RC Airplane people - Question about what I will need

DJMK4

DJMK4

DJMK4

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Hi guys and gals :cool:

I have recently purchased the first few bits in to my new interest in RC. So far I have a Spektrum DX6i Full range 6 ch radio and I purchased a copy of Phoenix RC SIM with the intension of eventually purchasing a plane.

I would like to go down the nitro route if possible. I have been looking at some training planes as this would be the best thing to start off with.

I do have a few questions though

1) Would it be best to get a trainer (I am looking at the Chris Foss WOT4) or get something better? Given that I have a sim.

2) I need to start building a list of everything I would need to get me up and running, so far I have the following (if there is anything I have missed please let me know)

Radio - Already got
Plane - http://www.sloughrc.com/asp/default.asp?itemid=A-CF001
Reciever -
Servos -
Engine - http://www.sloughrc.com/asp/default.asp?itemid=L-OS13393
Fuel tank
Fuel filter & pump -
glow plug starter/charger -

Can anybody else think of anything else I would need?

Also, specifically regarding the engines, is it best to stick with what’s been recommended for the plane, or can you upgrade them and stick a more powerful one in if you wanted to upgrade at some point?

Any help appreciated

Thanks:)
 
Best bet is to join a club to get you started, they will check out your build, to make sure you have not missed anything.

One thing , IC engines take no prisoners. only takes one mistake(easy to do) and your a few fingers less!!!!, so BEWARE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
I was thinking about joining a club, but will still need pre-joining advice, im going to sign up to an RC plane forum but thought I would ask here to see if anyone is looking or has the same model.
 
One thing that I would recommend, as in real life, is go for a high wing or biplane as a trainer. They have far more stability. Other than that, I'm not really an expert :p
 
BMFA membership is a must. http://www.bmfa.org/

Also if you have any nice slopes near you i would be inclined to start with a glider and some slope soaring. A glider will teach you a lot about flying smoothly, how not to scrub of speed, stay away from stalls and things like that and from my experiance glider flyers can always fly planes but plane flyer can't always fly gliders. Try looking at something like the easy glider, only £50 if you look around and can be found in an electric version. You will crash it at some point and this being made of something called elapor is easily fixed and the fact these are so light to being with means they don't have much weight to damage themselves in the first place.

Another thing you may want to consider is instead of nitro have a look into electric brushless and lipo power. Just as powerful as nitro motors now but without the hassle of tuning, which is impossible if you don't know how to do it dispute what online giudes tell you. You will spend a lot more time flying with electric and be a lot less restricted with areas than with the noise of nitro.

Check out utubue clip for some slope soaring
!

Check out this website for some trainers or give them a call, they'll be more than happy to point you in the right direction.http://www.t9hobbysport.com/

I've done planes, heli's and gliders and have always had the most fun with the gliders as i seem to spend more time in the air with them and seem to be the cheapest to maintain.
 
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Thanks for the info, I will check out them links.

With regards to the glider, as I dont want to overspend on this if possible im going to stick with the nitro plane for now. Reason being is because I can learn about flying smoothly on the Sim as its realistic and has multiple wind settings so you can really test yourself on gusty approaches and landings.

When i get the real thing i will edge myself in gently, just doing short take off landing sessions
 
I've never flown a Nitro aircraft however I have an electric Cessna. Only managed to fly it once and it resulted in a smashed Tail-Elevator section, so my advice would be only get something that you can afford to buy replacement parts for.

Also, try and find somewhere where you can actually fly it, even though mine is electric its very quick and can cross a field in no time. I've found it best to take off from an old car park (tarmac) which then leads onto a massive field. You can hand launch the electric planes however I've tried that and went through quite a few propellers!

Good luck
 
Paul2k12 said:
I've never flown a Nitro aircraft however I have an electric Cessna. Only managed to fly it once and it resulted in a smashed Tail-Elevator section, so my advice would be only get something that you can afford to buy replacement parts for.

Also, try and find somewhere where you can actually fly it, even though mine is electric its very quick and can cross a field in no time. I've found it best to take off from an old car park (tarmac) which then leads onto a massive field. You can hand launch the electric planes however I've tried that and went through quite a few propellers!

Good luck
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Sorry to hear about the smash :(

How much flying experience did you have previous to the crash?
 
Getting in a club and going buddy is the best advice as you'll have control with the experienced flyer on the master controls.

My dad built his own .25 Irvine powered overwing trainer (full balsa/doped wing). I still have the scar from it :D
If you get a large wing span, low powered over wing it will be slower, more stable. How quick you progress is really dependant on how much you fly.

I'm looking at Phoenix too but for helicopters. I'll then look at the local club and go buddy.

Don't fly in public areas on your own. If you damage something or someone then it's likely to cost more than the plane.. also club memberships usually include insurance etc for the time you're flying with them on their premises.
 
Dont forget a prop! :D

If you like the Chris Foss stuff, have a look at the Uno-Wot or the Wot4, you get to build it yourself, so you will know where everything should go when you have to pick up the pieces after you crash it.......

:)

You'll also need a battery pack for the receiver and servos inside the plane.
 
I was in the hobby for a while but quit because of the weird people that seem to be attracted to the sport. It was also a lot more difficult given at the time I couldn't drive and so relied on my dad being available to take me to the club. I tried to reignite my passion for the sport about 3 years ago but this was a failure, I joined a new club and the people up there were just as weird and perverted as at my first club. It's a shame because it is a really cool hobby but I've always told myself I will start again once I get my own bit of land that I don't have to share with a bunch of perverted old men.
 
3rd party insurance.

If you have never flown before a cheap electric one will be a good start so you get your orientation ready for the big stuff.

I used to fly the big dirty smelly engined stuff.

Now prefer the lipo brushless electric stuff. Cleaner, smaller and less smelly/greasy!

I am flying the blue one, my mate is flying the white/red thing.

 
The best way to avoid the elderly neighsaying freekshows that populate model flying clubs is to build some parkflyers. I learnt to fly, very safely, with phoenix and light, scratchbuilt foamies with brushless setups. Using large fields or empty parks and planes that weigh only a few ounces. I fly well now (couple of years in so competent aerobatics and naff 3D) and all through foamies built from free plans from here:

http://www.rcgroups.com/foamies-scratchbuilt-428/?

I made a foam cub as my first aileron trainer from there (blucub2) as well as a fantastic bipe (infineon), some oddballs, low wing aerobats - all sorts.

All using EPP foam or depron - cheap as chips and good value electronics from hobbyking.com

Phoenix is great by the way also used that for heli training.

I have a scale balsa piper cub finished and sitting on the bench ready to maiden (also electric but my first balsa build).

For me electric and park scale means I can fly more often whilst not taking chances. It means I don't have to endure club politics and be trained by a bunch of boring old duffers with arthritic thumbs.

BMFA insurance a must by the way!
 
^

Yup park fliers are good, and yeah "flying clubs" can be an odd experience!

I designed and built this out of flat sheets of depron. Was an absolute blast to fly. Very fast and turned very quickly.

 
Skidder said:
The best way to avoid the elderly neighsaying freekshows that populate model flying clubs is to build some parkflyers. I learnt to fly, very safely, with phoenix and light, scratchbuilt foamies with brushless setups. Using large fields or empty parks and planes that weigh only a few ounces. I fly well now (couple of years in so competent aerobatics and naff 3D) and all through foamies built from free plans from here:

http://www.rcgroups.com/foamies-scratchbuilt-428/?

I made a foam cub as my first aileron trainer from there (blucub2) as well as a fantastic bipe (infineon), some oddballs, low wing aerobats - all sorts.

All using EPP foam or depron - cheap as chips and good value electronics from hobbyking.com

Phoenix is great by the way also used that for heli training.

I have a scale balsa piper cub finished and sitting on the bench ready to maiden (also electric but my first balsa build).

For me electric and park scale means I can fly more often whilst not taking chances. It means I don't have to endure club politics and be trained by a bunch of boring old duffers with arthritic thumbs.

BMFA insurance a must by the way!
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Good on you mate, you are bang on there when it comes to the freaks that seem to inhabit these clubs. It is a real shame because just reading this thread makes me want to start again, I spent a lot of money on the sport and got my A licence too. It's all been wasted because I just couldn't tolerate the morons at the club.
 
YZFAndy said:
Another thing you may want to consider is instead of nitro have a look into electric brushless and lipo power. Just as powerful as nitro motors now but without the hassle of tuning, which is impossible if you don't know how to do it dispute what online giudes tell you.
Click to expand...

I forgot about the hours spend getting idle and throttle ranges right.

Had the irvine attached to a static bench and ran it from there with ear muffs on.

Unless you have space (as in no neighbours) then it's probably better running electric..
 
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