WJCJR1
12-07-2009, 02:44 PM
I have looked around a bit for a cold weather TX mitten and not found much of anything. Actually I found NO products for sale, surely there must be but I did not discover any.
Today I made my own Cold Weather TX mitten. I used an insulated flannel by sticking my arms backwards into the shirt and having the shirt draped over my hands and TX with the antenna protruding out the neck opening.
More detail,
Take your flannel, unbutton the cuffs, button the shirt to the top. Stick your arms into the sleeves, it gets snug so maybe you'll need to cut some length from the cuffs, slide your arms backwards up the sleeves and into the body of shirt. Place the waist opening of the shirt over the TX pick up the transmitter with your hands and guide it up through the shirt and stick the antenna out the neck opening. Your hands and transmitter are fully covered and if the shirt is aleady warmed by the defroster of your car they stay very toasty.
Now remember your plane will be live now when you pick up the TX so hold your throttle stick down and use care not to catch any of the switches or the aileron/elevator stick.
I used this today and it works GREAT. Hands were nice and toasty and cross wind landing were easily negligible as my hands weren't frozen and thumbsy from the cold.
I would also assume since the batteries in the TX aren't getting the direct cold temperatures either the TX batteries will hold voltage better. So a win/win.
Only thing about this that is a pain is changing LIPOs as your arms are not free to do whatever and you are now working with your arms somewhat clamped together by the shirt. Is not that bad after you do it a few times.
Wayne
Today I made my own Cold Weather TX mitten. I used an insulated flannel by sticking my arms backwards into the shirt and having the shirt draped over my hands and TX with the antenna protruding out the neck opening.
More detail,
Take your flannel, unbutton the cuffs, button the shirt to the top. Stick your arms into the sleeves, it gets snug so maybe you'll need to cut some length from the cuffs, slide your arms backwards up the sleeves and into the body of shirt. Place the waist opening of the shirt over the TX pick up the transmitter with your hands and guide it up through the shirt and stick the antenna out the neck opening. Your hands and transmitter are fully covered and if the shirt is aleady warmed by the defroster of your car they stay very toasty.
Now remember your plane will be live now when you pick up the TX so hold your throttle stick down and use care not to catch any of the switches or the aileron/elevator stick.
I used this today and it works GREAT. Hands were nice and toasty and cross wind landing were easily negligible as my hands weren't frozen and thumbsy from the cold.
I would also assume since the batteries in the TX aren't getting the direct cold temperatures either the TX batteries will hold voltage better. So a win/win.
Only thing about this that is a pain is changing LIPOs as your arms are not free to do whatever and you are now working with your arms somewhat clamped together by the shirt. Is not that bad after you do it a few times.
Wayne