Type C (??) Radio Control unit for TR9

James,

Would you send me your 3D files for the TR9D controller as well?

Best,

Bob Sousa

Hi Ross

That’s very interesting! It’s made me change my mind several times with various possibilities.

I’ve consulted the AP however and even though the spiral winding (10 teeth per inch) is described clearly, it is also clear that the cable is used in an push pull arrangement, the extra tubing sticking out of the control accomodataing the cable as it moves back and forth.

It’s a pity that no-one seems to have one of these.

Cheers
James

Bowden is pull. Teleflex is rotational.

With Teleflex the outside of the cable is flxed at both ends to the equipment (via the C clamps in the shown linkage ga).

The inside portion of the cable spins in a lubricated tube and the exposed helix at the ends is used to move a toothed wheel to give

Ross

Teleflex cables are very commonly used in boat installations to engage forward or reverse gear and operate the throttle, but whether these are identical to their WW2 products I’ve no idea!

Andy

Hi John

I had assumed that such cables were obsolete but a quick ‘ebay’ and there they are!

I’ll check the pitch of cables vs. cogs to see if they are still available in the right size, not a problem on the controller end as I can adjust the pitch to suit – but the radio end would have to be right.

Interestingly they look to be spiral? I’d assumed that they operated on a ‘flexible rack’ with solid pinion principle. With a spiral isn’t there a chance that the wire would be turned axially rather than moved back and forth?

Cheers
James

sounds like a Teleflex control cable James, could do witha good supplier of these as we need them at various points in the cockpit

John

Hi All

I’m busy with the 3D model (finally and sporadically) – basically the control knob was driving me nuts but I have tamed the beast now.

For my model it only had to ‘look nice’ while still being capable of animation. But in trying to make the item ‘printable’ and actually useable, I’ve realised that it is drastically wrong in many places. So I’ve been busy making it into working parts.

One drawback is that the original cable isn’t a plain Bowden wire, but is a wire with a series of bulges that are engaged and pushed/pulled by a toothed wheel in the controller. (see the sketch in an earlier post) You could have a Bowden design but there would need to be a spring at the TR9 end as the Bowden cable could only ‘pull’.

Andy Saunders – did you ever get to look in your shed?

Anyone else have one of these? I only need photos and some dimensions.

Cheers
James

Hi

On a side note it turns out that my model is OK looking directly at the controller and feasible looking from the side but the control knob is totally wrong, so I am re-working it. Not sure where my original concept came from! If you are wanting a 3D file hang on for a while.

If anyone has a real one then some major dimensions and photos could ensure good copies could be printed.

Cheers
James

Thanks for the replies and the discussion guys…a lot to move forward with. Hopefully there is still a bit more info floating around out there.

Darryl

Could I get a copy of said 3D file too? We need one for our Horsa cockpit. I work in Solidworks if that’s of any help.

Also, the RAF Museum have one of these units in their collection. I think if you pre-book it it can be made available for viewing/measurements by researchers.

Hi 1/8th

Happy to supply a file to you, and anyone else who would like one. There is an issue with file tyes of course as there are many ‘3D Files’. I use Cinema 4D which currently can only export a limited number of types which include DWG, 3ds, STL and VRML though I will have to check with my old version of the software! I think too that you need to ‘fiddle’ with the file a little to look after items such as wall thickness and parts that are printed ‘in the air’. My files wouldn’t have such considerations since I’m not printing them, have to say I’ve never printed them.

However I did send a file to a RC Modeller who sucessfully printed a working (and radio controlled) Lancaster front turret.

Please drop me PM stating how much of the model you want (you may not want the Bowden cables for example) and what file types you can accept and we’ll try it. Do bear in mind that not all the dimensions will be exactly correct. If Tangmere 1940 finds his example I would be happy to correct my model based on measurements taken from the real thing.

Cheers
James

Any 3D files send here and I will print them off cheap on my printer here..

That would be fantastic Andy, thanks! Some real measurements are still missing, would be great not to have to scale them from oblique photos.

Darryl

I may still have a TR9D controller in the shed. I’ll have a look!

Could I get a copy of said 3D file too? We need one for our Horsa cockpit. I work in Solidworks if that’s of any help.

Also, the RAF Museum have one of these units in their collection. I think if you pre-book it it can be made available for viewing/measurements by researchers.

Hi Darryl

I’ve sent you all I have, some examples attached here to

Cheers
James

Thanks Mate..hopefully he will be along!

Paul Rogers was making copies of these a few years back. He may still be able to supply them.

Thanks James,

Anything you could supply would be great. I”ve never seen one out here in Australia and unlikely to find one as we only got the Mk V and VIII during wartimeas far as I am aware. Thanks for the link. I’ will read up and I will also PM you with my email address,

Beautiful work on the Sterling, by the way!!

best regards

Darryl

Hi

I have drawn one up as a 3D model, see a few posts down on this link:

http://sas.raf38group.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=2279&start=10

You can have the 3D model and all of the images and drawing I used for it, generally these came from the A.P. for the system which all appear to have scaleable – but not dimensioned – 2D drawings. I am at work but I could send you what I have tonight. Incidentally the text for the control is on the drawings too – the picture on the link was a very early version without text.

Better though to have one measured up for you, there is a radio society that have much of this sort of kit, in fact the names and organisation are noted in one of the posts – I have gotten many of my dimensions from them and they are very happy to do so I find – the radios shown on the link are all made from the dimensions and photos they took for me. Such places may even lend you one or visit to measure, worth a try?

Cheers
James