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Modifying a Senior Telemaster<br />
for Electric Aerotow<br />
Alexander Breitkreutz, albtz@<strong>com</strong>cast.net<br />
My 4 meter Discus starts moving. My<br />
heartbeat goes up. “Keep those<br />
wings level!” I say to myself while my<br />
glider moves faster and faster. After<br />
about 30 feet I am airborne. This is how<br />
my first aerotow went: a lot easier than<br />
I thought. And since then I have been<br />
addicted to aerotowing.<br />
Shortly after, I ordered my Senior<br />
Telemaster (TM) from Hobby-Lobby with<br />
the intention to modify it so I would be<br />
able to tow gliders up to 15lbs. I wanted<br />
an electric setup because it is clean,<br />
quiet, and I would be able to fly off any<br />
field since some fields have restrictions<br />
for glow or gas models.<br />
I would like to give several pilots I met at<br />
SKSS credit for providing support: Bill,<br />
Charlie, Tony, and William.<br />
Parts list for my build (I have built three<br />
Telemaster planes so far):<br />
• Sr. Telemaster<br />
• E-Flite 160 or AXI 5330/18 (any reliable<br />
motor in the 250kV range will do it)<br />
• Castle Creations HV-85 or Jeti<br />
Advance Plus 90A Opto controller<br />
• Deans series adapter (2 to 1)<br />
• Two 5S-4800 lipos<br />
• 20x8 thin electric APC prop<br />
• 12mm reamer<br />
• 6 metal gear servos in the 100oz.-in.<br />
range<br />
• 4-cell 2600mAh receiver battery<br />
• Two 5” threaded lite wheels (interior<br />
foam, exterior tough rubber)<br />
• Two wheel axles with collars<br />
• Aluminum landing gear (made for Sig<br />
Four Star 120, item# LG4-176, made by<br />
TnT Landing Gear)<br />
• Four 3/16" machine screws with blind<br />
nuts and washers<br />
• Six 4-40 threaded rods 12" long with<br />
4-40 clevises<br />
• Plywood sheet 1/4" thick<br />
• Plywood sheet 1/8" thick<br />
• Plywood sticks 1/8" thick<br />
• Tail gear unit<br />
• Four plastic screws, size 4-40, 2" long<br />
with blind nuts and washers<br />
• Benn Diss tow release<br />
• 30-min. Epoxy/CA<br />
• Lock-tite<br />
<strong>Apr</strong>il 2009 35
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