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RE: Nothing Standardized in This Hobby
what the lack of standards gives us is FREEDOM</p> believe it or not. </p> example i own a rimfire 35-30-1250 brushless motor. it is suppost to require a 35 amp esc and a 20c battery.</p> well guess what i only have a 25 amp esc and 4 different batterys each with a different c rating 15-25 (some under the recommended)</p> i also put that motor on planes thaat weigh under a pound, that motor pulls around 2.2 lb </p> so if they packaged everything together plane and all i would end up with a boring esc motor and battery. or a very expensive package</p> but now i have a insane power to weight ratio so i can fly in 15 mph winds (manufacture recommends under 5mph winds) and still have plenty of umph left over</p> same with a magnum .91 4 stroke. i put it on a yak54 that was suppost to have a .70 sized 4 stroke on it (or .47 2 stroke) why? because i could</p> so my point is while not every nut will work with every bolt. </p> if everything was standardized, it would take part of the fun out of the hobby. </p> |
RE: Nothing Standardized in This Hobby
HobbyBobby,
Recently PilotFighter (I think it was PilotFighter) said something in another thread I think is very appropriate, and something a person like yourself coming into the hobby should hear: Learning to fly RC is very similar to learning a musical instrument. Did you take piano lessons as a kid? I've played guitar most of my life, I play without thinking. But I couldn't pick up a trumpet or violin and start playing. To do that, I'd have to practice. Practice connects the brain and fingers - it's exactly the same thing as flying an RC airplane, and it takes similar practice, commitment and time. Your current feelings about standardization may soon take a back seat to the normal frustration it takes to learn how to fly an RC airplane. I don't have statistics, but from my observation a lot more people drop out of the hobby than stick with it. The reason is because it's not easy for most people to learn. It takes a level of commitment, and you won't feel comfortable flying right away. It took me over 12 years to get comfortable! I was in and out of the hobby over those 12 years, it wasn't a constant 12 years, but still you have to understand that when I went flying it bugged me somewhat that everyone else was having fun, and I usually came home with an airplane to repair. I probably have less natural ability to fly an RC airplane than anyone on the planet! Some of us have to keep challanging ourselves over and over until we get it. I was one of those. Maybe you'll be fortunate and take to it quickly. Bottom line, don't expect just because you have the bug for the hobby that it won't be challanging. I guarantee you it will. Weak knees and a pounding heart go with the territory. But when you get past that and gain cofidence, and can fly just like playing a musical instrument you experience joy. Plus the joy of accomplishment. It took me a long time, hopefully you'll be faster learner, but the bottom line is that it will still take commitment, which is what most of these guys have been saying in this thread. Good luck! Find yourself a mentor and try not to get frustrated. I'll say it again - try not to get frustrated and realize it probably won't be easy. |
RE: Nothing Standardized in This Hobby
ORIGINAL: hobbybobby789 <input id="gwProxy" type="hidden" /><!ssion da><input id="jsProxy" type="hidden" onclick="jsCall();" />I guess you guys are right that even in other industries upon closer thought there really is no standard among brands and things like that. I guess its just a wish that probably could never happen and in reality there are common things among brands or item types. Guess it just takes a while to figure out the jargon. Went to hobby city like some suggested and saw some gas engines around 200 dollars. Weighs like 5 pounds so its for large planes that i may want to get into in the future. Cheaper gas but at the wieght of the engine alone and added plane the tank is surely bigger and will cost you about as much as glow. Iguess i just gotta keep the frustration down until i fly and itll be all worth it. Hmm lets see there are about 3 fields in the area so know its about time to think which ones to join. Maybe ill go this weekend and see if anyones got a prop reamer so i can get the eninge started up for the first time. From what i hear this hobby is known for people helpin newcomers out. <div id="refHTML"></div> Don |
RE: Nothing Standardized in This Hobby
well for the last decade I've been lopping off any connectors and replacing it with either a dean ultra plug or a deans mini plug. Except radio gear, their stuff just fits will minor mods.
as for the prop ream. there are standard and metric so make sure you know which to get. As for the prop manufacuerers and standardized hole? A drill bit works just as well, the reamer is meant for it and nessasary for the feild. There are allot of other tools you'll evetually own if you stay with the hobby. I added it up the other day I think I have like 400 buck is tools Not all my tool just the tool for spcific task for model planes. mostly for building them. the hobby is a whole lot better off than it was a few years ago as far as newbie gear goes. I think tower has always gone a great job of getting most of the stuff ya need to get a model going, it's the only site I've seen than list the stuff you'll acually need and relavant to that model. If ya think it's tuff with newbie gear wait till ya build a scale kit, product compadibility is just the tip of the iceberg. For me it's all part of the fun of learning. By my fifth build I think was the point I could make one order and have everything I needed to get the kit done and flying. Before that it was pretty frusterating learning what I did and didn't need, what worked what didn't and what was crap. |
RE: Nothing Standardized in This Hobby
some things are compatable(Hitec,Spektrum,airtronics Zplug), you'll figure out what works and if it doesn't you'll modify it so it does :D
be sure to get an instructor, I hate to see you go through all your frustration just to wad it up on take off. P.S. get a drill index |
RE: Nothing Standardized in This Hobby
</p> If it was easy everyone would be doing it. Don't give up, I did but came back 9 months later and now I can fly, sort of</p> |
RE: Nothing Standardized in This Hobby
Every time Ineed to work on my car, I find I don't have the right tool to fit this one nut buried behind some piece of metal/plastic. Why don't all cars use the same spark plug? Oil filter? Windshield wiper blade? Tires? Gas?
Ever own a boat? The 2 most joyous days in a boater's life is when he buys his boat and the day he sells it. Try finding a reed which works "out of the box" on a vintage WW1set of bagpipes (I got one of these). Need to upgrade the memory on your PC? Or Mac? How many flavors to those come in nowadays? If you computer is over 4 years old, might as well forget it. I've been building and flying model airplanes for 45 years and I'm still not a "master builder/flier". I do enjoy it - just that I have other hobbies as well to dabble in. Relax. Learn. Enjoy. |
RE: Nothing Standardized in This Hobby
Everything is much more standard than it use to be. Each brand of radio had their own plugs as late as the 80's; each very different and unless you loped it off you could not switch brands and then the signal pulses might be incompatible. The mind set of modelers have standardized which is a bad thing. The consistency that you seek has turned this into a consumer hobby rather than a experimenters hobby. It use to be like a mix between ham radio, hotrod cars, aerospace engineer, test pilot, home built airplane builder, machinist and so on. Not that every one built a radio or machined an engine, but they had to understand the workings to make it work; you had to learn which gave a intellectual feeling to success. All well rounded. Now Wally World" want it now with my price" is taking a toll even at this level.
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RE: Nothing Standardized in This Hobby
Why do you need a 7mm drill? According to http://www.supertigre.com/engines/dimension.html none of the engines have a 7mm shaft.
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RE: Nothing Standardized in This Hobby
Hi, all. I'm a newbie to the RC aviation world (in fact, this is my first post on an RC related forum) and generally agree that there's an unusual absence of standardization in RC. By standardization I'm not referring to an Orwellian scheme that would reduce the number of product offerings in RC (e.g., all Chevy small blocks must operate with equal efficiency in Fiat 500s). Instead, I'd love to see basic interoperability standards that would permit purchase a battery and connect it to my airplane without soldering some sort of Rube Goldberg machine between the two. Being a nerdy type as a general matter, Ihave a fair amount of experience in the comparatively sedate world of large scale and live steam railroading. There are different scales (obviously) and the same battles between the rivet counters and guys who like a train that looks prototypical from 10 feet, etc., but there are also some agreed upon standards that save the average dude some time now and then.
Either way, I agree that this is a great hobby. My first love has always been aviation and it's been a real thrill to learn that Ican actually fly these planes. My dad, a master modeler, built several RC planes in the 80s and never flew them for fear of crashing; he's dubious that Ican fly them now, in fact, even though I've got my private license for full size! This website has been great and hopefully I get around to posting an introduction soon! Jon Linde |
RE: Nothing Standardized in This Hobby
Jon,
Welcome to the forum. Your dad has a valid point, it will probably be more difficult than you imagine. I took full scale flying lessons in the Army in our base flight club and I could have easily had my Private, the only reason I didn't is because I needed to save my money for ETS. I wish I would've continued a few more hours, but that's not the point. The point is, for me and many guys I know, flying full size aircraft is totally and completely easy compared to RC. There's no comparison. People take to flying full scale like a duck takes to water, but not RC. <br type="_moz"/> |
RE: Nothing Standardized in This Hobby
ORIGINAL: hobbybobby789 Hate to rant to you guys on my first post but im getting impatient with ths bobby. This hobby is starting to get on my nerves. Nothing is standardized. Batteries use different plugs, tx rx use different batteries based on brand. Brushless motors that use too much amperage for the ESC and the outrageuos prices $130 dollars for a high amp ESC. That is ridiculous. The item probably costs $ 15.00 to make. Again with standards, tx and rx that are not compatible, positvie shift versus negative shift. Servos for different makers, are you guys kidding me??Adapters for every item that is made. Adapt to this so that you can adapt to that. Your gonna have adapters hanging out of every orifice of your body. Thats the thing, all manufacturers have their own standards and build everything that forces you to buy thier products. We as hobbyist allow this to happen as far as i know there is no standards set by any organization, and by what we continue to buy. I just bought a airplane glow engine and come to find that the prop hole is too small so i have to buy a reamer which not only cost me more money but the HSwas out of reamers. Ive had my engine 2 weeks and still havent gotten it started because there tons of nick nacks that i have to buy. Of course i should have done the home work in advanced but it should be easier for a beginner to get into the hobby. The makers should know that this prevents alot of newcomers from venturing too far into it as things just keep adding up to just even get the engine started. Thats not even considering putting the thing into the sky, It should be a fun and painless process which for me hasnt been the case. Yes there is a standard propeller hole size yet the maker of my engine decided to make a bigger shaft. And then i must enlarge the hole not knowing if it is perfect and whether it gets screwed up. Not being someone who is a pro carpenter or builder of whatever it is, yet im prety handy with mechinics. How about the guys or women who dont know too much mechanical then there up the tree. Forget about kids. After putting my plane into the sky is hope that all the hardships will be worth it and i end up enjoying this hobby as much as my other hobbies. Such as fishing which is a cheap to get into and to continue. Or the shooting sports. Now that is a hobby where most everything is standardized. Although technically the ammuntion of different makers vary ever so slightly and the makers of firearms also vary you can safely use ammo calibers specified for that particular firearms without worry of compatibility. Im glad theres no mumbo jumbo of incompatiilty in that industry. There are professional and unversal standards in the gun industry that was thought out from the start which allows simple use. Not manufacturers coming up with thier own standards which forces u to buy thier products. It doesnt matter which brand it is you can shoot it in your gun for same caliber. Ahh reloading ammo straight forward and simple with specs that if you follow then you are safe. Try that with explosive lipo batteries. Not only is reloading simple and easy it allows you to cut cost of ammo in half. The hobby industry will try to double the expense for everything Im quite intelligent and the rc hobby is seemingly overwhelming just putting things together. I feel sorry for those who are not quite intelligent. Again the bottom line is if we allow the makers of these hobby planes and cars to have outrageous prices and no standardization then it will just get worse. Added that theres not much competition then that trend will continue. <div id="refHTML"></div> And next time you post a rant like this, why not separate it into paragraphs? Reading that above would give anyone a headache, it's almost like one run-on sentence.. |
RE: Nothing Standardized in This Hobby
Good lord, this hobby is a hole lot easier then it used to be, Once you been init awhile, you will really appreciate that guy with the scratch built fighter plane. It will take years of dedication toplay with the big boys so you better get started. If you can't stand to watch a whole lot of money go splat, you better get out now.
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RE: Nothing Standardized in This Hobby
I remember building the Sterling control line kits as a teenager. Nothing fit and most of the wood was useless. It was just about like scratch building.
With laser-cut kits now, it's as simple as dry fitting the pieces together and hitting the joint with a bit of CA. I don't understand why many of today's new modelers think building a kit is particularly difficult. It isn't!!! |
RE: Nothing Standardized in This Hobby
Just stop all the belly aching.. We were idiots when we started the hobby and you will have ups and downs, even 20 years later. It's all about asking questions, not just assuming that you will be able to figure it out.
If you don't get any enjoyment out a hobby, move on and find another one. |
RE: Nothing Standardized in This Hobby
Aviation in general has always been labor intensive with multiple parallel lines of development. This is a hobby for daredevils and hot rodders and experimenters and artists, and you can't standardize that. Factory RTF airplanes take 90% of the work and thought out of putting an airframe in the air for those who just want to open a box and start charging batteries. The OP can have what he wants from those products, but he'll pay the price. ARF's take easily 70% of the work out of it and don't cost extra, and people still whine about them.</p> What I have trouble imagining is the time when you had to build your own radio, then figure out what went wrong and fix it, then build your airplane and crash it and figure out what when wrong again, then build and fix and repair until one day the whole shebang actually worked right. If a guy got one 10 minute flight and didn't have to repair his plane at the end, he was pleased. 50+ hours of labor before getting one flight in, and nothing was standardized. The manufacturers do ten times as much for us than they used to. </p> |
RE: Nothing Standardized in This Hobby
I have to agree that getting started in RC can be confusing and frustrating. But the rewards of the learning process can be great as well. It takes a little time and trial and error to learn the basics and also to get tooled-upe.g. your prop reamer. Remember that "getting there is half the fun".
Good luck! |
RE: Nothing Standardized in This Hobby
Hey Warbird Addict, Don't you think you should complete our deal and send me the 1/3 ScaleCap 232 Landing Gear you promised...It's been several Months and you havestopped answering my e-mails...Bob
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