RC model airplanes - anyone into them? [Batteries showed up... f*** yeah!]

[boingk]

Hey guys. With the impending loss of my licence as of this Thursday afternoon (daaay-am!) I'm thinking of dropping a bit of cash on something I've always been interested in ever since I was a kid: remote control model airplanes. I mean, I gotta do SOMETHING on a weekend right?

I was thinking of just getting something cheapish to start off with and have set a budget of about $200 for a starter setup. Something like this would be the sort of thing I'd be looking at:

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170497292989

Very basic, nothing too flash. Might even be able to upgrade components at a later date, who knows.

So, all you airplane buffs out there, what do you reckon? Is it worth starting off simple and cheap or is it a silly first-timer mistake?

Cheers - boingk

 

[Wingspan]

Re: RC model airplanes - anyone into them?

Yep. Been doing it since I was a kid. The last model I finished was a 1934 Waco YMF biplane. It made the cover of the November issue of Flying Models magazine:

 

[Wingspan]

Re: RC model airplanes - anyone into them?

Hi,
I am into them too. Its good fun.

That plane is not a good starter. You WILL crash it the fist time you fly it. A better choice would be to go for something like this.

http://www.modelflight.com.au/products/Hobbyzone_Super_Cub_LP_RTF-654-11.html

They are a true trainer and you can buy spares for them. Modelflight are good to deal with too.

Glenn

+1 to all of this!

R/C plane guys have the same issue as motorcycle guys. Everyone wants to start off with more plane than they can handle instead of mastering the basics on an easier to fly machine.

 

[Goggles Pizano]

Re: RC model airplanes - anyone into them?

I am here to tell you that it would be cheaper if you just picked up a cocaine habit for the weekend instead.

If you insist on getting a plane, start with this: http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3882080

it's $30, made of foam, and you more than likely will not break it unless you step on it. Anything more expensive WILL break. Anything more than $50 will end up eating up your budget before you turn around. Plus you're not out a lot if you decide that you get bored watching something fly around your head for 30 minutes at a time.

 

[zero750]

Re: RC model airplanes - anyone into them?

I am not into them, but I make the landing gear for alot.

 

[biker_reject]

Re: RC model airplanes - anyone into them?

Wingspan, that is gorgeous! I never made the leap to RC. When I was a kid, I was an avid builder of military plastic planes and moved on to balsa kits. I actually got pretty good at it. The next logical step was RC, but alas, I discovered chicks and partying. Now that I'm semi grown up, I've wanted to get into an RC hobby like planes, helos, or motorcycles. There just doesn't seem to be any time or disposable cash to do it. Argggghhh!

 

[DrJ]

Re: RC model airplanes - anyone into them?

First I wanted an RC helicopter, but beginner models were small and kinda boring. Then I wanted a plane but I need to travel to a large field and I live downtown. So I settled on an offroad nitro car so I can use it anywhere.

 

[Rocan]

Re: RC model airplanes - anyone into them?

i was into it a while... still have my radios and stuff, but without space in this city to fly easily, i got sick of it.

start simple, with a foam model that will take a beating (my first flight ended in a nose dive to the floor, doing at least 40mph, the plane held up to fly many times after that).

id go with something with roll control, as in aileroins on either side. I could fly simulators fine (still fly my simulator a lot, with yoke rudders etc) and having a plane with only yaw and pitch control was a pain in the ass. good for a beginner, i guess, but not having that control got old quick, not to mention the HUGE turning radius.

im with DrJ on this. i had FAR more fun with my hobby level RC cars then i did with my plane, simply because of space constraints. whatever path you go, you can never have enough batteries. RC planes get about 20 minutes of flight to a charge, if your lucky. get a bunch of batteries and some good chargers.

 

[boingk]

Re: RC model airplanes - anyone into them?

Thanks everyone for the advice, and especially you, revheadgal, for the Australian based models site - just what I was after. And yeah, I'm a real beginner. I mean, I've got some experience with small RC helicopters but none with planes.

I think I'll take the advice and get a real starter plane like this:

http://www.modelflight.com.au/products/Hobbyzone_Champ_RTF-5783-11.html

If I go alright with that then I can always use the control gear for something along the lines of these:

http://www.modelflight.com.au/products/Parkzone_F4F_Wildcat_BNF-6214-6.html
http://www.modelflight.com.au/products/Parkzone_Messerschmitt_Bf_109G_PNP-3906-6.html

8)

Sound a bit more sensible and realistic?

- boingk

 

[DrJ]

Re: RC model airplanes - anyone into them?

This was recommended to me as a beginner, the Switch. Start off with the high wing configuration and as you gain experience, use the low wing for more control.

http://www.rcuniverse.com/magazine/article_display.cfm?article_id=1288

 

[Rocan]

Re: RC model airplanes - anyone into them?

that switch looks greatttt! love it!

 

[boingk]

Re: RC model airplanes - anyone into them?

Rocan and DrJ - space is of zero concern for me at all. My family has a 2,000 acre farm and I've got friends with around 10,000. If I want to fly in town then there are plenty of open parks and sporting fields I can use, even large spotlighted carparks would be alright after hours. Yeah, I live in a small (~25,000 population) town.

On the aileron part... didn't notice that at first on the little Cub. That would definitely give me the shits... I mean I used to be a Microsoft Flight Simulator fan all the way so know the relative basics of the stuff. Real life is a different matter, I know, but I reckon I should be able to handle it. Hell, the Parkzone controllers even come with a switchable low-rate controller setting.

Batteries are an old friend of mine from day dot, always had some kind of power-hungry battery-opped device around haha. Gameboy, RC controllers, wireless mouse, you name it. Even my little RC chopper has a few spare batteries - and it only needs a 15 minute charge!

Cheers - boingk

PS: Oh, this looks alright: http://www.modelflight.com.au/products/Parkzone_Ultra_Micro_T_28_Trojan_RTF_M1-6387-11.html

 

[Wingspan]

Re: RC model airplanes - anyone into them?

If you're willing to up your budget a bit, I'd highly recommend this:

http://www.modelflight.com.au/eflite/eflite_apprentice_15e.htm

This is a 4-channel (it has ailerons) high wing trainer and all the electronics are good hobby grade (vs. cheap toy stuff) items that you can use in other models later on if you decide to. They fly extremely well and are as durable as you're going to get. So well that the AMA (US R/C National Club) uses them to introduce RC flying to total newbies at events around the country.

If were going to train someone to fly, this is what I'd have them purchase.

 

[theboxrules]

Re: RC model airplanes - anyone into them?

Pretty good advice here so far. I've been in the hobby for almost 10 years now. It's a load of fun but can be expensive. The question here is what is your ultimate goal for flying? Do you just want a small park flyer that you can go out to a local field and fly on your own or do you want to do the nitro powered or larger electric r/c type flying?

If you are just wanting something to do when you aren't wrenching on the bike a good foamie 3 channel RTF (ready to fly) model is good to go. Low cash outlay and not too expensive to replace damaged components. Most mainstream manufacturers have models (Parkzone for example) have spare wings, servos, controllers, batteries widely available.

I suggest you do a search for local RC clubs, find out when they get together and fly (some will have introductory weekends and training nights with instructors) and hang out. Meet some folks, ask lots of questions, see their equipment and learn about hobby all around. Check out the AMA website for more details as well.

If you like what you see, a good high wing four channel tricycle gear trainer is a good investment. You can buy a .40 sized trainer in nitro or battery power. Spend some time with the instructor at your local club (you'll probably have to join the AMA for insurance reasons if you will be flying at the club) and have him/her go through the process of learning to fly these babies safely.

Most of all, be patient and don't try shortcuts to learning the right way to fly! It's a very rewarding hobby but can be frustrating and expensive at times.

Here's a few fun shots of my experiences with our annual club air show (GRCC Flying Circus), we did a Doolittle Raiders reenactment with scale B-25's dropping bombs on a city, complete with explosions!

My friend's C-130. It has a functional cargo door in flight where 24 GI Joes parachute out the back!

A photo of my Stearman.

 

[boingk]

Re: RC model airplanes - anyone into them?

Thanks box, guess I never thought of it that way.

I'm looking to get back into this because its something I used to enjoy but haven't indulged in for oh... maybe 10, 15 years? Since I was a kid, anyway. Now I have a bit of time and money up my sleeve and I think I'm ready to give it a proper shot.

From the products available nowdays, I can relate to the DIY balsa kits and ultra-micro scale flyers best. I don't think I'd like to start out with a nice balsa kit (crash-SNAP!) so the micros look alright. I realise they aren't the ducks guts for outdoor flying, but I do have several large indoor and sheltered outdoor areas I can use so I think they'll work alright for me - a football field surrounded by tall pines and an enclosed quadrangle both spring to mind. One reason I'm keen on them is that they also seem quite solid, and have cheap spare parts should I get a little too, er, enthusiastic. Plus, they're cheap and come with a 4ch control that'll work with more advanced flyers.

My plan for learning is to take baby steps. Quite field/empty gymnasium... take her along on a slow taxi then aim for juuuust taking off. Once up, reverse the steps and immediately come back down. Practice this, with the aim of longer, more controlled flights. Next step would be to do basic, low-speed rudder turns. Eventually I'd like to loop, roll, etc - all the fun aerobatic stuff... but I know I gotta learn to walk before I can fly.

Eventually, I'd like to move up to a larger scale plane like the warbirds I posted above - the Bf-109, F4F, Spitfire & P47 are all planes I would eventually like to own/fly, although I would settle for only one of those in the next 12~24 months. I don't think I would go nitro, simply because the electric stuff has come so far since I was last 'in the know'.

Wingspan - thanks for the recommendation, but theres no way my budget will stretch that far. Tempting, though...

Cheers - boingk

 

[biker_reject]

Re: RC model airplanes - anyone into them?

How about gliders?

 

[Wingspan]

Re: RC model airplanes - anyone into them?

Thanks everyone for the advice, and especially you, revheadgal, for the Australian based models site - just what I was after. And yeah, I'm a real beginner. I mean, I've got some experience with small RC helicopters but none with planes.

I think I'll take the advice and get a real starter plane like this:

http://www.modelflight.com.au/products/Hobbyzone_Champ_RTF-5783-11.html

If I go alright with that then I can always use the control gear for something along the lines of these:

http://www.modelflight.com.au/products/Parkzone_F4F_Wildcat_BNF-6214-6.html
http://www.modelflight.com.au/products/Parkzone_Messerschmitt_Bf_109G_PNP-3906-6.html

8)

Sound a bit more sensible and realistic?

- boingk

The little Champ is a decent micro flyer. Just remember that you will not be able to fly that model in any sort of wind whatsoever. I mean total dead calm or indoor only. I'd be wary of using the Champ's transmitter on the larger warbirds. My Dad has one of those transmitters for his Vapor indoor flyer (I use my DX7 for my parkzone micro models). It's ok for a micro model but you'll quickly find it lacking with other models. I'm also not sure that it's actually full range, which could be an issue later on.

As box said, you need to think about your ultimate goals. It's possible to go into this hobby cheap but if you plan to move on to larger more complicated models you'll quickly find yourself buying the same things later that you're dismissing now as too expensive. The difference is you'll have already spent (wasted) $$ on the cheaper stuff.

 

[Flugtechnik]

Re: RC model airplanes - anyone into them?

I'd agree with wingspan. I have been flying for about 4 years now. I exclusively fly electric foamies because they are fun, cheap, easy to build and fix and you can fly them almost anywhere. I fly mine at baseball fields and local parks with minimal trees. I can fly mine up and down my street and have even flown in someone backyard once (although that was super tight).

For people that ask me about mine, I always recommend they get a GWS Slow Stick and a good 4-6 channel radio to start out with. You can usually get used futabas or other brands on ebay for $40-$80 bucks and you will be able to use it for just about any plane you end up flying. The Slow Stick itself is usually about $30-$35 and is really easy to build and repair and is actually quite tough. You can also add ailerons to it fairly easily. It is easy to fly, though as the name suggests, it is slow. However, if you throw a brushless motor on it, you can do some fancy flying with it. I don't personally have one, but they are a staple for the guys at my office. The electrical components will probably cost another $60 depending on where you get them. I know a cheap place in the states (www.headsuprc.com) but I don't know about down under. I currently fly a profile Extra 300 that I built from plans off the internet. I do a lot of aerobatic stuff like hovering.

This is our office fleet below. My Extra is the white one with orange stripes on the near end.

 

[boingk]

Re: RC model airplanes - anyone into them?

Thats a nice flight group, Flugtechnik, digging the orange/white combo and the Iron Crosses haha. Thanks for the advice, too, but for the plane I'd rather just get one thats set up already if I'm starting out with it. Radio... did some research, and yeah the stock micro unit seems fine for them but not the larger planes.

Wingspan - I checked out the standard controller for the little micros and yeah it maxes out at about 300 feet. Thats not what I want... especially if I upgrade to a larger plane and then find it cruising leisurely away from me, or plummeting into an uncontrollable dive. Yikes. This looks more like the ticket:

http://www.modelflight.com.au/products/Spektrum_DX5e_5_channel_Tx_only_Mode_2-6223-15.html

Just one question though... is there much operational difference between the 'mode one' and 'mode two' type setups, or is it just a personal preference / getting used to it kinda thing? FWIW, I'd probably be more comfortable using a 'mode two' as its closer to what I've used in the past with RC choppers. Any help would be much appreciated.

Cheers guys, didn't expect this much feedback! - boingk

 

[Wingspan]

Re: RC model airplanes - anyone into them?

As rev said, the mode 1/2 thing is personal preference. I've always flown Mode 2.

The Spektrum is a good radio (it's also what's included in the model package I linked to earlier) and there are a ton of bind-n-fly models available for those that don't want to build and have a Spectrum Tx.