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What is wrong with Foamies? - 12/3/2012 2:38 PM  1 votes
Rob2160



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I was getting off topic in another thread...

I see a lot of  "Experienced - veterans of RC" who snub their noses at the new breed of RC Aircraft..

What is wrong with Foamies?

I started flying in 1978, Back then I had to build my own aircraft from scratch, Balsa and Solarfilm.. There was no other choice..

The Wright Brothers also built their aircraft out of wood..

Aerospace technology has advanced since then..

Do Cessna, Boeing, or Lear still use wood? 

Yet in the RC world, there are those who still beleive balsa is better..

I spent 30 years flying Balsa and Glow Plug, probably at least 60 different models as a club instructor.
 
In my opinion, the Foam aircraft I have flown in the past 3 years, mainly Parkzone Electrics are FAR superior to 95% of the Balsa Glow planes I have flown.

Foam is stronger, lighter and more durable.

I built a foamie slope soarer 25 years ago.. it is exactly the same today.. My 25 year old Balsa planes have all rotted to the point of collapse.

Not all of us can build a beautiful scale Warbird, but thanks to Parkzone,  anyone can now have a reasonably nice looking scale model with very little effort or expense. And they fly GREAT..

After 30 Years with Glow Engine, I will never go back.. TECHNOLOGY again.. advances.. Brushless power is incredible.  most of my electric aircraft FAR exceed the performance of any glow plane I flew.

So please, what is the argument FOR Balsa?

What is wrong with a Foamie?

Now another topic that I hear regularly...

You won't be taken seriously in this hobby unless you build your own plane..


Why?

REAL pilots don't have to build their own aircraft to become professional pilots.

I fly real aircraft for a living.. I don't build them.. If I wanted to build aircraft I would have studied aeronautical engineering..   I wanted to fly.

Why snob those who just want to be RC Pilots? Not RC builders?

I have every admiration for those with the talent, aptitude and desire to spend months creating a work of aeronautical art from raw materials. Truly I admire and respect that.

The same as I admire those engineers who design and builld the real aircraft and helicopters I have flown.
 
Don't knock the new generation for flying foamies.. I have seen new potential pilots scared off by veterans who told them the ONLY way to be taken seriously is to Build your own GLOW engined balsa aircraft.

My First plane cost over $400 in 1978, took 3 months to build and was a high wing 3 channel trainer.

My last plane was $80 - took an hour to build, uses 6 channels and flys 1000% better than the first one. 

This little Stinger is great.. already over 150 flights in 3 months and I just love it..    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruiuZahglQk

And this Foamie absolutely Blows away everything else i have flown  previously.   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AswPG9uOEOw

 



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RE: What is wrong with Foamies? - 12/3/2012 3:59 PM   
cubaneight


 

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Status: offline 		As a modeller and flyer with over forty years experience, my answer to your question is that there is absolutely nothing wrong with foamies!! The beauty of this hobby is that it is all things to all men (and women), just enjoy what you do, do it safely and leave the fault finders and moaners to themselves.
Looking at the issue more closely, a well constructed model built from balsa & ply will be more durable than foam. I have a couple of models that are built from wood (a kit Goldberg Chipmunk and an ARTF Hanger 9 Aresti 40) both are well over ten years old and still look very tidy and are a delight to fly. Not many foamies of that age and condition (if flown regularly) are still likely to be around. The advantage of foam is that you have what amounts to a consumeable item, without all the time and work ploughed into it, so you enjoy it to the max and throw it out when it falls to bits or you get bored with it. There's plenty to choose from, just pick another subject and in a few days you'll be in the air.
It always amuses me how we often put ourselves into aeromodelling catagories. I'm a builder, or I'm a flyer, or I'd never try helicopters, slope soaring, thermal, electric etc etc. The ultimate catagory is the "You won't be taken seriously in this hobby unless you build your own plane.." that you mention. Well who give a hoot about that? Are all helicopter flyers (myself included) a lower form of life because we don't stand at a lathe and make all the parts ourselves? or the champion aerobatic pilot who has bespoke models made for him...of course not.
Ah well! tea break over & now back to converting my ARTF Keecat to electric power.........I should be strung up at dawn according to some people LOL.

Kev.

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RE: What is wrong with Foamies? - 12/4/2012 3:34 AM   
blvdbuzzard



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Status: offline 		If I can fly it I do. Be it dollar store foam board, scratch built balsa, fiber glass, carbon fiber, foam core wings and the list goes on. Foam is great. I to had to build them before I could fly them. I have been around a while and it makes me laugh when I hear people at the fields. If yo did not scratch build it, you did not build it. Look at the surface finish on the foam plane, looks like a cancerous orange. I would never be caught dead with a plane that looked like that. Most of the comments come from the pit crowd. The guys who show up every weekend, take a spot in the pits and never fly. They just complain. I like to fly. I have ARF, RTF's, kits, scratch, planes in the garage. You can not beat a foam plane to get you in the air fast. I took one of these to the field and built it there just to show them a foam plane does not take years to build. I paid for it later. I have a real strong allergy to Ca and kicker. 2 1/2 hours later I am flying and they could only say foam sucks. They get wraped up in their own idea of what is a good plane. I have planes that others thought were crap yet they fly fine for me.

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=16623


I like foam. I like foam. I like foam I like foam. I like foam. I like foam I like foam. I like foam. I like foam I like foam. I like foam. I like foam


Buzz.


Edited for spelling

< Message edited by blvdbuzzard -- 12/5/2012 1:33 AM >

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RE: What is wrong with Foamies? - 12/4/2012 5:16 AM   
1320Fastback



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Status: offline 		Theirs nothing wrong with foamies.
What is wrong is the rash of businesses selling them with sub par electronic installed.
You can not even count how many crash every weekend on maidens because of inferior pre installed parts or weak overal design.

The planes themselves because they are foam is not a issue.

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RE: What is wrong with Foamies? - 12/4/2012 1:43 PM   
ATVAlliance



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Status: offline 		I prefer balsa or composite over foamies.  But I own both and dont look down my nose at anyone that prefers one over the other.  Ive never built a plane from scratch nor have I built one from laser cut parts.  Heck, Ive never even covered a plane before as all of my planes were bought already built in used condition or were ARF's new.

The reason I prefer balsa is for a couple reasons.

1.  When they crash, they can be repaired usually without ever being able to notice.  Not so in foamies case...where you at least will have a frankenstein looking repair.  Not that a repaired foamie is any less flyable...its all asthetics on this point.

2.  A built up balsa plane makes me feel as if Im flying more of a true model, rather than an injected molded one.  Its hard to put to words, but a real airplane has a real airframe of course, covered in whatever material...lets say aluminum.  A built up balsa/covering airplane has an airframe covered in a material...ie covering.  So, to me anyway...it feels more authentic to me to fly a balsa plane over a foamie one.

3.  Balsa/Covering planes tend to hold value more than foamies.  And we all end up selling a plane here or there.  Its nice to be able to get a nice used price out of a plane rather than throw it away.  I personally wouldnt buy any used fomies unless they were profile type planes.  For fear that someone has flown it like I fly my Stryker!...which is like it owed me money!  lol



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RE: What is wrong with Foamies? - 12/5/2012 6:22 PM   
Glacier Girl



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Status: offline 		Hmm, A lot of what I see is folks who are stuck. Stuck in the thought that one is better then the other. Those that maybe grew up building to fly and look down on those who didn't have to spend months or years piecing something together, like they haven't paid their dues to the hobby. Those types are the losers in my book, they are stuck in one thought process, instead of seeing all that's come about since the beginning.

Me, I've built in balsa, foam, and a few other things, flown fuel and electric, to me each is just another step in the learning process. Stuff I learned on one I often can use in another. Heck I recently got into r/c trucks and tanks. And boy a lot of what I learned in r/c planes has crossed over. Just another step.

And some of the balsa purists should take a look at what some of the foamy guys are creating, before thumbing their nose at em. I've seen foamies that are pure craftsmanship in quality, and I've also seen some balsa birds that were just terrible. So who's the better?

We should all look at someone as to what they can bring to the hobby vs looking on down on them for what they have.

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RE: What is wrong with Foamies? - 12/5/2012 8:44 PM   
Chucksolo69


 

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Status: offline 		Hmmmm.............. I have seen a  few foamies that were repaired so expertly that you couldn't tell the plane was in a crash.

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RE: What is wrong with Foamies? - 12/5/2012 9:59 PM   
ATVAlliance



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quote:

ORIGINAL: Chucksolo69

Hmmmm.............. I have seen a  few foamies that were repaired so expertly that you couldn't tell the plane was in a crash.



I dont doubt that you have.  Its just a lot of people wouldnt take the time to repair a foamie to where you would never know it was crashed because they are less expensive.  The last profile foamie I had was crashed a lot and I would get out the old hot glue gun and fix her back and be back flying within a few minutes.  Thing looked awful, but still flew fine.

Anyway...Im not against foamies.  I have them and like them and fly them.  I just prefer balsa.  And really, if truth be known...Im growing more fond of flying my helis now that I finally learned to fly them rather than hover around.  So, my opinion may not count afterall.  lol

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RE: What is wrong with Foamies? - 3/6/2013 11:09 AM   
bigheaded5


 

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Status: offline 		Im recently back into the hobby after a 6 year break...but before that was into it for 25 years. When I first started, they came out with ARF plans, and I enjoyed building so much, I said 'WHO would pay to have a kit built!'   well today, the thought of sitting and building a kit makes me tired.... I just bought two foamies...I still prefer balsa planes, but for the price, you cant beat them...and the scale look and durability of the new foam.

There will probably be a market for all types.....people have preferences, tastes change and so do budgets..... 

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RE: What is wrong with Foamies? - 3/6/2013 11:24 AM   
CHassan



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Status: offline 		I can tell you what the problem with foam aircraft is. There are to many for me to buy, build, borrow, or steal!

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RE: What is wrong with Foamies? - 3/6/2013 3:30 PM   
LesUyeda



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Status: offline 		The problem I have with foamies, is that, typically, the pilots of such airplanes fly with a different attitude (less cautious) than those that have hours of their own labor into the plane, so replacement is simply the expenditure of a few more dollars, rather than a considerable amount of individual time.

Les

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RE: What is wrong with Foamies? - 3/6/2013 3:54 PM   
flyinwalenda


 

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Status: offline 		I have both and build too. I think foamies fill a niche, take more of a beating , and fly OK.
I, like others, prefer balsa built planes for looks and in flying characteristics. EDF's ,sailplanes, smaller planes and 3D foamies are good and easy to repair. I've seen some of the larger scale foamies and their looks don't hold-up well, wings flex like mad and are overpriced for what they are.
Going forward I would still get a foamy especially for a 3D type plane simply for ease of repair.


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RE: What is wrong with Foamies? - 3/6/2013 7:12 PM   
vicman



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Status: offline 		Foamies are like mopeds and fat chicks. A lot of fun till your friends see you.


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RE: What is wrong with Foamies? - 3/8/2013 1:52 AM   
Hawk131


 

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Status: offline 		I love all styles of rc aircraft. They all have their advantages and disadvantages, I do tend to fly smaller aircraft .40 size or smaller but its due to finances, not preference. We have members that would never touch electrics, let alone foamies. The only down side to electrics is the wind, they tend to get bounced around a little.

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RE: What is wrong with Foamies? - 3/8/2013 3:44 PM   
LesUyeda



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Status: offline 		"The only down side to electrics is the wind, they tend to get bounced around a little. "

That just depends on the electric. My 8 pound Goldberg Chipmunk did just fine:-))))))))))

Les

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RE: What is wrong with Foamies? - 3/8/2013 3:49 PM   
Hawk131


 

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Status: offline 		True, the bigger airframes aren't near as bad as smaller ones, we have a member that has 1/4 scale electrics that won't budge in the wind.

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RE: What is wrong with Foamies? - 3/8/2013 5:36 PM   
ATVAlliance



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quote:

ORIGINAL: LesUyeda

"The only down side to electrics is the wind, they tend to get bounced around a little. "

That just depends on the electric. My 8 pound Goldberg Chipmunk did just fine:-))))))))))

Les


Yeah...there is a guy that sometimes visits our club and all he will fly are electrics.  From small to OMG!

Last big electric I saw him fly was a 100cc "Beast" that he converted to electric.  Gave a totally new meaning to the word "BEAST".  lol

Id say that was probably a 20+ pound electric plane, although I didnt ask him what the AUW was.



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RE: What is wrong with Foamies? - 3/9/2013 4:35 AM   
countilaw



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Status: offline 		A lot of the old timers look at  foamies as    "you didn't have to work for what you have".      You just have to take it out of the box and fly it.      It' s the same feelings   about the guys that belong to a club,  fly at  the  field,   but never show up to cut the grass or  assist with contests.    They just show up to fly thier  toy foamies.    And then go home. 

How many of the people in this thread  actually belong to  a club that has  a flying field.     Or   how many of you just go to the park to fly and contribute nothing to the hobby?      How many belong to AMA?      How many have   liability insurance  either through  AMA or  Homeowners?   If you belong to a club, you will have  AMA,   so most   foamie pilots just fly in parks to avoid the AMA dues.      These are the guys that have the  number one  excuse on why they fly   RTF or Foamies,    "  I don't have time to build!!!  "        But they have time to tell you what happened on the last episode  of   "Survivor".  

Let's face it,   there are those too lazy to build anything of value,   and there are those that just want to  go fly.    (and they don't usually fly that well anyway)  

I  just had to play the other side of the fence.    

Frank



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RE: What is wrong with Foamies? - 3/9/2013 5:12 AM   
foodstick



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Status: offline 		I have foamies, arfs, kit built, scratch built..

But I think it all really comes down to this in comparisons of the types of planes. I have always been impressed with Craftsman, and Craftsmanship.

Whether its cars, boats,art, furniture,toys,machines whatever. When I meet people that make beautiful and functional things with their hands I am impressed and interested.

I am not trying to yank any chains, or start fights. I love seeing unique talents and skills put to work.

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RE: What is wrong with Foamies? - 3/9/2013 4:05 PM   
LesUyeda



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Status: offline 		Another on the plus side of foamies, is that when you retire them, you can take out the hardware, and use them in flotation compartments on your boat.:-)))))))))))

Les

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RE: What is wrong with Foamies? - 3/9/2013 6:22 PM   
foodstick



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Status: offline 		I have no hate for anything foam

Well POSSIBLY for a squeaking foam cooler on a long summer vacation ! memories !!

I downloaded plans off the net of a flat foamie DIABLO, loved that plane I would fly low till I broke it, and repair it that night, I actually had more repair than plane after 4 years ! But I just couldn't part with that fun little plane.

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RE: What is wrong with Foamies? - 3/10/2013 12:55 AM   
impulse09



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Status: offline 		I've flown nitro, gassers, helis, and now foamies. It may be that they are new to me, but I'm really excited about them (especially EDFs). In the past month I've acquired 2 prop foamies, and 4 edfs! Slightly addictive I think.

The folks complaining wouldn't happen to be those types that always show up, maybe drag an airframe out, but never fly?

I don't care what they think.

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RE: What is wrong with Foamies? - 3/10/2013 6:11 PM   
carlnoki


 

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Status: offline 		I have been out of flying for about 10 yrs due to daughter growing up and all.
now I have the time and am getting back with one of Value Hobbies profile 36" hummer planes.
after I get back into the swing of things with the foamy (which i think is really a neat little plane) I will hit the F3A road again like I used to.
Will I build mine from scratch like I used to, NOPE, there are too many ARF's out there that are super quality ready to be put together
and flown by just about any one that cando it.

Do I like foamies? yeah, I do. they have a place in our hobby and no one can really say any different. JMO

almost forgot, do any of you remember when Lanier came out with their line of aircraft and what they were called? NASTY PLASTIES...........





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RE: What is wrong with Foamies? - 3/15/2013 7:54 PM   
Flypaper 2



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Status: offline 		Used to have a Lanier Persuit fom the late 60s, early 70. It was a foam wing covered with plastic. The fuse. was not much more than a plastic tube. A little on the heavy side but flew very well. Here is one of the bigger foamys. An 18 lb Byron Christen Eagle. Electric of course. Flies much better than it did when it had a Quadra 52 on it. Foam is gret for scratch building as it's easy to change the design on the run so to speak, to tweak it for best performance. I learned to hotwire foam wings from the father of foam cutting, Ed Izzo in the late 60s and scratch build many of my own. Have a foam Visionaire coming from HH with the gyro installed.

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RE: What is wrong with Foamies? - 3/16/2013 3:45 PM   
LesUyeda



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Status: offline 		"Used to have a Lanier Persuit fom the late 60s, early 70. "

If there was a cheaper way to do anything, Lanier would find it:-))))))))))))))

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