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

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!