woodruff Ave., Downey, CA 90241. Cox Hobbies: 4400 West 78th St., Minneapolis, MN 55435. (Airtronics is not affiliated with Cox Hobbies. For service on Cox/Sanwa systems, contact the Cox Hobbies Customer Service Department.)
Buyer advice
Don’t rush to sell your present set just because the next model can be made cheaper. Your current system will not necessarily work any poorer. The practical effect of the NE5044 trend is that the time when you can buy a good-quality R/C system at lower cost may have moved closer. In an era when many things are getting more expensive, the price of good-quality R/C systems is going down — that is the significance of the NE5044.
Show organization and exhibitor concerns
One less-satisfying trend at the show was fewer models on display. Exhibitors gave several reasons:
- Models are getting larger, but the display space is not.
- The WRAMs club (show organizers) make no special provision for getting large models in by a route separate from that used by the general public. Exhibitors had to wait in the lobby and enter with ticket holders, often carrying quarter-scale models through crowds, tight turns and down low‑ceiling stairs. There is also no unloading dock. Some exhibitors were displeased with a procedure that hasn’t improved in 13 years.
- Other procedural annoyances.
Judging by where the crowds gathered, a large part of the public comes to see the models. WRAMs will only hurt themselves if exhibitors stop bringing models. We hope they improve matters for exhibitors.
Other exhibitors and products
Sullivan Products
Eric Startup, Sullivan Products (535 Davisville Rd., Willow Grove, PA 19090), displayed four to nine types of flexible push/pull rods offered by Sullivan. Harry Pfeister (on-site) emphasized new 12/24‑volt blue starters that have enough torque to start Quadra and other Monster engines — a safer way to keep hands out of harm’s way.
Richair sailplanes
Richair imports large fiberglass scale sailplanes made in Switzerland, including the PIK‑20D; other models include the Jantar and the LS‑1. Some have spans up to 17 ft — good thermal and slope‑soaring ships. Contact Richair: 172 Washington Ave., Pleasantville, NY 10570. Steve Hangartner uses towplane launch monsters; his son Tim has done over 250 tows, including some doubles (two towlines, two sailplanes, one tug).
Bill and Charlie Cannon
Bill and Charlie Cannon presented a new addition to the G‑Mark line: a twin‑cylinder 30 cu. Schnuerle‑ported engine for R/C. It drew strong looks and is predicted to sell out. They continue to promote their line of Cannon R/C systems (non‑NE5044).
RAM accessories
RAM (Radio Controlled Models, Chicago, IL) offered a number of "little red boxes" — accessories for your RC system, several of which could be lifesavers. Notable items:
- Battery Backer: an airborne system that senses flight‑pack battery voltage; when it drops below a preset value the device switches in a spare pack and turns on an integral beeper (you may hear it after landing).
- Dual Servo Setter: detects loss of transmitter signal and moves servos to pre‑selected positions (for example, engine cutoff and deploy a parachute).
- Low‑voltage alarms for receiver and transmitter.
- LED Go/No‑Go boxes: perform the same check function as an ESV.
- Shirt‑pocket timer.
These concepts may not be new, but they are practical and worth attention.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
