Feel free to say what you want. I'm not easily offended and I listen to all information from beginners and experts alike.


I have put helicopter flying on back burning and have gone back into airplanes recently with the goal of learning precision 3D. I don't know anyone at my field that knows anything about 3D, so I'm turning to RCU, the place where I get 80% of my RC information. I'm wanting to learn the basics to setup a sturdy foundation for fixed wing 3D flight. I'm wanting to do harriers, blenders, elevators, rolling circles, spins, stalls, lomcevecs, parachutes, waterfalls, and TRs. I am in no way interested in pattern flight, I'm wanting to do all those graceful show stoppers... not just stick bashing and throwing the plane around. I would like to learn it all on my 1/4 scale Sig Cap if I can to save money. I can afford something like a SPA3D, but this CAP is my only bird at the moment and I plan on keeping it that way for a while... I'm not a fan of keeping 10 planes in the hanger. My philosophy is if you've got it, use it. (well that and I have a bit of a problem with hanger rash ).

Here's my skill level:

I can get out of just about any bad situation, I flew my 3D Freedom without expo on 120% of recommended high rates quite comfortably, I can also fly with very low rates (I use the full stick when needed), I am trying to work on my flat spin, I can hover the 3D freedom for about 5 seconds up high, flying low and slow is comfortable, flying inverted is a bit nerving for me, but I know how to use the rudder both inverted and up-rite (thanks to helis), my throttle use is also good (again, thanks to helis), and I have never done knife edge or slow rolls.

Here's my current equipment:

I have a Sig 1/4 scale CAP with an RCS 1.40 that I am now finishing up with the hope of doing 3D with it. I will have 3 Futaba 9252 digital servos (scavenged off my heli ) on the tail (1 on rudder with pull/pull, and 1 on each elevator) and I have two 78 oz.in 0.21 analog servos on the ailerons. I have the tail setup to be able to do very aggressive 3D throws... something like 60° each way on rudder and elevator. Finished weight with the RCS 1.40 will be around 11-11.5 pounds. I'm sure I'll be needing more power to do true 3d, but for now I'll be happy with being able to pull out of a hover. Later I plan on putting in a big 2 stroke. I've been eying the OS 1.60, Moki 1.35, Moki 1.80, and the MVVS 3099 1.44 Twin for when I move into heavier 3D.