RC Planes

alexthecheese

alexthecheese

alexthecheese

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10 Mar 2006
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Created so I don't fill the RC Helicopters thread with unrelated chit chat.

Moving my post to here - hopefully arknor will follow. :D

Looking to get started with some kind of plane from Hobby King... advice or chat related to RC Planes welcome. :cool:
 
(From other thread)

Cheers, aknor. Much appreciated.

I don't like the idea of it being virtually unrepairable. Probably only last 5 minutes in that case.

What about something like the HobbyKing J3 Cub?

Or the L-4 Grasshopper 1400mm EPO (PNF)

Or this? The Piper J3 Cub 1400mm EPO (PNF)

With the last one, when it says I need to get the Transmitter and Receiver, what receiver would I need to purchase?

I think I'll go for the last one. It's big, which is cool, and is apparently easy to handle. It's also at their German warehouse which means cheaper shipping.

Unless you recommend otherwise. :p

EDIT: Also, having to place orders seperately because some items are from the German warehouse and some aren't, is doing my head in.

EDIT 2: And then also, you can't order batteries with a large plane at the same time!! I am going to explode!! :eek: :eek: :eek:
 
Okey dokey, I've just ordered me a plane. :D

FPV Raptor Composite, 1600mm wingspan
Turnigy Accucel-6 50W 6A BalanCER/CHARGER W/ ACCESSORIES
12V 5A 110/240V 50/60Hz Power Supply
OrangeRx R100 Satellite Receiver
OrangeRx R610 Spektrum DSM2 6Ch 2.4Ghz Receiver (w/ Sat Port)
Hobby King 2.4Ghz 4Ch Tx & Rx V2 (Mode 2)

Hopefully I've understood what you said, arknor. I went for a cheap receiver that's only 4 channels, but it was only $22 rather than £45. Also need to get me some batteries, but I'll have to do that separately as you can get batteries shipped in a box big enough to hold the plane - some air traffic safety law.

Pretty chuffed though. Can't wait for it to arrive!
 
Bigpops said:
It says it in the first line of your quote:

Third party civil liability.

@Alexthecheese: those orangrx receivers you've ordered don't work with that transmitter. They're dsm2 receivers, for use with spektrum transmitters. The good news is that the transmitter comes with its own receiver, so you can use that.
Click to expand...

Ah right. Oops. My plan is going for the full FVP setup at some point, so shall I just cancel the transmitter and get the one arknor suggested for better range?

I nist kinda assumed that they all worked together. I'll cancel the transmitter and get the spectrum one with the increased range.
 
I'm still faffing about trying to work out what batteries to order for the plane that I've ordered, particularly with regard to mAh and the power supply for the charger that I've ordered.

Is the power charger big enough to charge, say a 5000mAh battery? Does it matter what size batteries I buy - apart from the weight/size issues, I feel like I might be being greedy trying to get a 5000mAh battery in the plane, particularly with balance issues - or am I limited because of the 5amp power supply that I've bought?

I'm looking at various batteries trying to work out what's most appropriate but it's all so confusing as there's so much choice!!! Almost thousands of different batteries on offer. :eek:
 
Right, cheers. So, with a 3s I need to get to 12.6v (as I've just seen that each cell needs to get to 4.2v to be fully charged).

So 50w/12.6v = 3960mAh is the biggest I can go? I'll take that 4000mAh battery out of my shopping basket then. :o

I can charge at 50watts with the 5a power supply won't I? 50 watts x 12v = 60 watts. So I'm good for that right?

Does that also mean that every charge takes exactly an hour, assuming it's completely flat?

That adaptor - the Male XT60 <-> Female T-Connector - can you get that at the local hobby stores? Without faffing about and amending an order, or raising a new order just for that (getting batteries from their German warehouse), I can't get it.

Yet another question... what adaptor would I need to run the batteries in parallel? One of these? I'm not sure what connector the batteries I'm buying have. Would I need two of the ones you've recommended, and one of those?
 
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Thanks for the help Bigpops. Your charging explanation makes sense.

I've thought about running them in parallel for added duration. I've been reading about this today and saw people have them running in parallel, so thought for the same of a couple of dollars I could get some added flexibility by having longer running times.

But... as you've probably guessed, whether this is actually needed I haven't a clue. I am getting a bit carried away perhaps. :p

I've gone and ordered some 2200ah batteries as that's about what was recommended, and after looking at the availability and prices of stuff from their international warehouse I went for an order from them. $7.80 each or something ridiculously cheap, so went for 4. Figured that if it did work, I could run them in parallel and have the extra long run time.

I must say I am impressed with the store though, and how cheap it is. 4 batteries with those adaptors and including delivery it was £35. We went to a hobby store yesterday and the prices were phenomenally more expensive.
 
That Stryker is mental!! I thought the thing I am getting is reasonably rapid but that is ridiculous! :eek:

Just seen a guy doing square loop the loops, such is its ability to change direction.

:eek:
 
Further update to my ongoing bizarre RC addiction of getting excited but not actually having anything to play with. :p

I had just ordered a new motor, and a couple of 6x4 props, but now I've gone and ordered a transmitter and an array of new props so I can do a bit of testing on getting the most thrust without chewing through any motors.

I ordered one of these FlySky FSTh9X/B 2.4G 9 Channel Transmitter with module. It's a 9 channel wotsit dooda, but you can flash the firmware and get it up to 16(?) channels or something ridiculous. For £50 it seems like a bit of a bargain. There's also ways to get live telemetry - speed, altitude, battery voltage etc. - through a hack, which is positively awesome, so I'll definitely be having some of that.

Also ordered 6 x 9g servos as the ones that come with the plane are supposedly a bit parp.

So.. just need the plane to arrive now. :D
 
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Yeah, it's from HobbyKing. The plane I ordered a week last Friday, some other bits (batteries) I think on Monday. That had supposedly shipped, but it's still not showing that on the website and I haven't received any tracking numbers so I reckon that hasn't moved anywhere.

The plane will probably take forever - it's in their other warehouse.

When I get the transmitter I know I'll be itching to receive the plane...

What transmitter you running with arknor?
 
Oh balls, is it really that slow?! :D

I might consider cancelling and getting something else if it really takes forever. :p I've read stories that sometimes return only store credit, which sounds like a bit of a scam.

Turnigy 9x and the one I've ordered are the same aren't they? You'll have to help me hack it if you know how to do it. :p

EDIT: This is getting ridiculous... just ordered the backlight and programmable add-on board thing so I can update the firmware on it..... keep reading that it's a bit parp on stock firmware though......

:o
 
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Almost the same as in fundamentally the same? Once firmwares have been applied and all that jazz?

Does this mean that mine has actually been shipped? :confused:

BSKT875 JIT SCAN OUT @Jan 18 2012 5:53PM
BSKT875 JIT SCAN OUT @Jan 18 2012 5:54PM
BSKT875 JIT ARRIVED IN WAHLOK @Jan 19 2012 2:36PM
 
Great, cheers dude. :) So a couple of weeks wait, that's not too bad. Will have to try and curtail my spending in the meantime though...

Any idea about Frsky addons for this transmitter? :p
 
Cheers, I ordered the piece of kit that allows it to be flashed from one of the links in those threads.

Is the FrSky stuff separate to all this? Is it specifically the 2.4ghz transmitter/receiver module? Is it like an upgrade?
 
Mine hasn't gone anywhere either. Hopefully it'll ship next week, otherwise I'll keep spending money to stave off the excitement of receiving my goodies. :o

My FlySky 9x should arrive today. My USB patching module is in the post also, should come next week.
 
Looks like HobbyKing have kicked back into life, my 'Large Boxed Item' has now been put on the truck to go back to their front end. Wahoo! I think?

Still waiting for my FlySky... ordered a USB trainer interface so I can get some practise in before it arrives.

It's like being 8 years old all over again. :p
 
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Ewaf said:
**** yes, I am so buying a beginner one when I move house in a couple of weeks. Surrounded by open fields!

Realistically how much are you looking at for a starter one with everything you need? £250-300?
Click to expand...

Yay. A new recruit. \o/

:D

Not sure what mine has cost so far. Probably more than I want to think, but £300 sounds excessive.

I've spent $240 / £150 before tax/import costs that I am assumed I'll get caned on which got me:

- 1.6m Plane with motors and servos already installed
- 4 Batteries
- Charger & PSU
- Receivers that I dont even need any more - about $18
- Battery cables

Plus £90 ish on:

- a transmitter that you can flash and upgrade
- a USB interface to do the above
- a simulator interface (simulator is free)
- upgraded motor
- 6 new servos to replace them on the plane and possibly put flaps on
- a bunch of varying size propellers so I can fiddle and faff when I'm bored and see what gets me the most thrust! :p

£240 before taxes on the stuff from China, basically. Oops. :o
 
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That looks very nice.

Bearing in mind I have no experience, and this is only based on a lot of reading, if you want to put a camera in it you'll have to see how much space there is (presumably you'll need to do some chopping of the fuselage if you want it facing downwards), and it will affect the centre of gravity.

Too much at weight at the front and potentially not being able to move things about will restrict you in that regard.

It's made of EPO foam which is (supposedly) very good for strength and seeing as you have 2m wingspan with an efficient puller prop set up (i.e. in front of the plane and not behind like mine, which is less efficient as the air is disturbed by the plane by the time it gets to the propellor) it must be able to haul itself along nicely.

The Skywalker is apparently very good - huge space inside the plane for lots of camera type stuff. It's not as big and again it's a pusher like mine, but it might be more suited for what you want to do with it.
 
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