Author Topic: R/C flying - is it any good? (Read 632 times)

Dowding (Work) · « **on:** November 20, 2002, 09:31:14 AM »

I've always wanted to learn to fly. But that can't happen so I'm looking for the next best thing.

Now, ever since I was a kid I've wanted an R/C aircraft. But my parents always said no - it was too expensive and they wouldn't buy me one. I was so under-priviledged.

Now I'm 24, and I'm kind of going through a 'I'll buy the things I never had as a kid' stage. I almost bought an Operation Wolf coin-op machine the other month - but decided that the money would be better spent on stuff for my new apartment. It would also make me look like a bit of a sad-act.

Anyway, there's an R/C club near me and I'm thinking of going up and checking it out. What kind of plane would be suitable. I really want a WW1 bi-plane - something like the Flair SE5a I've seen. It says it's very forgiving but does that mean it will be suitable for a complete novice like me? Flair also make a cub training plane, and while it looks good, I'd much prefer the SE5.

Kieran · « **Reply #1 on:** November 20, 2002, 09:39:21 AM »

Between the two, the Cub is the better trainer by far. Neither one would be animals, but building would be much harder for the SE5 (especially if you rig it). Add to that the complexity of assembly at the field, cleanup, etc.

More... how heavy is each one? The SE5 would probably need a bigger (and more expensive) engine. And if the engine dies on you, the Cub will stretch far better to the field than the biplane.

As far as biplanes are concerned the SE5 is a great choice- it is proportioned well for an R/C model, it has a long nose (meaning no nose weight will be necessary), and it has generous wing area.

Dowding (Work) · « **Reply #2 on:** November 20, 2002, 09:58:25 AM »

Cheers Kieran.

Would I need a well kitted out workshop for this kind of thing?

I understand that 'built-up' planes require the wing 'ribs' (for want of a better word and not knowing the terminology) to be perfectly aligned and distanced for the wing shape to be correct - how difficult is that - or am I getting confused with full sized plane kit building?

The website says the SE5a weighs 6 lbs (I assume that's purely the kit) and the cub 4.5 lbs.

Also, the Cub has the option of buying ready made foam wings.

Kieran · « **Reply #3 on:** November 20, 2002, 10:04:03 AM »

I believe all that is absolutely essential is a flat area approximately 6' long and 3' wide on which to build. Find yourself an old door- they are generally not twisted- and lay it on a workbench. You'll need straight pins, wax paper, sandpaper, CA glue, #11 exacto blades and knife, some 5-minute epoxy, and a ventilated area. Aside from that you merely need patience.

Reading plans isn't typically difficult. The framing of the wings and fuse usually involves nothing more complicated than laying the parts directly over spot on the plans, pinning, and gluing.

One thing that will make the biplane a little harder is you'll have to worry about the incidence of both wings. The cabanes may be pre-made, but if not, you'll be soldering some, and you have to be very careful on that one.

Kieran · « **Reply #4 on:** November 20, 2002, 10:07:55 AM »

Regarding foam wings vs. built-up...

Foam wings are strong, easy to prepare, and true to shape. They are however heavier and much harder to repair. In addition I would be curious as to how the anchors for the struts are put in place. Could be there will be nothing more than a basswood block inserted into the foam with epoxy. I don't know how much I would trust that if it truly was going to bear any stress.

If you are interested in Cubs, Goldberg makes an excellent kit that is a snap to build, and is a real kite.

LePaul · « **Reply #5 on:** November 20, 2002, 10:14:19 AM »

Why not start out with something from Tower Hobbies and their ARF section (Almost Ready to Fly)....for a few hundred US dollars, you can get plane, radio, servos and see if its for you.

Personally, Im into rockets...someday I wanna attach them to a plane

Kieran · « **Reply #6 on:** November 20, 2002, 10:24:37 AM »

I never cared for ARFs- the building was half the fun.

Ripsnort · « **Reply #7 on:** November 20, 2002, 10:37:21 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by LePaul
Why not start out with something from Tower Hobbies and their ARF section (Almost Ready to Fly)....for a few hundred US dollars, you can get plane, radio, servos and see if its for you.

Personally, Im into rockets...someday I wanna attach them to a plane

Oh man, the thousands $$ I spent on Estes rockets in the 70's....

LePaul · « **Reply #8 on:** November 20, 2002, 10:38:14 AM »

LOL...trust me, I know...I finally sold my BD-5 I'd had for 2 years...building aint easy! (Thems a LOT of parts to rivet!)

But if he's looking to try it out, better to spend less money and see if its for him before going all out on bigger planes, etc

LePaul · « **Reply #9 on:** November 20, 2002, 10:39:30 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Ripsnort
Oh man, the thousands $$ I spent on Estes rockets in the 70's....

Well Rip, we can use the money we used to use for haircuts and get back into it!

Pfunk · « **Reply #10 on:** November 20, 2002, 12:16:42 PM »

Dowding,

What you need to do is buy a trainer plane. Yes they might be ugly and cant do a whole hell of alot of manuevers, BUT THEY WILL SAVE YOU MONEY. The club I fly at see's many, many, new guys coming to the club that have never flown before or have very limited experience and have spent hundreds of dollars on warbirds,bi planes etc. Within not even 1 min airborne they crash them. Even with a trainer plane, you need to visit the club and have someone teach you to fly. It took me all about 1 hour to learn to fly my 1st plane A TRAINER PLANE, on a buddy box with a trainer. You will piss off alot of the members at the club if you go out there having never flown without guidance. Every club has its own rules that you must abide by. I made the HUGE mistake of thinking that I could fly a T-6 texan after only training on my trainer plane for 2 weeks. Well its a far different experience that the trainer was, and I ended up crashing her after 2 flights. SO
in summary. Do not the a Piper Cub, contrary to what the other gent said. Piper cubs are not all that easy to fly, they do have a high wing BUT NO DIHEDRAL, the dihedral is what saves your bellybutton in R/C.

GET A TRAINER PLANE 1st !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
MASTER THAT
PROGRESS TO A LOW WING PLANE TRAINER(example a world models super sport $100, and flies like a dream

Pfunk · « **Reply #11 on:** November 20, 2002, 12:21:48 PM »

1st plane needs to be something like this

http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXK967**&P=0

or this

http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXCXF4**&P=0

then progress to this

http://www.airborne-models.com/html/sport40.html

and then you need all the field support equipment, which you can get in a bundle like this, then you need gas

http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXL419&P=7

GRUNHERZ · « **Reply #12 on:** November 20, 2002, 12:31:09 PM »

http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXMU53**&P=7

This is the best trainer, it does everything the others do but has a semi-symetrical wing so it flies better and has much greater overall capabilities to learn manuvers, inverted flight etc.

This is the plane you should get.

Pfunk · « **Reply #13 on:** November 20, 2002, 12:33:29 PM »

Dowding,

Also I might add, dont even think of building that sae5, that is an advanced model for advanced modelrs. If you want to build your own from a kit. Do yourself a favor and buy a cheap one. There are several kits that can be had for $30, the biggest tendency and thing that pisses me off most about guys wanting to get into r/c. IS that they think they can hop in with both feet and a big wallet, with no experience and say "I'm gonna build a warbird, and fly it" Sorry mate but it doesnt happen that way. You absolutely need to start out with a cheap bellybutton trainer ARF, hell some people cant even build an ARF correctly, much less piece together a bunch of sticks, sheet it, monokote, or glass it know how to install an engine and tune it the right way. Just go to the club get a cheap bellybutton ARF trainer, get a mentor or club trainer. Every club has one, if its not a "club trainer" there will be someone there with experience that will train you, not just to fly the thing, but how to tune the engine, preflight checks, postflight checks etc. This will make the hobby MUCH MUCH MUCH more enjoyable. Dont make the mistake that 80% of the people that I see taking up the hobby do, and that is Spend toejamloads of cash with no experience, crash their plane and say this hobby sucks its too expensive, and then quit.

Rude · « **Reply #14 on:** November 20, 2002, 01:00:55 PM »

Anyone remember the Senior Falcon? Goldberg model I think....it was my first. I used to tow my buddies gliders with it:)