Who knew what they were getting into with this hobby?  
View related threads: (in this forum | in all forums)

Tower Hobbies
Enter up to 4 keywords or Tower stock numbers
Logged in as Guest



Users viewing this topic: none
  Printable Version
       


Composite-ARF Extra 330L 2.3M ARF - ARF
Seller:  TheEdge
Details:   $495.00   |  10/3/2008   |  Classified Ad
We will rotate YOUR AD in this spot if you select "Forum Featured" when placing or editing your ad!

All Forums >> RC Airplanes >> Beginners >> Who knew what they were getting into with this hobby?
Page: [1] 2   next >   >>  

[Poll]

Who knew what they were getting into with this hobby?


Yeah I knew it was an expensive hobby.
  37% (44)
I had an idea that it was somewhat expensive but didnt know the extent
  34% (40)
I thought you just bought a plane, a few props and flew
  8% (10)
I have to sneak planes in at night so the wife doesnt catch me
  19% (23)


Total Votes : 117


(last vote on : 9/11/2008 5:34:00 PM)
(Poll will run till: -- )
Login
Message << Older Topic   Newer Topic >>
Who knew what they were getting into with this hobby? - 4/24/2008 6:17:09 PM   
ErikElvis


 

Posts: 390
Joined: 4/9/2008
From: townsend, DE, USA
Status: offline
Well I just figured you just buy a plane, little radio, and gas and off you go. I didnt realize all of the crap you need to buy. This hobby really nickle and dimes you to death when your getting started. For example, extra batteries, field boxes, all the lil tools you need, prop balancers, chargers, blah blah blah....

Did you guys know what you were gettin into?
       Post #: 1

RE: Who knew what they were getting into with this hobby? - 4/24/2008 6:20:00 PM   
goirish



Posts: 1388
Joined: 12/7/2005
From: Litchfield, MI, USA
Status: offline
I wish it were only nickle-dime. I need to buy stock in TH

_____________________________

(\__/)
(=''.''=)

(in reply to ErikElvis)
       Post #: 2

RE: Who knew what they were getting into with this hobby? - 4/24/2008 6:33:28 PM   
Herb Calvin


 

Posts: 40
Joined: 5/15/2006
From: Fayette, OH, USA
Status: offline
Price wasn't bad, but learning to land was a bear. Lots of broken props and bent landing gear.

(in reply to goirish)
       Post #: 3

RE: Who knew what they were getting into with this hobby? - 4/24/2008 6:51:07 PM   
A. J. Clark


 

Posts: 64
Joined: 3/21/2004
From: Craigville, IN, USA
Status: online
Yeah I knew it was an expensive hobby.

I tried to keep it cheap when I first started. Mainly because I
didn't know if I would like the hobby. Started with a Goldberg
Gentle and 4 channel radio. Even put the covering on with a small
travaling iron that I had. I thought I would out go to the field maybe
once a month or so. Boy was I wrong. 26 years later and I'm still at it.

_____________________________

Don't be afraid to throttle it up.

(in reply to ErikElvis)
       Post #: 4

RE: Who knew what they were getting into with this hobby? - 4/24/2008 7:12:11 PM   
f_shawn68


 

Posts: 100
Joined: 11/12/2007
From: West Valley City, UT, USA
Status: offline
Golf clubs, Mtn bikes, ATV's, planes.....etc......What hobby isnt expensive?? But look at the enjoyment we get out of it. This hasnt been too bad expense wise for me. I knew it wouldnt be cheap after coming over from offroad racing where you could plan on spending a minimum of $25 per night for entrance fees and parts. A $100 night wasnt uncommon for the number of cars I raced. You dont have to buy the best of everything right from the start. work up to it gradually and you will get all the stuff you need. If you become concerned about the price, it will ruin the enjoyment of it.

(in reply to A. J. Clark)
       Post #: 5

RE: Who knew what they were getting into with this hobby? - 4/24/2008 7:18:57 PM   
Jburry



Posts: 560
Joined: 7/12/2006
From: Cape Spencer, NB, CANADA
Status: offline
I've not found this to be an expensive hobby. I'm 3 years and 4 planes in now, from 1/2a thru 38cc gas.

I've spent 375 in MAAC and memberships, 160 in fuel, 1800 in hardware (planes, engines, radios, field equip), and really that's it.

So, I'm in for under 800 per year, about 2400 in the 3 years I've been doing this I fly 8 months a year, so it's maybe 100 a month. How many hobbies or sports can you really participate in regularly for this?

Hockey? No chance. Golf? Right. Hell, a gym membership could end up costing nearly as much, and that ain't much fun.

Now, I could have not built the 4 planes I did, or I could have saved money by choosing ARF's instead of kits, but that's not how I swing. I've never totaled a plane, or even needed more than 1/2 hours of repair.

This hobby is as cheap or expensive as you want it to be, or as you allow it to be. A frugal pilot could enter for about 300 dollars, for an RTF trainer, and grow with that trainer for several years before actually being able to out-fly the plane. Very few people actually master their trainer. If you can't do reasonably clean patterns or even basic 3d manouvres with your nexstar, you're not trying to get your money's worth. I think it's a symptom of our culture, when you get the basics of flying your trianer, and you realise that clean slow rolls with it take alot of coordination and skill, first thought these days isn't "I'll practice more", it's I need a new plane. No, you don't. Just go fly.

Instant gratification is expensive, not this hobby.

J

_____________________________

Revver Bro. #220

(in reply to A. J. Clark)
       Post #: 6

RE: Who knew what they were getting into with this hobby? - 4/24/2008 7:34:29 PM   
krossk



Posts: 1228
Joined: 3/31/2004
From: Port Washington, WI, USA
Status: offline
I was fully aware of the cost when I started, what I didn't understand was the power of
the ADDICTION!!!

(in reply to Jburry)
       Post #: 7

RE: Who knew what they were getting into with this hobby? - 4/24/2008 7:51:05 PM   
PilotFighter



Posts: 2019
Joined: 10/9/2002
From: Houston, TX, USA
Status: offline
I guess it might seem expensive at first. Once you are established, its one of the cheapest hobbies around. Just stay away from the Jets.

_____________________________

turn left, your other left

(in reply to krossk)
       Post #: 8

RE: Who knew what they were getting into with this hobby? - 4/24/2008 7:51:48 PM   
Nathan King



Posts: 1468
Joined: 5/29/2007
From: Omaha, NE, USA
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: krossk

I was fully aware of the cost when I started, what I didn't understand was the power of
the ADDICTION!!!


Well said. That's exactly how I feel about it!


_____________________________

Nate,
WACO Brotherhood #99

(in reply to krossk)
       Post #: 9

RE: Who knew what they were getting into with this hobby? - 4/24/2008 8:01:48 PM   
Missileman



Posts: 2855
Joined: 2/14/2006
From: Algonac, MI, USA
Status: offline
I was actually surprised how inexpensive it is. I priced it many years ago and it was much more expensive then.
Compare it to my high power rocket hobby. I can easily spend $80 per flight (for fuel grains) on a rocket that cost $1,000 to build and equip. That is a level 2 rocket with a J size motor. When I get to level 3 and an M size motor I can spend $500 just for the fuel grains for one single flight.
RC airplanes are relatively inexpensive.

_____________________________

Comments by author are not to be confused with the truth, past or present.

(in reply to Nathan King)
       Post #: 10

RE: Who knew what they were getting into with this hobby? - 4/24/2008 8:19:30 PM   
opjose



Posts: 5830
Joined: 11/26/2005
From: Poolesville, MD, USA
Status: offline
Compare flying planes to a typical golf club membership...

It's a cheap hobby.... my clubs get no use now and I have more fun.

But I still sometimes sneak planes in at night... as I have them all over the place!



_____________________________

-
Build em'', fly em'', crash em'' and build more.

(in reply to Missileman)
       Post #: 11

RE: Who knew what they were getting into with this hobby? - 4/24/2008 8:32:07 PM   
SBOT


 

Posts: 23
Joined: 10/31/2005
From: Tyler, TX, USA
Status: offline
I inherited a hobby gene from my father. I've had numerous hobbies all my life and I'm getting very close to sixty. In the past I've dabbled in drag racing, back before I had a family and you could by a factory muscle car for $5K, oil painting, hunting, skeet shooting, black powder guns, handguns (pre-brady bill), homebrewing, astronomy,which led to amature telescope making, which led to mirror making, which led to making a ccd camera, which led to digital electronics, which led to computers. I'm now building and flying rc airplanes. Compared to all the other hobbies I've had rc is about medium middlewize as for as money spent. Cheaper than astronomy and more exspensive than brewing beer. My best friend of over 30 years says he's been able to experience and participate in all these hobbies with out spending a dime. Wish I knew someone like that. Any way the fun factor far out weighs the cost. I've often felt sorry for a lot of people I know who never experienced the thrill and excitement of a new found interest. Besides as long as you can stay away from flying ,full size airplanes, or sailing you should be able to get by with out a second morgtage.

Oscar

(in reply to Nathan King)
       Post #: 12

RE: Who knew what they were getting into with this hobby? - 4/24/2008 9:37:12 PM   
Gray Beard


 

Posts: 2018
Joined: 4/21/2003
From: Hemderson, NV, USA
Status: offline
I knew it could be if you let it. I started out with mostly used gear except for my radio and over the years I slowly bought really good stuff but mostly on sale items, almost never retail.
I was mostly into U-control and free flight most of my life and knew how much RC would cost if you let it.
I still scratch build my own planes or get kits at auction for almost nothing and change out gear as needed when I'm tired of flying one of my planes. I just happen to be out of good servos right now and have A nice plane on my bench but nothing I'm flying I want to hang up so I'm stuck for A while.
Maybe I will make A mistake and kill something?? Hasn't happened in A long time but it could.[)]

_____________________________

If drinking and driving are illegal, then why do bars have parking lots???

(in reply to SBOT)
       Post #: 13