RC Planes

SkodaMart said:
I've just finished building a HK 450 GT.

What was up with the 450 TT pros?
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Screw heads made of cheese, knackered main shaft bearings, 1 had a warped rotor head, the other a warped main shaft. Both had totally unbalanced blades, the ball end connector threads were sheared on various parts, the main gear was warped on both and the main gear bearing was completely shot on one, a magnet came unstuck on the Turnigy Propdrive motor I ordered with the kit and the grub screw for the motor gear rounded off when I so much as wafted a quality hex driver near it.
 
can someone "spec" me a cheapo RTR helicopter, max budget £20
just found a deal on HUKD, but being a newbie to this, i dont know whether the deal posted for the helicopter was any good, if anyones interested its a "LS222" ?
just want something for myself to mess about :D
thanks
 
Hi,

Got an itch to get an RC plane. I used to be really into 1/10 electric buggies years ago and my eldest is coming on for 8 so wouldn't mind getting back into a hobby that I can share with him too.

Been looking around a bit at RTF models and am tempted by the Parkzone P-51 RTF Looking around the net and watching numerous Youtube videos it appears to be well received and great value.

I think I read that the plane has a switch, so it can be flown in 'beginner' mode, where the ailerons will only lift a little, so less likely for a hamfisted begginer to send it into the ground.

So am I crazy going out there to buy something like this when I haven't flown before? There is a local'ish club to me whoose website says new comers welcome etc, but I really just fancy taking this down to a large local park and flying in my own company. Will this be a doomed flight?!

Thoughts appreciated!

Cheers
 
mark66 said:
Hi,

Got an itch to get an RC plane. I used to be really into 1/10 electric buggies years ago and my eldest is coming on for 8 so wouldn't mind getting back into a hobby that I can share with him too.

Been looking around a bit at RTF models and am tempted by the Parkzone P-51 RTF Looking around the net and watching numerous Youtube videos it appears to be well received and great value.

I think I read that the plane has a switch, so it can be flown in 'beginner' mode, where the ailerons will only lift a little, so less likely for a hamfisted begginer to send it into the ground.

So am I crazy going out there to buy something like this when I haven't flown before? There is a local'ish club to me whoose website says new comers welcome etc, but I really just fancy taking this down to a large local park and flying in my own company. Will this be a doomed flight?!

Thoughts appreciated!

Cheers
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Hey fella - yeah I think you're being a little over ambitious with a warbird as a trainer. I'd start if with something like the AXN - http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=25292

Or the Bixler package:http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/...O_1400mm_RTF_Mode_2_Throttle_Left_Radio_.html

It means that when you fly it into the ground (and you will) it'll bounce for the most part, any breaks will be easily sorted with some hot melt glue and some fiber tape. The form factor also means that you don't constantly break props every time it ends up nose in the ground. The best part is that you'll only have crashed £50 rather than £200. Start light and cheap. Make all your mistakes with something that's not going to break the bank. It'll less likely put you off if you're not crashing £200 each time.
 
Thanks for the advice Steve :)

Ok, looking at these trainers, I think they are probably a much better starting point. Lots of videos out there also recommending them as some of the best starter planes.

I am currently looking at the Blixler 2 (waiting for it to come into stock), which comes with servos and the motor, so I will need:

Tx & Rx - not sure which one. I guess it makes sense to get something that will satisfy any future needs? Spektrum DX6i or any other recommendations?

1800mAh~2200mAh 3s Lipoly Battery: Again recommendations on type and charger would be great.

1 x 20A ESC: Looking at Hobbyking they all seem to be between £5 and £10 for a 25A. Any brand better than the other? Do I need to worry about connections?

Many thanks!
 
Here's one of mine.

Precedent Bi-Fly 25.

KNvWM.jpg

Is there an official RC helicopters thread?

I got a nano CPX for Christmas. :)
 
SkodaMart said:
Thanks.

I wasn't an an easy build, in fact it took me 12 months.

The hobby is much easier these days (ready made foam models) not as naff as they sound.
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Well I have a large heli and a 250 heli but I don't really fly them anymore.
I guess planes are much simpler but I don't really have the time and the only flying place for planes near me would require I join their club even if it is the "town moor" :rolleyes:
 
arknor said:
flying place for planes near me would require I join their club even if it is the "town moor" :rolleyes:
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'Slope soaring' is great fun.

As you can see from the backdrop in the video, plenty of hills where I am.

I am currently learning helis, I have a Blade 300x which is an amazing little thing!
A HK 450 GT, which still requires fine tuning,
and my new nano cpx.
 
My latest build - My own design. It's in the first stages of flight testing but it has around a 1.2:1 power to weight ratio. I have a new motor to put on it that will take the P/W ratio even higher and I've got a folding prop that should save me a few on belly landings.

I've called it the Cobra Delta. Maiden Video.

Here's a couple of pics from the build process.
DSC_8775.jpg


DSC_8776.jpg


Mocked up to sort out CG - I ended up going with a bigger battery.
DSC_8908.jpg


DSC_9020.jpg


DSC_9024.jpg


DSC_9030.jpg


DSC_9033.jpg


Next job is to make some decent winglets for it and then give it a nice paint job.
 
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mark66 said:
...I am currently looking at the Blixler 2 (waiting for it to come into stock), which comes with servos and the motor, so I will need:

Tx & Rx - not sure which one. I guess it makes sense to get something that will satisfy any future needs? Spektrum DX6i or any other recommendations?

1800mAh~2200mAh 3s Lipoly Battery: Again recommendations on type and charger would be great.

1 x 20A ESC: Looking at Hobbyking they all seem to be between £5 and £10 for a 25A. Any brand better than the other? Do I need to worry about connections?...
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Ok my adventure into RC planes has begun with the arrival of a Bixler 2 from Hobby King :) I also picked a Turnigy 2200mah 25-35c LIPO battery and Hobby King 20A ESC.

I now need to complete the package with: (please let me know if I am missing anything here!)

Tx/Rx
Charger
Banana style connectors to attach to the ESC to pair with those on the motor in the Bixler.
XT60 connector to attach to the ESC to pair with the battery.

Hobby King UK don't seem to stock much in the way of transmitters. Can you guys recommend a good UK site to source my remaining bits? Any advice on which brand for Tx/Rx and type of charger would be great.

Also on the battery, aside from the yellow XT60 connector there is another connector with 4 wires going into it. What are these for?
 
mark66 said:
Also on the battery, aside from the yellow XT60 connector there is another connector with 4 wires going into it. What are these for?
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Balance charging. They basically go to the cells in the battery so your charger can detect the variations between the charge levels in the cells.

As to chargers/ tx's, there are some mentioned earlier in the thread. Just pick your budget!
 
Getting back into this out of the blue. Just ordered me one of these, starts 20secs in:


Sbach 342 EPP 3D Airplane 900mm

About $50, but $100 by the time I've ordered 4 new smaller batteries, propellers and paid for shipping. Always more than I think it'll be. Didn't go for a new ESC as I've got two - a 30amp ESC already and a 90amp (overkill one for previous plane). I am guessing cos of the weight the 30amp ESC is the one to use.

Probably should've started with this from the off. Went for a big FPV one but didn't have the funds to get to the FPV stuff, and ended up stacking it after only a few weeks and didn't get back into it.

Thankfully also there is a UK warehouse with HobbyKing, so it shouldn't take two months to arrive this time. :p

Anybody still doing this? At least the weather is back to flying weather now. :cool:
 
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