Returning to hobby questions……
Hi folks. I am brand new here, and hope I am posting this in the right section. If not, I’ll take the 40 lashes and learn.
I am returning to the airplane hobby after a few decades. Where I left off was in the late 80’s 😱, and I am finding myself dumbfounded over the changes. I knew they would be substantial, but I underestimated just how much.
When I left the hobby, it was FM radios, and nearly all nitro. Electric was just beginning to appear at my club, but really hadn’t taken off yet. (Pun intended)
I still have all of my old equipment in pretty good shape (minus good nicads) and want to get back to the hobby.
What spurred this was two things:
1.) The fact that I have both time (retirement) and financial resources (kids are up and out) due to mortgage being gone and zero debt.
2.) I stumbled upon an old friend from school whose husband passed away, and she was parting with all of his R/C stuff……and boy, what a treasure trove !
A dozen planes, several boats, cars, 2 LARGE HELIS, (Schluter/Robbe GAS choppers…..one is 2-stroke-pull start) and boxes and boxes of new and used engines, 7 or 8 radios, receivers, servos and engines installed on everything, 5 cases of fuel…..20 gallons (not sure if it is still good ??)and that’s just scratching the surface of what I bought.
I gave her considerably more than she was asking for this stuff because she was clueless as to the value of it and I didn’t want to be a vulture. She was going to practically GIVE it away.
Still, in the end, I paid pennies on the dollar for all of it.
Now……here’s where I need advice. So much of the hobby is electric now, radios digital, and I don’t know where to begin. Some of this stuff I acquired is obsolete, and I knew that when I bought it, but the aircraft frames are all still good. The helis probably too, but I think parts for these large 80’s choppers are likely impossible to find. If so, they will likely be conversation pieces.
I have been to the local club, and am joining this year, but I will have some VERY “stupid” questions for those that are up to speed with everything……particularly digital radios, and BATTERIES in general. (The whole battery world has changed !)
I plan to buy a Specktrum digital radio or 2 with several model memories, and hopefully can fly all of this stuff with digital receivers ? Will the servos all plug in to a digital receiver ? See…….stupid question that I’m sure has a few of you laughing.
Is there a source (website, book, YouTube channel, etc.) that could possibly bring me up to speed a little bit before I am the “new” club member that seems like he’s been under a rock for 35 years ?
I would just prefer not to make an ass of myself.
Any advice would be appreciated !