Where do I begin?
 

Irecently acquired a few planes, and Iam a total newbie to RC anything! Really glad to have found this site, Ihave been reading for hours.

Ihave a Tower Hobbies Trainer. It is used, but in excellent condition. It came with a field box, and a ton of extras.

I also have a little electric plane, I'll have to double check the brand, Ifigure that will be a good place to start.

Ialso got a HUGE custom plane in the deal with a big 2 cycle engine, and all the extras.

Anyway, the guy Igot it from, recommended that Irun the trainer engine on a bench stand (which is included) because it hasn't been run in a while. The fuel jug on the field box is empty, so Iam not sure what to get for that. It is a super tigre .61 engine. Also, how do I setup a temporary tank so that Ican run it on the bench?

Excited for spring, there are also two more models in the box ready to be built, so Ihave my hands full for sure.

Iam going to look into finding a club or other more experienced flyer locally that Ican try and get some lessons before Igo out on my own.

Thanks, Tim

RE: Where do I begin?
 

That will be the best move to make, do resist going out alone.

The Tower trainer is a fine first airplane.... enjoy.

RE: Where do I begin?
 

Welcome to RC, where you go with the hobby is up to you.

Winter is tough, but spring comes and things will start to pickup. Hopefully there is a local club and active fliers you can hookup with. They will be your best resource.

Threads here are helpful, to a point. Trouble is, it can be hard to tell the wheat from the chaff.

I would avoid the temptation to run the engine. Experience goes a long ways here, and if it already has a few flights on it, then it really doesn't need bench running.

You might want to get a simulator, or maybe an indoor micro helo to pass the time till spring. The main problems beginners have is the left/right thing in the air, running engines, being patience to wait on good weather and their instructor.

Keep reading and asking questions. Soon enough you can bake some bread.

RE: Where do I begin?
 

If the trainer hasn't been run in a few years, take the tank out and clean it out, then replace the stopper and all the fuel lines. Get new o-rings for the carburetor and both needle valves. Check all the screws throughout the airplane for tightness and install a battery and make sure all the servos move smoothly and don't bind. While you're at it, get your control throws right per the manual. Check all of the control horns and give them a good yank to make sure they aren't cracked or deteriorated. Make sure your landing gear block is solid and the wing attachment dowels aren't cracked or coming loose. Check anything else you can think of. This is the stuff you can do by yourself and maybe catch a problem that would have cost you a training day.
For fuel, any 5% airplane glow fuel will run the Super Tigre just fine. Omega or Cool Power are the two most common where I live, but any of them will work.

RE: Where do I begin?
 

Sounds like you got the right approach. I would also reccomend getting an RC flight simulator. The "state of the art" right now is Real Flight G5, but you also need a state of the art PC to run it well. There are also some basic simulators you can down load cheap or even free such as Phoenix.
 
As to finding a club or instructor, if you look near the top right side of your page, there is a gold link for finding other RCU members. There is also a link in blue at the top of the page for "Community". It brings up a drop down menu with links for finding clubs and/or instructors. You can use these links to find clubs, instructors,  and/or other RCU members that might be close to you, then just P.M. them from the link under their Avatar or from their profile page. If you need help using the links just post here again and one of us will help you search. ;) 

RE: Where do I begin?
 

One other tip that you might need since you are new to this site: If you log in later and have trouble finding this thread again, you can use the search link and enter your user name to find your most recent threads. You can also do this from your profile page.

RE: Where do I begin?
 

Here's a link to find a club in your area.

http://www.modelaircraft.org/clubsearch.aspx

RE: Where do I begin?
 

I love your screen-name.. :D

There are do many things a beginner needs to learn before getting anywhere proficient, and your on the right track by saying you will find a club and someone with experience to help you out.

One thing that can be overwhelming to someone new is what he/she needs to do with a plane such as what you bought. First of all, the Tower Trainer was my first trainer, in my second stint of learning RC flight.. Long story, but what started and ended in 1977, re-started up on my retirement from the US Coast Guard back in 1997.

Aaaaanyway, when I got back into it, I bought the Tower trainer with a Tower 46 engine. I flew that with an instructor with a buddy box for a few weeks, but my work schedule got in the way again (as it did in 1977) and I basically dropped out for a couple of years. Later, I moved up to a Hobbico Nexstar Select RTF and solo'ed with that. I sold the Tower to a friend, who still has it, by the way, and still flys it!!!

Ok, back to my original point. I don't know your mechanical abilities, so I will assume you are like most of us and have a limited amount of ability in that area. The main thing is to make sure that when you take things apart to check them, as suggested above, that you put them back together correctly AND securely, AND straight!!! There is no room for sloppy when it comes to this hobby, things really should be as straight and tight, and secure as possible. Any issues that happen up there, well, the results can ruin your whole day.

That's where a good instructor will come in handy. That person should be willing and able to really examine your plane and determine if it is airworthy or not, and show you how to correct anything that is not correct.

What I find the most is probably the most detremental to the life of your plane. If, for instance, you remove a servo, make darned sure you put it back in correctly AND make the connection to the linkage is not only straight, but secure in that the clevis is held in place with some sort of keeper.

Engines can also be a problem, and bench testing it, as suggested, is really the only way you can tell if it is running correctly. But, you, being a novice, probably won't be able to tell the difference between a good running engine and one that is not tuned properly or has a problem. Again, trust in an instructor to guide you along with this test, which can be done either at home (if you don't mind the smoke and noise) or at the field. But, this is a sure way to check the engine to make sure the throttle responds and that you are getting the right performance out of the engine.

Oh, you never did say what engine it was on that Tower Trainer... what is that engine? Size, manufacturer?? That way, if you do have questions about the engine, we can give you a quick and definitive answer.

Best of luck with learning to fly.

CGr.

RE: Where do I begin?
 

I would just try the engine in the plane. Run it once or twice just to make sure it is OK before you go to the field to get lessons.

Tom

RE: Where do I begin?
 

Yeah, in the overall scheme of things, that would be a pretty good suggestion. Unless there is an undying need to remove the engine, it would be ok to do it while on the aircraft. BUT, DO get some help. Those prop blades can be torture to someone that doesn't know..

CGr.

RE: Where do I begin?
 

Read the OP post.

RE: Where do I begin?
 

Did he say that? I must have missed it when I re-read the post.

Yup.. I just re-read it and it's there. Sorry.

Now, let's see... whom can I blame for not seeing it? Dr. Dunn, my eye-doctor for sure!! ;)

CGr.

RE: Where do I begin?
 

Welcome to RCU and to a hobby that can be fun and frustrating at the same time.

Here is the fuel recommendation from page 11 of the Super Tigre engine manual (available free on this page) http://www.supertigre.com/manuals/index.html
================
The recommended fuel for your SuperTigre engine should contain a minimum of 18% - 20% oil (either Castor oil, Synthetic oil, or a blend of the two), 0%-15% nitromethane and the balance Methanol. Almost all of the fuels on the hobby market with between 0% and 15% Nitro content will be fine, but you may get better results from a Premium fuel as opposed to a Sport fuel.
================

RE: Where do I begin?
 

LOL

RE: Where do I begin?
 

Chaff

RE: Where do I begin?
 

Thanks everyone for all the advice!

Would something like this work? http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...LXGHA9&P=0

The lubricant level is slightly less than the low end of the recommended range, so Iam thinking Ineed to find a higher oil content?

Tim

RE: Where do I begin?
 

Try [link=http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXA307&P=0]Wildcat Premium Extra 10% Nitro[/link]


Good stuff, there is a $25 fee for shipping fuel in larger amounts like gallons.If you join the tower super saver club you get some codes and discounts that help.

RE: Where do I begin?
 

I have a total of 3 radios now.  A Futuba 5 channel, an airtronics 4 channel, and some cheapy 2 channel for the electric plane.  The 4 and 5 channel have "buddy" capability, but the original owner was not sure how "modern" they were since they used the original crystal frequency.  Also the battery packs may or may not be reviveable.  Rather than invest in these current radios, would it be adviseable to buy a newer radio?  Can a newer radio be setup to run the two planes I have now, and any I might acquire in the future, so I only need to familiarize myself with one radio and become proficient with that?  If so what radio is recommended?

Thanks, Tim

RE: Where do I begin?
 

For small glow RC engines with ball bearings, I like fuel with 18% oil, and like best fuels with about 20% of the oil being caster oil. Hopefully you can find the fuel locally, since Hazmat charges will really add up. Because I live in the middle of nowhere, I mix my own fuel. I buy the methanol locally, and buy a 4 gallon case of Klotz oil at a time. No Hazmat charges for shipping oil. Nitro is the difficult thing to find, but racing fuel shops will usually carry it. 5 to 15 percent nitro is about all it takes for most engines, each 5% only adds about 100 rpm on the top end. Finding the right prop size makes more difference to the overall performance.

A typical .60 will go through about 1 oz/min at the higher throttle settings. With the trainer you will often fly at much lower settings, so you easily get 15 minutes on a 12 oz tank.

Batteries - cycle them and see what kind of condition they are in. While you can buy all kinds of equipment to do this, you can test them with a simple resistor and voltmeter. Most of the basic radios used 600 mAh cells, so shoot for a 300 mA load and load the airborne pack checking with a voltmeter every 5 minutes. If it remains above 4.4 Volts for two hours you have a good pack. Less than 90 minutes, not so good.

RE: Where do I begin?
 

Moosecountry, if you want, I will cycle your batteries for you. As you get more into the hobby you will likely buy a programmable charger but for now I remember how helpful it was to have other modelers willing to share some of the support items like that. On the question of radios, a quality transmitter pack will set you back $30-$40 at the minimum, so I wouldn't bother with old analog units. Any computerized radio can be set up for multiple airplanes, and the programming makes it easier to set up your throws and center your servos and such. Most have exponential too which softens the center of your controls, improving your control over the finer movements.
As for recommendations, the Spektrum DX6i and the Airtronics RDS8000 come to mind as simple to use, lower cost systems. I'd go with Spektrum if you want to use "bind and fly" planes from Parkzone and a few others, and the Airtronics if you don't. The other brands on the market (Futaba and Hitec) also are great units but I don't see quite the bang for the buck for a beginner's needs with them. That's just one man's opinion though.

RE: Where do I begin?
 

The Cool Power should work fine. I've used it in similar two stroke engines with no issues. The Wildcat Premium Extra linked by Phoenix is also a very good choice. If there is any way to get your fuel locally I recommend doing that. The HazMat fee to ship fuel is something like $25 so it really drives the price up.

I have used
Cool Power, Omega, Wildcat 2&4 cycle, Wildcat Heli Mix, Powermaster, Ritch's Brew, Magnum, and probably others. They all work well.

RE: Where do I begin?
 

The radios you presently have are likely useable but I would have someone that is knowledgable check them out and set them up for your planes. However if money is not a problem then for sure I would buy new 2.4 equipment. Do some research on what's available. Also read many of these posts regarding beginners.

RE: Where do I begin?
 

Welcome, the best thing you can do is check out RCKen and MinnFlyer web site. There is a link in the first threat of the begginers section.
It is a step by step, foolproof guide (it should be call Dummys Guide to RC Flying).
After you read that you will be ready to get an instructor and a local club.

RE: Where do I begin?
 

There is nothing wrong with crystal based radios. That's what I've had since 2001 and I plan to use it as long as I can.

For the Futaba, read the info at http://www.futaba-rc.com/faq/service-faq.html#q41 to determine if it is legal to use in the US. Futaba 5 channel transmitters have been out of production for a long time.

Similar info may be available for the Airtronics at http://www.airtronics.net and if not there should be a phone number so you can check on it.

If the battery packs are bad you may or may not want to spend any money to replace. You can get packs from http://www.hangtimes.com/txpacks.html and other sources but the prices are pretty high (more than $30) to revive old equipment.

If you do decide to get a new transmiiter and receiver(s), your servos may or may not plug into the receiver without modification. Extremely old Futaba servos had what they called a 'G' connector. Some of the pins were exposed rather than being hidden inside a plastic housing. The connectors can be replaced by cutting the wires and soldering these http://www.servocity.com/html/male_servo_leads.html on. Old Airtronics servos had the wires in the connectors differently than every other brand. On them, the pins can be removed from the connector and reinserted in theright locations for modern receivers.

RE: Where do I begin?
 

I too am relatively new to this great hobby. Something said above but not really stressed to you is to and before doing anything with the planes, engines, or your electronics. Find a local experianced flier to work with and check over all the things you got.

I bounced around quite a while trying to really know what all this great hobby is all about and until I found "my friend" who went over all my equipment, showed me how to make adjustments etc.   Also, have him help you with getting started in the simulator.  I had many hours on mine before meeting my friend only to find I had set the controls opposite of everyone else and had to retrain my senses so in emergencies when flying, you automatically move your controls the right way.

Train train train on the simulator once you have it set right before taking your plane out the first time and be sure to have your <font size="3">qualified trainer</font> with you until you get the hang of flying. Don't try doing much of anything by yourself in the beginning. You may go off the wrong direction. You will find there are lots of people out there near by who will love getting you started and flying with you.

Enjoy and good luck.

AltaTed