Author Topic: Buying a RC model (Read 826 times)

gatso · « **Reply #15 on:** April 29, 2005, 02:35:03 PM »

We have a bunch of these: http://combatwings.com/catalog/main.php owned by people at work. I saw one crashed nose first straight into the deck a week ago, it was flying again 20 minutes later. They seem relatively bullet-proof, I've seen a couple of mid airs where they've floated down and crashed and they've just been chucked back up into the sky.

Gaffer tape is your friend.

Gatso

Eagler · « **Reply #16 on:** April 29, 2005, 02:47:32 PM »

worked on electric glider from goldberg for 3 months

took me three minutes to get it back into a shape that would fit the box it came in

Darkish · « **Reply #17 on:** April 29, 2005, 04:00:47 PM »

Oh, I understend completely Grunhertz, but the thing is, that's not your plane flying - it's someone else's.

For me RC flying has been about moulding something with your own hands and will, pouring your soul into it if you will. Any respectable trainer kit is designed for ease of build and heavy handedness.

eagl · « **Reply #18 on:** April 29, 2005, 04:16:36 PM »

Building my first 2 planes from scratch really helped. I knew exactly how it should work and what to expect. Having an instructor got me going, starting with a full 4-channel gas trainer. I always preferred a .25 sized trainer but .40 sized ones are easier to see and may be a better choice, depending on what your instructor prefers.

If I didn't have an instructor, I'd get a large wingspan electric motorglider, probably a foamy ARF sort of thing where I could buy new parts cheap.

schizer · « **Reply #19 on:** April 29, 2005, 06:37:32 PM »

http://www.rcuniverse.com

Hangtime · « **Reply #20 on:** April 30, 2005, 03:33:13 AM »

SuperDud, since yer an ACM and wouldn't be here if yah didn't understand trim, balance, stall and the other mundane mechnaics of flight... you can probably teach yourself how to fly in a park with a little electric foamy or park flyer.

Once you master the trick of standing on the ground flying a little 20oz electric plane that ain't attached to your bellybutton (control reversal, wind, unusual attitude recovery, etc) you could probably move into a 'club' enviornment for advanced training with larger conventional ARF Trainers and Sport aircraft very easily. For the most part, unless yer lucky enuff to live where all the land you see is open praire, flying larger sophisticted R/C aircraft is a 'club' endeavor anyway due to insurance and community saftey issues.

As others above have said.. "Join a club!" Believe it or not, learning to fly is only about 30% of the experience.. learning all about electrics and then glow and then gas engines, highly developed and refined radio systems as well as getting a taste of all the different modeling disciplines like pattern, 3D, scale, sailplanes, Heli's, pylon racing, combat, jets & Turbines generally makes up the the other 70% of your introduction to R/C... and the best place to get the exposure and learn from others is in a club and going to the flying events hosted by clubs for other modelers.

It's a great hobby.. some aspects have developed into a sport; hugely entertaining to watch as well as fly.

Best of luck, and 'keep the dirty side down'!

SuperDud · « **Reply #21 on:** May 05, 2005, 07:27:17 PM »

OK, I'm starting to get an idea for what I want. I got a few newbie questions though.

1) Is the remote control the same thing as the transmitter. And then the receiver being the the box of the aircraft.

2) Let's say I have a 5ch radio. Can that also operate aircraft that use 2-4chs also? Also, what exactly do channels do, is it the number of control surfaces you can move? Also, is it the servo's that move the control surfaces?

I've found a guy who flies by where I play softball. He said he'd be glad to give me pointers but I didn't get a chance to ask him anything else and was kinda clueless to start with when I asked him. Anyways, I think I'm gonna start with a little electric motored one. Radio and everything included. If I like it I'll probably upgrade to a bigger, gas powered one:D Thanks for all the help guys.

Cougar68 · « **Reply #22 on:** May 05, 2005, 07:56:12 PM »

The transmitter is the same as the radio. It's what you're holding while the plane is in the air. The receiver is the box that receives the signals and distributes commands to the servos.

You'll need a channel for each control surface/function. Say you want ailerons, elevator, rudder, throttle and retracting landing gear. You'll need at least 5 channels. The best thing to do when buying a transmitter is to buy as much as you can afford, not necessarily what you need. You can use the same transmitter for different models, so you don't want to box yourself in by getting a basic 4 channel radio. Your next model may need 7 channels and then you're out for a whole other radio setup.

Golfer · « **Reply #23 on:** May 05, 2005, 11:43:11 PM »

forget about all the links above.

If you want an airplane you can learn on and not worry about ever breaking...go here

JK Aerotech makes the best damn airplanes around in terms of realibility, survivability, ruggedness, ease of build and cost.

They're foam core airplanes wrapped with strapping tape (or you can cover with fiberglass..my preferred method) and then covered in another layer of packing tape for a base color.

The kits are dirt cheap and you can get a combo cheaper than anywhere else.

The T-52 is a great trainer with a small small smal .061 engine.

I own a T-52, 2x P-51s, 2x F4U's and a Zero for RC Combat (2610 scale rules).

You will not be disappointed.