RE: Getting started is so dang hard
 

How far is the neighbor? Would he be easy for you to visit? You could visit the neighbor and just strike up a casual conversation about the planes and flying. After a little bit you could mention that you have recently purchased a plane and ask him if he KNOWS of an instructor. This would give him the opportunity to VOLUNTEER, if he was so inclined. I'm sure you will at least get a recommendation and a lot of good information, maybe even a future mentor on building/repairing. Don't be pushy, he may no longer fly, but that could also mean you could buy some of his gear at a good price.

Step 1. Talk
Step 2. See where it goes
Step 3. Have fun
Step 4. Refer to Step

RE: Getting started is so dang hard
 

What you stated here sounds like a pretty good prospect. You may be surprised to learn that if this fellow has a whole garage full of Planes then more than likely he has a great love for the hobby, and he may enjoy lending you a hand. Also if you are limited on funds he would be a good guy to get to know, because he will probally have some good inexpensive tips he can share with you about repairing, and other options that save time and money. I myself have a whole garage full of Planes, and some stuff that I have I just keep around for this reason. If someone in my area needs a little help getting started in the hobby then I have plenty of extra odds and ins laying around that I will never use again, but a new guy would be quite happy to get for free. I even keep a few old beater Planes around just in case a neighborhood kid without any kind of income might want to try his hand on an RC Plane.

The little GWS Pico you have would be a good start. Just find a calm day, and practice flying over some tall grass. I have several little GWS Planes, and they wouldn't take a new guy to long to master, and as long as they were flying over nice tall 2-3ft grass then there not much that could be done to inflict much damage. Below is a Photo of a little GWS Pico Moth I have that probally has a couple hundred flights. Also pictured are a couple of my other Planes.

Joining a local club would be a good option. Most Clubs offer very low priced memberships if you are under a certain age, and the AMA also offers a very reduced membership rate if you are under a certain age. This will give you access to a good instructor, plus you will find club members that are always more than happy to clean out there "junk drawers" at home to help keep a young man or woman with limited income new to the hobby in the air. Most Older Club Members remember what it was like to be young and to have big dreams, but limited resources. Just hang in there! Keep reading your Grandpas R/C Mags, and be persistant, you will be rewarded eventually with the abillity to Fly your own R/C Plane, and Fly it good!

RE: Getting started is so dang hard
 

If you were in my neighborhood, I would gladly offer to let you learn to fly on one of my airplanes, complete with a buddy box. Absolutely Free! The reason I mention this, is I am sure I am not the only RC'r who enjoys letting beginners fly just for the thrill of showing what a wonderful hobby this is. Find your local flying field and ask who could let you fly. I bet they will point you to someone like me who will enjoy letting you fly his airplane as much as you will. The friend you make can help keep you from making expensive mistakes as you become experienced in RC airplanes. Best of Luck!!

RE: Getting started is so dang hard
 

Cool I feel better. The guys like right next to the hobby shop I go to so that's not a problem. I don't like it when when people give me stuff for free, it feels weird and my parents are always sceptical I'd like to pay for it anyway and I feel that a park flyer wouldn't show up at a field all that often. Would it work?

Hey guys who know GWS planes, I was just wondering how you hook up two aeliron servos to work together, do need to buy something? I was just bored and looking at stuff and thought of that because my grandpa, again, has an unbuilt Zero and want to buy it from him and build it after I master the Cub.

I was cleaning out my room last weekend and found a parachute guy from Peter Piper and I think you know what I'm going to say. Do you guys have any ideas how I could hold him in the plane long enough to get him in the air with normal household items, mainly being thread, straws, paper etc.
I'm a tinkerer I mess with stuff. I won't do it without your "okay" in fear of ruining it

RE: Getting started is so dang hard
 

By all means, you can bring a park flyer. They are sometimes just as hard to fly as the Glow planes. The two biggest problems I see with a RTF park flyer is they are usually on 27mhz instead of the normal 72mhz and they dont have the buddy cord port. In a case like this, let an experienced pilot take off, get it trimmed, then hand you the controls. If you get into trouble, you can pass the transmitter back.
I would definately start working on the Zero. But take your time...you wont be ready to fly that one successfully for a few months at least. You will need to master that Cub and possibly another low wing plane b4 the Zero. As far as connecting two servos into one channel, you can buy a "Y" Extension for a few bucks.
You sound like a budding Engineer. That's good. I used to drop a small roll of toilet paper from a large trainer and try to cut the paper as it fell. Much harder than it seems. A small cradle on the top of the plane to hold him until you go upside down would be the easiest. But...learn to fly first!

RE: Getting started is so dang hard
 

Ok, another relief, about the field. And hopfully if they ordered the dream starter two and it has a buddy box port but I don't NEED one and I've learned enough from....well....a few years of rc you know the toys and stuff zip zaps this and that I have a truck too. I hate when the master pilots talk about reverse controls when it's coming at you it's just instinct and that's not even hard to learn yet it's the first thing they say when talking about lessons. But for those extreme new guys I guess it's okay.............oh ya..........."budding engineer" it's funny you said that because my favorite thing to do is based on engineering, legos ,car models and stuff gotta go

RE: Getting started is so dang hard
 

hey.. that reversing "left is right, right is left" is about the most important thing in the world of rc flight! it takes a lot of time to get that right. if you've ran rc cars with dual stick tx then you should have no problem adjusting but if you ran it with a wheel, it still isn't going to be easy. i wouldn't belittle the importance of remembering that or your cub may end up in a death spiral!!!

furthermore, it is NOT instinct. it is the reverse of instinct and that's why they remind you. same as the elevator where pulling down causes the plane to pull up. that isn't intuitive either.

in fact, i'm still struggling with hovering when the plane is facing away from me. if it were instinctual, i would be able to torque roll easily.

anyway, about the drop. i think the easiest and weight saving would be to attach a rod to one of your tail feather servos. have the rod go through the fuse so that its perpendicular to the fuse and level with the ground. now fix one side of a rubber band to the opposite side of the fuse. now put the drop item on the belly of the fuse and pull the rubber band across the fuse and hook it on the protruding rod. now you need to tune the system.

the way the system works is that you make it so that the rod comes all the way into the fuse, thus, releasing the rubber band when one of your control surfaces is at it's extreme movement. so if you have dual rates, put the release on high rates. if you don't have dual rate, then just put it on the surface you don't use to the extreme. now fine tuning is done by making sure you have adequate throws before you hit the release point. and cutting the rod to the right length.

RE: Getting started is so dang hard
 

Sorry about that. Was at the library and had to cut it short making it look like I was angry about it. What I meant was that the generic controls like say flat steering, you put yourself in the "seat" of the vehicle and it just comes to you and you improve over time. one more control is used on a plane so you have to learn that other control and when you're mixing them up inverted upside down and other things in aerobatics it gets really hard. Sorry. And me being an engineer, I didn't get to say I actually want to be one and believe it or not I had flight engineering in mind but ideas come and go I don't know if it will stick.

I developed a simple way for paratrooper to "jump" it's just a 3*5 notecard with slits in them on the upper part of it and a rubber band between the landing gear and the rubber band going in the slits. Followed by holes in the back of the card with thread in them, taped to the side of the fuselage and have the card low enough in the front to hold the para dude in place lightly. Looking like a vent on a jet engine. So that way I can get in the air and turn down to let him free. I just thought about the propeller though I don't need to turn that far down but what if the propeller held him in there? If I made a "vent" in the back big enough for the dude to get out and when I wanted him out I could just up the throttle but I could just cut the power and glide down and let him go. I'll figure it out. Forget it. BUT this same paratrooper was put in a model rocket and shot 500 feet in the air!!! He just fell with the rocket parachute unopened and crashed. I have to buy a rocket now. nothing 12 bucks 'll do.

RE: Getting started is so dang hard
 

rcfreakk - you claim that you're an engineer but somehow your command of physics isn't so good :-) how do you expect the paratrooper to fall out when your plane will also be under the laws of gravity? that's like trying to get water out of the cup by releasing it from a building top. unless you are using a prop sp large that it seriously slows down the plane, i doubt the guy will fall out. well then again, since it's electric that might just work since you can literally stop the prop. i like my idea better :-)

RE: Getting started is so dang hard
 

Jet engines have vents? and they hold "para dudes"? I must be working on different kinds of airplanes. Yeah I'm funnin with ya. Guess it's a terminology thingy. You'll figure out something that will work and that is all that counts. Just don't rig up something that will endanger the plane, safety of flight comes first.

PS Yes guys, I know jet engines do have some vents but they don't hold "para dudes", OK? So let's not even go there.

RE: Getting started is so dang hard
 

can something like this be made to work?
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXG870&P=ML

RE: Getting started is so dang hard
 

I don't have an extra channel to have another servo the bomb dropper wouldn't work. forestroke you have a point. my other idea, a hole in the back, the parachute comes out and pulls the trooper out of the hole what do you think of that one? is there a possibility?

RE: Getting started is so dang hard
 

The old vortach bomb shakle release or the one posted by mrbass will work fine without a dedicated servo and I have done just this both with and without a dedicated servo or any servo at all in the case of controlline. All you need to do is get a long servo output arm and install on your elevator servo so the the elevator push rod can be installed the same distance out but the arm extends further out a few holes. The release is mounted in the approriate place on the belly and a length of cord is tied from the release to the outer hole on the arm with slack. This is adjusted so the elevator works normally untill a momentary full up application is made which will engage the release and provide a nice balistic trajectory to your payload.

Now you can go even cheaper and more versatile yet. Your payload be it toilet paper or a folded up parachutist is held aginst the bottom of the aircraft with a #64 rubber band from a hook on one side of the fuse, around the payload and back up the other side of the fuse. at this point you just fabricate a music wire pin sliding in and out of a short length of brass tube. This assembly is epoxed protruding the side of the fuse. The sliding pin protrudes out the side and the fuse and the end of the band hook over this. Inside the fuse the other end of the pin is tied to the same slack cord and when momentary full up is applied the pin pulls and the band along with the payload shoots off to its fate. This works well and is reliable enableing you to drop where you want considering winds etc. I,ve launched lots of parachutes, bombs and even inverted small chuck gliders in this way.

John

RE: Getting started is so dang hard
 

Hello, have you been able to pick up the things you need? If not try the Pay It Forward forum. They gave me everything I needed to get started. They gave me a new LT-40 trainer, a Saito-56 engine, 4 JR-537 servos, a new JR-R700 receiver, a gallon of fuel, a flight simulator, a new glow starter, 7 props, and a field box.

RE: Getting started is so dang hard
 

rcfreakk - i think johnbuckner agress with me but his idea of adding a brass tube makes it golden. i think that's the way to go! having the paratrooper coming out of a rearward facing scoop is fine as long as you have a release mechanism! the problem is that you can't control when he's going to come out unless you have some kind of latch.

i know... why not put a estes rocket on your plane. just a small one that can still eject a parachute. attach it on the bottom or top of the plane far away enough to ensure it doesn't melt you plane. stuff the parachute guy up front and have him eject with the parachute. of course, i'm only kidding!

RE: Getting started is so dang hard
 

How would you ignite it?

RE: Getting started is so dang hard
 

long fuse....:D

RE: Getting started is so dang hard
 

hahaha very funny.........anyways.....I got tired of playing the game with my hobby shop and decided to check the internet. I saw a quattro for forty bucks and saw the word trainer box inbetween the words and got to thinking that's what it might be but it showed the quattro and had no description or anything just the price and checkout. this was Horizon Hobby site. i'm confused. oh and it was tx only

RE: Getting started is so dang hard
 

(as usual) another question a fifty dollar "trainer set" now i'm really confused. is it a transmitter?

RE: Getting started is so dang hard
 

Before ordering, I would call them and make sure what it is. I can't tell from their adds if it is actual transmitter or buddy box. VERRRRY vague add and cheap price for actual transmitter. See if it includes chargers and cords. I have a Quattro buddy box I use for training and it LOOKS just like actual transmitter from the outside. No xtal in back but they don't show rear view in add.

RE: Getting started is so dang hard
 

only read this: it's a transmitter. sorry.
__________________________________________________ ____________________________

AHHHHHH!!!!!! all in the same day!!! [:@][:@][:@][:@][:@][:@][:@][:@]AHH!! -------in' piece a ----- stupid ------ --- whose ----- is ----- up!!!!!!!!!!!! me and my dumb self

-"Please resist the urge to curse, flame, degrade, insult or embarrass 'someone' in your post."-

ahhh but i didn't only myself smart me:D

-"If you have to vent, take it offline."-

....oh.......uhhh................................. ..define the circumstances hehehe:D

-"We carefully monitor posts and will ban individuals who engage in offensive conduct within the forums."-

[X(]...............[:o]it was with my stupidity though

RE: Getting started is so dang hard
 

JR Quattro trainer costs a bit more than futaba and others because they have a battery and processer in them. Yup, another battery to keep charged. JR will say "theirs is smarter" or something like that. As I said ask before you buy or "if it sounds to good to be true it probably is".

RE: Getting started is so dang hard
 

I'm good I didn't scroll down on the page to see the ad it's indeed (uh [:'(]I hate that word) a transmitter. It includes a 12" aileron extension, charger, receiver battery, and receiver, servos (no) It also includes a trainer cord for it. I'll order it today and get it on Thursday (hopefully) and am going to Luke Days this weekend so I can't go to the field -I'm sorry gotta do it again-

ANYBODY IN PHOENIX????

Anyways Luke Days is an airshow at the local Luke AFB it's really cool I went there last year they have the Thunderbirds and a whole bunch of other pilots. They also have a static display of planes on the field also. Oh I got side tracked. I'll keep my patience and wait till Thursday. And I don't know how much more I can take of this waiting!!!!! see ya

RE: Getting started is so dang hard
 

Why does nothing ever go my way!!! I am ordering it TODAY now!!! I'm so close!!! I CAN'T TAKE IT AHHHHHHHHH!!!!!![:@][:@][:@][:@][:@]

RE: Getting started is so dang hard
 

Are we having a breakdown? At such a young age too. TSK TSK TSK!