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All Forums >> RC Airplanes >> Beginners >> well I'm out $180
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well I'm out $180 - 6/20/2008 8:12:05 AM   
F-18


 

Posts: 56
Joined: 1/18/2006
From: East Kootnay, BC, CANADA
Status: offline 		well today i went flying and flew my Alpha 60 into the ground. it was windy but it wasn't to blame, i lost concentration in trying out the rudder and before i knew it the plane was in a nose dive. wll the entire airframe was destroyed but the engine and radio system are all right (as far as i know) but i want to make sure the engine is ok. their was a lot of dirt in the carb when i looked after the crash, i took the carb off and wiped as much of the dirt out as i could, it wasn't to bad since it all stuck to the oil on the walls. i took the head and backplate to see if ant dirt got sucked in but i didn't see any, i also oiled the s**t out of all the moving parts. but i'm not sure if this is enough. so if anybody can tell me whats a good idea to do when dirt and a crash get together it would be great. Also if anybody lives in Calgary Alberta, can you tell me if you know where their is a hobby store that sells hanger-9 planes since i'm just going to pick up an Alpha 60 ARF and put the salvaged parts into it. Thanks.
       Post #: 1

RE: well I'm out $180 - 6/20/2008 11:17:06 AM   
tipstall 131



Posts: 23
Joined: 1/27/2008
From: Limpopo, SOUTH AFRICA
Status: offline 		My opinion would be take the engine apart and wash it thoroughly to get all the dirt out. Also, with just the crank in the engine, turn the crank slowly to feel if there is any crud inside of the bearings. If so, remove the bearings and wash well. If necesary replace the bearings. Also make sure that the carb is properly clean becease there are lots of small holes and if dirt gets in there, well I'm sure you know. Also check if the cramk is running true. If the crash bent the crankshaft then a replacement will be in order, allthough I don't think it will be that bad. Good luck.

_____________________________

It is better to have flown and lost than never to have flown at all!

(in reply to F-18)
       Post #: 2

RE: well I'm out $180 - 6/20/2008 11:23:40 AM   
jetmech05


 

Posts: 1644
Joined: 7/12/2005
From: Jacksonville, FL, USA
Status: offline 		Rudder gets more newly solo'd guys in trouble than loose women...Rudder cost me a trip to the repair table when I was newly solo'd...fly with ailerons for awhile...alot of of full scale brothers don't use rudder in turns, or the rudder authority is greatly reduced depending on speed....get some altitude and pratice flat turns...before long you'll be kicking out the crab on crosswind landings

(in reply to F-18)
       Post #: 3

RE: well I'm out $180 - 6/20/2008 1:59:43 PM   
draftman1


 

Posts: 409
Joined: 9/4/2007
From: Strathmore, CA, USA
Status: online 		hey f-18, have you looked into SPADS? it is a great way to save money and still fly. the planes are made of coroplast (plastic sign board). they are easy to build and very indistructable. with me and my two boys learning to fly, buying planes and crashing would have broken me. the air frames can be built for about $20.00. there is a whole thread dedicated to these planes, check it out

(in reply to jetmech05)
       Post #: 4

RE: well I'm out $180 - 6/20/2008 2:10:24 PM   
chuck993


 

Posts: 344
Joined: 1/17/2007
From: Virginia Beach, VA, USA
Status: offline 		I've got an extra Alpha 60, mint condition.

< Message edited by chuck993 -- 6/20/2008 2:12:06 PM >

(in reply to draftman1)
       Post #: 5

RE: well I'm out $180 - 6/20/2008 2:35:36 PM   
gaRCfield


 

Posts: 1254
Joined: 5/20/2008
From: Burlington, VT, USA
Status: offline 		Do a you tube search on replacing rc engine bearings; there's a two part video that shows you how to take the engine apart, what to oil, etc. I crashed, got dirt in the carb, and took the whole thing apart, washed each piece in fuel, oiled it up and put back together. Runs great.

I crashed my Nexstar once doing the same thing. I ruddered the wrong direction, then when I gave it rudder in the right direction the plane totally stalled - rolled one way, then rolled the other, then nose down 10' short of the runway into the weeds. No major damage though, was low and slow enough, and the Nexstar's a tough bird.

Rudder is the only control that makes me think about orientation, I guess because it's not being used enough. I probably should jump on the sim and practice with it, but the sim's just not as fun as really flying. Can also try practice landing, 20 or 30 feet above the runway with a little extra speed, and using rudder to keep the plane straight.

_____________________________

..this hobby is doing weird things to me...

(in reply to chuck993)
       Post #: 6

RE: well I'm out $180 - 6/20/2008 5:31:38 PM   
Campgems


 

Posts: 1911
Joined: 2/18/2006
From: Arroyo Grande, CA, USA
Status: offline 		F-18, in addition to the good advise on the engine, I would sugest that you do a good range check on the receiver with engine running prior to flying. The crystal and ceramic filters are the ones that may take unseen damage in a crash. I've had a couple incidents where I sent the receiver in to Futaba for a checkup after lawn darting the plane and both times, they found a bad filter.

I would also suggest you check out your servos closely. Hand turn them through the full travel range and feel for any roughness. It is common to strip a tooth or two on the output wheel in a crash. They are easy to take apart and clean all of the old grease out and check the gears with a loupe or magnifying glass. If all is well, put fresh lube in and you are good to go.

Don

(in reply to F-18)
       Post #: 7

RE: well I'm out $180 - 6/20/2008 7:31:21 PM   
F-18


 

Posts: 56
Joined: 1/18/2006
From: East Kootnay, BC, CANADA
Status: offline 		thanks, the weird thing is I,m not that mad. Probably because it crashed in such a spectacular matter (or it hasn't compleatly sunk it that my planes gone yet). if i say stepped on it though, i would be flying off the wall mad. but i was wondering, does anybody think it would be a good idea to buy a pulse xt 60 instead of another alpha 60? just asking since i heard its a real easy plane to fly. Also about cleaning my engine, what should i wash the parts in, do i just use fuel? Thanks

(in reply to Campgems)
       Post #: 8

RE: well I'm out $180 - 6/20/2008 8:22:13 PM   
Adui


 

Posts: 508
Joined: 8/24/2007
From: Dayton, OR, USA
Status: offline 		Fuel would work, but thats pretty 'spensive.. I just clean my engine parts up with isopropyl alcohol and then oil em really well..

90% or better works well, but the %70 will work too, just be sure and get it all dry and well oiled when done because Alcohol tends to attract moisture, or so I am told...

_____________________________

Chance favors the prepared mind. ~Louis Pasteur~

(in reply to F-18)
       Post #: 9

RE: well I'm out $180 - 6/20/2008 9:20:11 PM   
gaRCfield


 

Posts: 1254
Joined: 5/20/2008
From: Burlington, VT, USA
Status: offline 		I lost my trainer in a stupid crash. It was at the same time as I was getting my low wing plane, with the plan on taking my time with the second plane and perfecting my trainer. So I guess it forced me into my low wing a bit earlier than planned, however everyone at my field was telling me to stop flying a trainer before it happened. Don't know what my point is, other than even an easy low wing plane is a big jump from a trainer. I looked like a pro with my Nexstar, and even with the Avistar, and after 3 or 4 days of flying the Dolphin I don't look like a pro with it yet. You will benefit from flying the trainer more. I was at the point of always using my rudder to keep the plane straight near the strip (take off, landing, etc.), and was comfortable using rudder to make flat turns. If you're not really using much rudder, you will want practice with that as it is a lot more responsive on a low wing, non-trainer. That's the part that's hardest for me to get used to, is the fact that the rudder actually can do a lot to the attitude of the plane. I guess why I'm saying this is a lot of people on this site told me to get another trainer when they heard I crashed mine, and I would like to still have one around, though I know I am ready for my Dolphin.

_____________________________

..this hobby is doing weird things to me...

(in reply to Adui)
       Post #: 10

RE: well I'm out $180 - 6/20/2008 9:26:08 PM   
spiral_72



Posts: 511
Joined: 3/7/2007
From: Chesnee, SC, USA
Status: offline 		I stuck mine in the mud pretty recently. The plane was trashed and the motor was full of mud.

Don't turn it over, whatever you do. I pulled the backplate, carb and head off. All that's easy to reinstall. I hosed it out with water for about 15 minutes at every angle. Then I sit it in the parts washer and let it run for quite a while, moved the nozzle, moved the nozzle. Probably about 30 minutes in the washer. Or you can swish it around in a gallon of kerosene(SP?) and pour the kerosene through.

Then I turned the motor over, checked for "crunching" and dumped about half a can of WD-40 through it, followed by about 6oz of machine oil.

She smoked and smelled like burned oil for 5 minutes until all the oil was out and run like it was new!

Make sure you don't leave it sit for any length of time after the water washing.

_____________________________

Wasn't that cool? I meant to do it.

(in reply to Adui)
       Post #: 11

RE: well I'm out $180 - 6/20/2008 9:31:54 PM   
Campgems


 

Posts: 1911
Joined: 2/18/2006
From: Arroyo Grande, CA, USA
Status: offline 		F-18, it doesn't do much for you to get mad. We have guys at the field that go into a sulk when they crash and pout for a week. As long as I can find the plane, I just chalk it up to experience. Even the time I stepped on the fuselage of my Quicke 500. I nolonger step over my plane on the ready line, but step around it. My thumbs are not the only thing that is a little wobbly now.

The Pulse xt 60 looks a lot like a 4*60. The 4* is an excelent second plane and I would guess the pulse is also. I would go with one of those if it were me. Personally, I like to build so that would tie me to the 4*. I lost my last 4* about two months back now. It had gotten to the point that I could grease it in almost every time. Nice slow flyer. I was turning to final with a strong head wind and decided to turn away as I was making the turn to quick. When I turned downwind, I had little ground speed and that's all she wrote, Went in like a lawn dart. That one did agrevate me a bit, it was a really dumb mistake.

Don

(in reply to F-18)
       Post #: 12

RE: well I'm out $180 - 6/21/2008 3:01:15 AM   
LiveFromMooseJaw


 

Posts: 9
Joined: 5/13/2008
From: Moose Jaw, SK, CANADA
Status: offline 		Ouch! I planted my powered plane the very first flight! Engine and fuse totalled, only the main wing and electronics survived. I had a trainer who had taken it up for me and handed me the controls and within a minute...toast. That was a long time ago. Had lots of crashes since then. If only there were simulators back then.

Have you put in any time using a simulator program. FMS is great free sim.
http://n.ethz.ch/~mmoeller/fms/index_e.html

If you're a beginner, put in enough time on the sim untill you can reliably land the model most like the one you are planning on flying.

Good luck

(in reply to Campgems)
       Post #: 13

RE: well I'm out $180 - 6/21/2008 3:45:20 AM   
F-18


 

Posts: 56
Joined: 1/18/2006
From: East Kootnay, BC, CANADA
Status: offline 		well i think that going to the pulse xt 60 is a early since it was only my second day flying. I can fly the plane pretty well and land ok without wind,the only reason i crashed is because I got distracted and lost concentration (should have focused more) but i don't know if i should get the pulse or another Alpha 60. and does anybody know how to get the flywheel off of a evolution 61nt? there is alot of dirt behind it and an airline dosn't work and i don't want to use it too much.

(in reply to LiveFromMooseJaw)
       Post #: 14

RE: well I'm out $180 - 6/21/2008 6:08:40 AM   
Campgems


 

Posts: 1911
Joined: 2/18/2006
From: Arroyo Grande, CA, USA
Status: offline 		F-18, I started with a not so good handeling Explorer 40. Two crashes later, I took the wing and the empannage and built a stick type fuse. I Fixed the tail heavy by extendeing the engine out two inches and the empannague by 1". I turned it into a tail drager and I couldn't have been happier. My instructor had been telling me that I should build a 4* so I got one started. A week or so later I lost my Besta parts plane and had to go to the 4*. If I had changed over to the 4* earller, I may have still had my trainer hanging in the garage. I finally found what a well balanced plane flew like. I was in heaven.

A couple weeks after I soloed and got my Wings, I had a brain fart on landing and did an outside loop, clearing the runway by all of two inches or so, only to find that now that I had control again, I was headed straight into the pits. Another panic move on the sticks and that's what the plane turned into, broken sticks. One of the guys at the field had a 4* kit that had been passed around the club, the wings were built but joined with a huge twist. I did some horse trading and two weeks later I had my second 4* flying.

I figure that if I had been flying the 4* as a trainer, I would have soloed four months earlier than I did. It is a real pleasure to fly a plane that goes where you point it, and is stable enough to not get you into trouble unless you cause it. Go for the Pulse and see how it goes. My guess is that you are going to love it.

Don

(in reply to F-18)