Getting started is so dang hard
 

Is it just me or are firebirds a little weak for trainers. I mean I can't control it without putting in the exact right amount of throttle and turn. Shouldn't that kind of stuff be for experienced pilots. I don't know what to believe, I've flow... no crashed several times and just given my firebird up. I bought an r/c car, no one i know has them so boring. My grandpa gave me an old control line plane, but it's nose heavy and unstartable (Norvel). Now I'm still trying and again my grandpa gave me another plane, a GWS PICO J-3 CUB, I've built it but I still need a transmitter and charger. So this weekend I thought I'd bring out my Firebird and i actually flew it, before crashing it into a fence and breaking both the tail and main wing. So now i have to go buy spares from the Hobby Bench, and to add to it I have no money. Getting started has been almost depressing, but I'm not going to give up.

RE: Getting started is so dang hard
 

Its good to have persistance. And you do. Thats great.

The best thing to do, is just relax and do some "textbook" stuff for a couple of weeks. This involves surfing these forums. Find out what popular trainers and engines are out there. Find out about the AMA and what it does. Find out how to locate your local clubs. Cruise through the yellow pages to find your local hobby shops and visit some to find the one you like the best.

Ask lots of questions on these forums. I started out on these forums and learned SOOO much. I went from not even knowing what "ARF" meant, to having scratch built an entire kit which I am flying almost every weekend now.

Once you have your setup figured out. Do more research on prices. Once everything is bought. Do more research before you put it together. Once its put together, get some help from someone who knows what they are doing. Its the best way to go.

Good luck.

RE: Getting started is so dang hard
 

Like Bryris said, persistance is great, but learning on your own can get expensive. Read through the MANY threads here on RCU about getting started. Then do a couple of searches on the "Firebird", and the "GWS Cub".

The GWS Cub is a decent flying small electric. I have one that I play around with once in awhile, and it flys fine, but is slightly underpowered. Do NOT fly it if there's any wind however. I flew mine once in about a 10 mph wind and it never moved forward through the entire flight. ;)

You may also find that the Cub responds a lot more to transmitter inputs, so don't throw the sticks around. Gentle inputs is all it needs.

Good luck and welcome to RCU,
Dennis-

RE: Getting started is so dang hard
 

rcfreakk do read DBCherry and bryris' posts carefully and there are keys points in both to help you acheve your goals. If I might add the controlline airplane your gramps gave you is probably not that old if it has a Norvel (a fine engine and most likely very runable). Check the 1/2 A forums here and you will learn a lot about that engine. As for the controlline airplane being nose heavy, I seriously doubt that. You see those kind of airplanes fly with the balance point much further forward than Free flight or RC airplanes. To learn more about this type just cruse the controlline forum or better yet just post and ask away.

John;)

RE: Getting started is so dang hard
 

you need to do 3 things differently.

1: give up on the firebird, and all other RTF park flyers. they do not fly like any ather airplane. A .40 sise trainer s the best way to go.

2: stop trying to teach yourself. you arent Orvil or Wilbur. someone has done it before you.

3: Join the AMA, and your local club! This is where you will find LOTS of help, and friends who can teach you to fly!

RE: Getting started is so dang hard
 

Just to offer my solution... The end to your frustration is going to begin as soon as you hookup with a club and get a solid electric or glow trainer.. You dont necessarily need to go glow but its going to find a truly airworthy electric that is simple and complete is going to be tough. If you can save up $500 and want a no frills straight to the point setup that you can learn to fly with the Nexstar or something like it is going to be you r best bet. Its a COMPLETE setup that will have you in the air in a matter of hours... all you will need is to find a club or at least a pilot that can help you out. Really a buddy box is and a "buddy" to teach you to fly will be instant satisfaction I promise.

You can learn on your own but its going to be a painful process until you really learn to fly. Flying is easy... ONCE you learn how to do it. Until you get your hand eye coordination going its going to be tough. The beauty of a buud box is that it allows you to work through your mistakes without the pain and disapointment of countless crashes and repairs that destroy your confidence drain your $$$$. Success breeds confidence, confidence breeds success... If the successes are few and far between its going to take forever to build your confidence and get to a place where crashing is only a memory.

End the pain now, get hooked up with someone who has a buddy box.

Some clubs even have a club trainer plane or the thrainer will teach you with HIS trainer... cant hurt to ask... Im not sure how old you are but most clubs are very eager to help kids out,,, and really they do the same for everyone!

RE: Getting started is so dang hard
 

If it hasn`t already been said, get hold of a simulator.

A simulator is not an aircraft, nor does is act EXACTLY the same, but it will save you buckets of $$ iof you`re going down the teach yourself path, and give you buckets of confidence if you`re having somebody else teach you.

I wish I`d bought mine before I started out.

RE: Getting started is so dang hard
 

its hard to get into it but just ty your hardest and you will make it through. :D

RE: Getting started is so dang hard
 

If the guy doesnt have money for a wing and tail for an aerobird,,he sure as heck doesnt have the money to join a club or the AMA or a sim..save up enough for a decent 4 channel radio and get the cub in the air, get a few extra battery paks and you can use your wall charger to slow charge them, just take things slow and gentle,,,I started back with the GWS pico stick , now unless that norvel was run too lean it probably just needs to be degunked and cleaned up as it is not a reed engine,,or it may need a glow head,,a cox glow head will work on it if you have one..and you can get in the air for waaaaay less than $500......Rog

RE: Getting started is so dang hard
 

Check with the local clubs in your area. I'm sure that if you look around you can find a good club with training and reasonable rates. Our club, for example, has cut rates for minors who have insurance ranging from 1/2 price to free and provides a trainer with radio and buddy box. All the trainee needs to pay for is fuel. It's worth a look and if you can't find one, then you're no worse off than you are now.

RE: Getting started is so dang hard
 

Is there a formal school for training on R/C airplannes? preferably someplace nice and warm? [8D]

RE: Getting started is so dang hard
 

Is there a formal school for training on R/C airplannes? preferably someplace nice and warm? [8D]

RE: Getting started is so dang hard
 

may be we should have some of the old timers relate when R/C WAS hard to get into
ie; radios -$500.(no dural rates or electronic trim, 3 servos std with a 4 ch rig)after all, this was the 60's) -the added servo only cost $30. building die cut kits( not much else around) epoxy & white glue (or that ambroid stuff that ruined at least one set of pants for you) engines that required extensive & sometimes careful breaking in, limited accesories, silk&dope (nothing against it but, if you live in a nice house with a family-whew!) 5 frequencies to fly on(yes I know some of you used the ham band or risked 27 mhz in the 70s.) im sure others can think of more ....................

RE: Getting started is so dang hard
 

The RC Hotel in Corfu, Greece provides training and planes.

http://www.rchotel.com


I know someone who's been there and apperently it is a beautiful place to fly.

RE: Getting started is so dang hard
 

Thanks guys, first off

That control line airplane is a good 50 years old with a new motor on it so it is old.

That club thing theres a place near my place, it's free I guess but a club? How does that work?

AND flyin frog is RIGHT I HAVE NO MONEY EVER!!!!

RE: Getting started is so dang hard
 

i meant flyinrog sorry.

i can't find the control line page!!!!

RE: Getting started is so dang hard
 

The Controlline forum is on the main forum page listing and is located just above 'Engines' and just below 'Batterys and chargers'.

RE: Getting started is so dang hard
 

rcfreakk - you've learned the most important lesson already, flying isn't easy. now, that firebird will fly, but it would fly better if you had someone help you get it in the air and maybe assist you a little. we flying people are pretty nice guys and coming out to the local field may be the best bet. true, i am a little further than a little further away since i'm in taiwan, but i'm sure there are nice folks that can help you get started. you don't need a fancy shmancy set up to get started (but it does help) but you do need someone that at least can show you the ropes.

i taught someone on this rtf that was so underpowered that i thought he was fueling it with baking soda and water and had the glideratio of a bowling ball. but i put in my rx and buddy boxed him to his first solo. this is his hand, holding up the plane after his first solo. so don't give up... get help and it will come. my friend had the yellow version of this $100 3-channel rtf first. lasted exactly 2 seconds... went up and *splat*. red and white survived a lot better with a little help from his friends :-)

RE: Getting started is so dang hard
 

I can buy the radio now I have to wait for a charger and I wanted to ask you guys what kind shoud I get I want to charge Nimh mostly and discharge any knowledge of a reasonable one that will last me

RE: Getting started is so dang hard
 

If you are buying a new radio system, it will come with Ni-cads which are fine. It will also come with a "wall-wart" charger for the system included. Are we talking about something else? Are you talking about elec plane and the charger for it's motor batteries?

RE: Getting started is so dang hard
 

Yes I am but thanks anyways I already picked one out. But I have another question about plug adapters how do they work?

-Anyone in Glendale or Phoenix AZ just wondering

RE: Getting started is so dang hard
 

let me tell you my story. i got all A's on a reprot card, so my dad got me the park zone j-3 cub. there were some problems with it, so i sent it back, and after about 1 week, i reseaved a new one in the mail. for free. then i took it to my hobby store, and reterned it for the aerobird challenger. when i took it out of the box, the tail boom, and electrics were out of place, so guess what! i sent that one back, and got a new one in the mail. i took it out to fly for the first time 2 weeks ago, and it is amazing! I love it, and it is defanitely worht the wait. keep tring!

RE: Getting started is so dang hard
 

Plug adapters? Can you be more specific? What plugs are you adapting to/from and for what purpose? Servo plugs, battery power plugs, spark plugs, charger adapter plugs? Need as much as you can give.

RE: Getting started is so dang hard
 

Don't forget to check out the "Pay it Forward" forum. The people in there often provide equipment to newbies that could otherwise not afford it.

RE: Getting started is so dang hard
 

I'm sorry I'm answering my own Q's I borrowed a charger from my grandpa with the right plugs so no worries. A transmitter is all I need I'm gonna get a Dream Starter I or II i don't know they said that another shipment would be in on Wednesday. Tomorrow. So close and yet so far

then after that I have to find someone to help me because i learned flying by yourself is possible it's just expensive. And I know where a field is i just don't know anybody. and my mom told me about her friends neighbor who has a garage full of planes but i don't wanna just walk into his garage and go,"Hey can you teach me to fly?" right there. oh well i'll go to the field with my plane and see what happens.

i'm always finding something about this hobby to worry about. well at least i'm keeping myself occupied envying the planes in my grandpa's magazines and talking to you guys while i wait for my stuff to get me in the air