Hobby shops
 

I have been trying to get hold of this person that lives in Rowlett,called him two different nights and just tried this morning with no success so i'm going to start looking around the stores,baybe to buy but i think just mostly to look and ask questions.I know i wont be happy with a electric plane (or will i)but i want to look at some trainers and i think i will be happy with the 4 channel and maybe later get the 6 or 7 channel tx.I'm also looking at a used trainer.Maybe i can afford just the plane right now and get the rest later,one item at a time but for now i'm off to do some looking and just maybe a little shopping.

RE: Hobby shops
 

Hey 5-Spot. I think you should get a trainer kit and take your time, and have fun building it. As time goes by while your building you may get the cash for an engine or tx. I think you learn more about a plane if you are building it. Also when the time comes to get a TX I suggest getting a TX with greater than 4 channels. A 4 chan is fine, however if you learn fast you may be wanting something with more channels later. If you buy the 4 chan and later want a 6-7-8 and so on you will be paying twice for a TX. If you get a good TX now you wont be bothered with it later. As far as electric goes you can get electric planes that can do as good as a glow plane. Thats just a !QUOT!Ford or Chevy!QUOT! debate. I prefer Gas/Glow over electric. If the above don't fit your style you can buy a combo that includes the TX, RX, Servos, Plane, and Engine. Find someone or club to help you get started on your first flights. Buy or download a flight sim to play with while you wait. If you go in alone like I did, make sure you have alot of extra cash, a good safe flying area, and a strong heart. I suggest help from a club or club member.

RE: Hobby shops
 

I went to a Hobby Lobby store today and tried there flight sim but it wasn't calibrated or something,as soon as i left the ground it started flying to the left and i had to keep correcting it which wasn't a problem but there background sucked on it.I also went to a couple other stores,one in particular that had some used planes,one maybe two had engines but no tx or rx which would be ok with me and there price seemed to be fair,speaking of fair the hobby lobby store had engines just like the ones that come on the hanger 9 trainer and it said "list $114.00 but they had a sale going on and i'm thinking it was 59.00 or something close to it.I know on the net i can get it cheaper and they didnt have the hanger 9 trainer as a kit (plane only) but had one complete and didn't tell me there price so i got disgusted and left.To sum it up i would say today sucked but i'm probably gonna go back to the one that had used planes as well as new ones but first i'm gonna search the net for something i really like.I'm also gonna get me several mags to look at.
Thanks

RE: Hobby shops
 

5 Spot

You may want to check with your local club. They might know of some other hobby stores or have used equipment you can by from them.

You could also get a chance to meet whoever is their instructor pilot. Maybe he can get a trainer and buddy up with you for a flight so you can decide about gas vs electric. I got a chance to fly a plane during one of the local club's weekend "air show" and now have a trainer waiting for the white stuff to go away so I can build it. A friend of mine is selling me a 4 channel radio for $60 to use with the plane. He is a member of the club I visited.

Larry

RE: Hobby shops
 

I think your right,i'll try another club since the guy hasn't called me back,there are more clubs but i was trying to give him a chance but if he isn't interested in my then i don't think i'll be interested in his club,maybe it's just him and not the club as a whole.
Thanks

RE: Hobby shops
 

You tried him on two nights and once in the morning. Maybe he has a life, or is away on a business trip, or on vacation?

Sorry. But maybe cut the guy a little slack and have some patience. Anyone in this hobby who helps people is doing it voluntarily, and on their free time, so helping YOU cuts into HIS time.

I'm guessing that the flight Sim at the hobby shop was calibrated just fine. Sounds like typical RC airplane behavior in the hands of someone that's never flown. Did you ask anyone for help?

They didn't tell you the price on the completed Hanger 9 trainer?? Did you ask? They're in business to sell stuff, so I find it real hard to believe that if you asked them the price, they'd say, "sorry, not gonna' tell you". [sm=confused.gif]

This site, and pretty much everyone I'VE ever met in this hobby, are real nice and more than willing to help. Maybe you should slow down and ask around politely. I'm guessing you'll get better results.

Good luck, and welcome to RCU.
Dennis-

RE: Hobby shops
 

I think you need to learn to fly the sim or get an instructor. You will always have to correct the plane when it is flying. It will not fly itself. So little corrections is something that you will always have to do.

RE: Hobby shops
 

I wasn't asking this guy to help me,i told him i was new and wanted to talk to him and ask some questions about his club and it wasn't two night in a row but i think i gave him enough time,besides i gave him my number everytime.If he's that busy then he don't have time for me but if he calls back i'll talk to him.

The flight sim wasn't calibrated,there were a lot of people trying to use it and i did hear a couple say it sucked,i did know there were a couple of slider switchs to calibrate it but with everybody here and there i didn't want to as they say "HOG IT".

They said they didn't have any in stock and "o wait a sec,i think we might have one" and after i asked him if he had just the plane or could get one ordered he said no they don't order planes like that and didn't know what the price was.

I think i'm easy enough to ask people questions when i talk to other people and this isnt the only hobby i have but maybe something i want to get into since it's been a long time since i did fly on wires.I also ride and work on other peoples bikes to help them out as long as they are harleys because i dont know jack about jap junk.I have been known to go as far as west tx to help a person with a couple wires that were shorting out and killing the battery but i like to ride so it was a nice trip.We also enjoy camping and i pull a trailer with my bike and we used a tent with all the gear for camping and if it rises a little fishing as well.I have upgraded to a 5th wheel camper and go to a places to enjoy life along with other people as well and enjoy it very much so no,this isnt a primary hobby i would like to try and as you said,there are a lot of nice people in it and i'll find some or go my own way,i guess that's up to me.

RE: Hobby shops
 

Are you going to put a Harley engine on your plane or use some "Jap Junk.":D

RE: Hobby shops
 

You do realize that they did experiment with a harley engine long ago ?,i think it was a cessna but not sure.After extensive testing it didnt work out as it was hard to get the pilot out of the plane during a stall and kick the engine over,that was long before harley had an electric starter. :)

I'll probably use the jap junk along with a ROC made plane.;)

RE: Hobby shops
 

5_spot,
Thank you, and I want to apologize. Your post (#8) makes me wish we were within driving distance of each other. You sound like the type of guy I'd be happy to help.

In all honesty, your first couple of posts sounded (to me) like you were a young, impatient kid, but obviously I was wrong. I guess there's a first time for everything. ;)

I also commend you for not flaming me for my repsonse. It shows great maturity on your part.

It sounds like that hobby shop you went to isn't really interested in selling RC planes, or that the person (people?) working that day didn't really care to help.

I'm sure you'll find any number of people in your area that will be happy to give you a hand getting started.
Dennis-

RE: Hobby shops
 

DBCherry,Nothing to worry about,i've learned long ago if your thin skinned you dont belong on a puter.As for myself,i'm 60 years old or is it young ?,but anyway.The store i went to yesterday was having rc car racing or at least it was in there parking lot and lots of people were in there trying to get there cars running or buying spare parts,yes they were busy but they were waiting on paying customers and i had a lot of decisions to make,i'm kinda slow at doing that,lol.Seems the more i look the more i'm getting confused,does that come with age ?,i've been looking at some of the electric planes but some of them areonly a $100. dollars less than a gas engine which is $299.99 compared to electric $199.00.Seems the more i look the price changes daily,maybe because of spring in the air.I can get an electric a lot cheaper but it's like throwing money away so i'm concentrating on a gasser.No problem here just keep flying until i catch up.

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:D I like that one mind if I borough it.

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5-spot what part of Texas do you live in? Just wondering if I can help or maybe point you in a good direction for some local help.

RE: Hobby shops
 

Your free to borrow or use it anytime.

RE: Hobby shops
 

I live east of Rockwall a few miles on IH-30.Well,i don't live ON the freeway but close to it.
I know there is a small flying club ? in rockwall at the old city dump but with all the rain the last few days i dought there trying to fly and i know there is another one west of terrell on hwy 80 but the same problem,too much rain.Now i'm getting the jitter bug about buying a plane but WHICH trainer ?.I thought about maybe the Hobbico nexstar but the price is kinda steep BUT it has a bigger engine and it would be good if i later decide to get another plane,maybe a little faster one but i'm not in this sport for speed as much as the enjoyment of watching it fly (and i think i wanted a solid red one).The second thought is about the nextar is the 4 channel tx and how much would it cost to upgrade if i decide to go that route?.Then there is the Hanger 9 Alfa trainer which i like so you see why i'm butting my head against the wall ?. :D

RE: Hobby shops
 

Ok,i just got email from the guy i've been calling,he says he's been out sick for awhile but i can call him now anytime and he gave me his cell phone so after i eat dinner i'm gonna give him a call.

Patience is learned and sometimes it takes a long time. (ya'll can use that one to if ya want )

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I finally called this guy and WOW,we talked about everything that i wanted to know,it took almost an hour but he seems like a real nice guy and he wants me to call him on thursday or friday for sure so we can make plans for me to fly his traineron saturday,i think he said he has seven planes but he always enjoys flying his trainer.There are aboout 40 members in the club but they only allow four in the air at one time with some flying every weekend while more try to fly at least once a month.I'll post more as i find out but i think i'm going to enjoy this weekend.:D

RE: Hobby shops
 

Never mind.......................

RE: Hobby shops
 

5_spot, I'm sure that whoever you spoke to at the club will be a lot of help. Most of the people I've spoken to at clubs are nothing if not helpful. One thing that I might suggest is that you take a trip (for you, it'd probably be about a 45 minute drive) over to [link=http://www.mikeshobbyshop.com/index.html]Mike's Hobby Shop[/link] in Carrollton. It's the biggest hobby shop I know of in the Metroplex area and they are extremely helpful. Also, they are more than willing to tell you what the price of a plane will be. :D I will tell you though, plan on spending at half the day there if you are at all interested in the hobby. They have pretty much everything you could imagine (except jets). (oh, and no, I'm not affiliated with them, just trying to be helpful).

Also, there are at least a couple of people on RCU that fly at the Rockwall club (Bearmech is the one I can think of right now). I've flown out there on one of their open house days when I was trying to get my brother into the hobby and they are a bunch of really nice people. If it didn't take me an hour to get there from my house, I'd consider flying there more often. Look up Bearmech, I'm sure he'll be more than willing to help you, or at least he'll be able to direct you to someone who can.

RE: Hobby shops
 

5_Spot

Good luck in your endevor to find a plane. I looked on the internet for a couple of months and even checked a LHS in Montana while I was there last Sept for my Dad's funeral. Took me a while to find what I wanted and got it here in time for my wife and son (5) to give to me for Christmas. Now I am just waiting for the white stuff that TX doesn't see to go away for good before I put it together and start learning how to fly it.

Larry

RE: Hobby shops
 

I have been searching the net and looked at a couple hobby shops last weekend without success because i was amazed at the number of planes on the market.I think i have finally narrowed the search between two planes,the first one i was so hot to trot to get is the Hanger 9 Alfa which is a real nice trainer but i finally fell in love with the Nextar but there is a problem ,$$$$$ so i'm still trying to make choices.The guy i talked to the other night told me not to buy a plane yet as he will put feelers out for me on a trainer,aw hell i'm in love with all of them.:D
Anybody know of a good deal on the Nextar ?,seems they are set at $399.99 *OUCH*

Thanks to the others that have responded.

It's a great day to be flying if you can get it off the ground

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Actually, it's a GREAT day to go flying if you can get it back on the ground. :D

RE: Hobby shops
 

I know what you mean about some hobby shop clerks not really too intrested in helping you. I know they get burned out with lookie loo's and answering the same questions over and over. I walked into a shop in central California and the guy never got off his stool to see what I was looking at or to ask if I needed help. I think it was because of my first question which had to do with r/c aircraft. I found out later that they cater mostly to r/c cars. Just my observation.:eek: