STARLET 50, a model helicopter of open-frame construction for 50-size engines, based on the proven UNI-EXPERT MECHANICS. The model is of considerable interest to the beginner as a robust and affordable trainer with unlimited scope for upgrading, but at the same time it
will also suit the more advanced heli flyer with aerobatic ambitions, who is looking for a compact model with plenty of powerreserves. The motor is started from above through the air intake for the cooling system, and if the optional hexagon starter cone is installed you can also use starters fitted with a hexagon adaptor. The silencer you use depends to a large extent on your individual requirements: a tuned pipe silencer is one choice, but a low-cost standard silencer and even a super-silencer can also be accommodated, and since the recommended motor provides a generous excess of power this is a perfectly valid option. With its large-diameter tail rotor the helicopter boasts an excellent tail rotor response, and the tail rotor continues to be driven in auto-rotations. The high chassis to gether with the curved tail boom provides plenty of tail rotor ground clearance; the tail rotor shaft runs through the boom in a curve and therefore cannot run out of true. For the beginner the STARLET 50 represents a future-proof investment, as it can be upgradeddirectly to UNI-EXPERT MECHANICS or UNI-MECHANICS 2000 status; the mechanics can even be installed directly in many fuselage kits with the existing motor, i.e. without requiring an upgrade to a .60 engine. The STARLET 50 therefore forms an ideal starting point for a helicopter system which extends from a small beginner's machine to a model suitable for the expert or scale modeller. The lightweight vacuum-moulded fairing which surrounds the mechanics includes an integral cooling air duct, and is mounted on rubber grommets to provide insulation from vibration; the fairing can also be fitted and removed very easily, providing complete access to the radio control system components and mechanics. The fueltank is mounted in the cabin in a clearly visible location, level with the carburettor, so you can easily check the fuel supply with the model in the air. The long black eloxided tail boom is supported rigidly by two braces, and can easily be replaced in just a few minutes if it should be damaged. It is long enough to providereal flexibility: the beginner can learn to fly using short, low-cost wooden rotor blades with a reflex section, while the expert can install longer symme-tricalsection GRP blades for unlimited 3-D aero-batics.