RC Planes

Looks like fun, not going to be particularly stable/easy to fly though.
I've not been flying in ages, too much wind and not enough time in the evenings.
It's getting better though, other people must think so as there was someone flying a wot4 over our house yesterday morning.
They were flying from the nearby rec ground but were way over the residential part. I wonder if he had considered what would happen if he "dead stick"'d it over the houses.
 
Yeah, it'll be a steep learning curve I expect. I didn't get an awful lot of experience in the other one either before I stacked it.

Annoyingly I've lost the charging cables and possibly the PSU for my charger, so I might have to see if I can hack another one to work. Also, I don't expect to have the right cables for the batteries to match the plane.

Can you get these types of cables from regular hobby stores, or are they particular to HobbyKing?
 
It depends what you've bought in terms of batteries.
The servo/receiver/ESC should fit together without a problem.

As I mentioned before the batteries will probably have XT60s on it which you local hobby store may not have. What connectors do you have on your ESC?

The balance leads are all the same though (depending on number of cells) so your local store should be able to help you there, or Ebay.
 
I've got some 3s batteries coming along, not sure what connector they are. I currently have a mix of XT60's and Dean connectors, so should actually be OK after all. I was setting up my current plane over the weekend and it took me a while to get back into the wiring again, I just had a bag of bits that I couldn't remember what to use for.

A few terminal blocks later and some hot glue, I've sorted it out. I've also managed to wire up an old HP server PSU that is capable of putting out 32amps at 12v, so I've got that powering my charger. I can only charge it at 4.4~ amps for some reason though, perhaps because the charger is not capable of putting out more. I did try and charge two 3S batteries as a 6S, but obviously what I thought was a combining balance adaptor was something else, as it sparked when I went to make a connection.

Anyway, managed to totally demolish my plane on Friday. Same issue as last time, not balanced properly - this time probably because I had to glue it together so it was impossible to setup properly - and took a good 18" off the wing. And the structure where the fuselage meets the wing has been totally destroyed. Time to throw that in the bin. :(

Thankfully new one should be here today to keep me occupied. I'll take more care over setting it up this time, I think. Will also try and find my Key Ring camera and stick it on to get some aerial shots.
 
Well I got the new one, and here's a couple of pictures in case anyone is watching.

Running a Turnigy 1400kv motor, 8x4 prop with a 1000mah (2200mah shown) battery. I've just been testing it with my watt-meter and it runs at about 330watts when the battery is fully charged. :eek: Didn't expect that much grunt! Just by holding it upright and pushing the throttle up it can easily hold itself in the air from about half throttle. Wondering how it'll be balanced though with a 2200mah battery up front as I can't see any Centre of Gravity markers on the wings.

Also managed to setup my controller so that I have switches for exponential on the throttle, rudder, ailerons and elevators. I'm not sure how much to go with on that front but will get rid of most of the input to keep it safe and then see how it flies.

Gonna give it a go tonight but it is a little blustery so no doubt I'll come back with a bag of foam bits.

sbach1a.jpg

sbach2.jpg


From that second photo you can see that I stacked it yesterday and the carbon fibre rods already need setting back in with glue. :o The battery has been made to fit by heating up a screwdriver with a creme-brulee blow torch (classy) and then just cutting out the foam when it's red hot. Came out nicely. The fumes that come off that foam though... had a lungful by mistake, not good. :eek:
 
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Ordered a new motor for a laugh and ended up with quite a potent setup. 1250kv motor with a 12x6 APC prop and it pushes out 925 watts of power. Bit mad. Also quite frightening as it's extremely noisy. Just need to buy a plane that's big enough for it to go in. :p

 
Could someone spec me a complete kit to join the club? I've already got a dx6i transmitter that Iuse with heli's.

Something cheap, I. E. If I crash it I don't want to get too upset :D Happy to get out the duct tape / fibreglass to keep it going, if I'm any good I'll invest in something better at a later date.

Is it possible to launch from a field or by hand rather than having to find a RC plane runway?
 
Can anyone give me some advice regarding Transmitters?

At present I'm still using an old 35MHz Futaba FF6 TX and am looking for an upgrade.

I'm thinking about getting either a Futaba 6J or 8J Tx and would like to know if anyone has any experience of using either one?

However for around the price of the 8J I could get a 7C Tx which uses FASST, would it be better to go for this or get the extra features of the 8J?

At present I fly just IC aircraft, but I may look at getting a quadcopter (or similar) at some point in the future. I would also like to stick with Futaba unless another manufacture offer a much better system for around the same price.
 
Lakeland said:
Could someone spec me a complete kit to join the club? I've already got a dx6i transmitter that Iuse with heli's.

Something cheap, I. E. If I crash it I don't want to get too upset :D Happy to get out the duct tape / fibreglass to keep it going, if I'm any good I'll invest in something better at a later date.

Is it possible to launch from a field or by hand rather than having to find a RC plane runway?
Click to expand...

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__25003__Bixler_v1_1_EPO_1400mm_ARF_UK_Warehouse_.html
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__26032__Hobbyking_SS_Series_25_30A_ESC_UK_Warehouse_.html
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/...y_2200mAh_3S_20C_Lipo_Pack_UK_Warehouse_.html
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/..._Compatible_7Ch_w_Failsafe_UK_Warehouse_.html

Only other thing you would need is some connectors to solder onto the ESC. Great 1st plane.
 
Fire_fly said:
Can anyone give me some advice regarding Transmitters?

At present I'm still using an old 35MHz Futaba FF6 TX and am looking for an upgrade.

I'm thinking about getting either a Futaba 6J or 8J Tx and would like to know if anyone has any experience of using either one?

However for around the price of the 8J I could get a 7C Tx which uses FASST, would it be better to go for this or get the extra features of the 8J?

At present I fly just IC aircraft, but I may look at getting a quadcopter (or similar) at some point in the future. I would also like to stick with Futaba unless another manufacture offer a much better system for around the same price.
Click to expand...
Have a look at the turniqy 9xr, probably the best value tx out there. The software on them is a bid fiddly, but they come with a connector that you can use to upgrade the software.

Charlatan said:
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__25003__Bixler_v1_1_EPO_1400mm_ARF_UK_Warehouse_.html
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__26032__Hobbyking_SS_Series_25_30A_ESC_UK_Warehouse_.html
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/...y_2200mAh_3S_20C_Lipo_Pack_UK_Warehouse_.html
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/..._Compatible_7Ch_w_Failsafe_UK_Warehouse_.html

Only other thing you would need is some connectors to solder onto the ESC. Great 1st plane.
Click to expand...

Yeah and start with a good set of connectors, xtc 60 are brilliant or deans.
I have the bixler 2. It's really nice, I haven't ever flown a 1.1 but with v2 if you have a 2200mah battery then the plane will be nose heavy. So I suggest flying with some up trim to start off with, take off with full throttle.
I have the v2, I think it's better than v1 as it's really useful to have flaps. The reason being is that this plane needs at least 1/3 throttle to fly without flaps on and will fly fast. If you turn the flaps on, it s very gentle and will allow you to practice a lot.
 
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RomanNose said:
Have a look at the turniqy 9xr, probably the best value tx out there. The software on them is a bid fiddly, but they come with a connector that you can use to upgrade the software.
Click to expand...

Thanks, that Tx looks like great value for money. I will have to look into it further.

Do you know if the sub 5c bug has been fixed yet?
 
Today my self and my step son (12) will be building our Kyosho Calmato 40. I got the kit, engine, radio gear off a Facebook Group all brand new for £140. We recently had a local show here and got the rest of the bits. Flight box I already have from my heli.

Will post photos latter
 
Ended up going for the bixler 2 as there was no stock for v1.

The order is currently held up by customs so looks like I'll be getting stung, an online calc suggest £16 so not too bad.

Does anyone use Pheonix flight sim? I'm looking for suggestions of which plane might be similar characteristics to the bixler 2 so I can get some practise in :)
 
Lakeland said:
Ended up going for the bixler 2 as there was no stock for v1.

The order is currently held up by customs so looks like I'll be getting stung, an online calc suggest £16 so not too bad.

Does anyone use Pheonix flight sim? I'm looking for suggestions of which plane might be similar characteristics to the bixler 2 so I can get some practise in :)
Click to expand...


Good shout - Bixler 2 is a good step up from the V1 (I have both).

Personally I'd just fly any, my favourite plane on Phoenix is the Shuriken - if you can fly that you'll fly the bixler fine!

Trying to decide what to go for next - currently have Bixler 1, Bixler 2 (upgraded), Extra 300S foamy, F-16 60mm EDF, Teksumo Flying Wing.
 
I tried but there was no stock on many items so I placed two orders, one UK and one HK.

I eye spied a few Arduino goodies on the international site which I fancied so used that to justify the order ha :)
 
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