Begining out (again)
 

Half a life ago my mom picked up a partially finished, 90% of the balsa there sailplane at some garage sale... sadly that never went anywhere.

My experience is limited to as a teenager getting a 2 channel trainer, and locating just about every tree Icould find... and accidentally (yup, you read right) successfully landing once. Then a few years ago in a hungover genius decision I got a parkzone p-51, and located about every tree Icould find yet again (I was out in an area I shoot guns, easy mile or so from a building... being dumb, but playing it safe). Ihave since repaired that and set it in the back of the closet.

I'm thinking with the tax return (this married thing is pretty nice) this year I'm going to do this right, get a proper trainer (or properish by this forum's standards) go out to the local field and embarrass myself while giving someone a headache... okay, Idon't plan on doing that, just expecting a bunch of "this is simple, why can't you get it?!?!".

what I'm eying is the aerocore trainer, yeah I've read it's a flying brick.. but with my excellent skills at finding things to run into, I'm going to error on the side of difficult but stout. (I read somewhere buy the first to learn how to not crash and the second to learn how to fly... http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=7297875 )

I'm wondering what's a decent engine for this flying brick, is upping the engine size as I've read about controllable if someone keeps in mind to take it easy, or does jumping up a little (not sure what a little would be here) really do that much as far as weight and minimum power?

is starting with a four channel the way to go, and upgrade down the road? or go a little big on it now and... Working in elec engineering, having some computer programming, and a degree in mech engineering... I could see this hobby becoming "crazy project" worthy (gps guided nerf football has always been kinda a fun idea I've been kickin [pun unintended] around... that'd be awesome).

Aside from the aerocore trainer, radio, fuel tube, engine... anything else on the immediate needs list? (I understand fuel, starter, etc... but please go ahead and point these out, I need a shopping list). Saving a buck as always is good, and it helps me feed other hobbies (already trying to sell a few rifles to upgrade), please organize by "need", "should have", "consider getting", "you should want".

starting my need list with:
aerocore trainer
engine (need some recommendations, are tower branded decent?)
radio (again, could use some recommendations)
fuel line
find one of the older realflight rc sim's on ebay


Thanks

RE: Begining out (again)
 

if you want to go with a all in one package thats cheap
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...=LXCXF4**&P=ML
thats a great way to go, it flies well and is plenty powerful. then engine needs time to break in so let the instructor fly it around for 5 or so tanks before the engine even has a chance of doing its thing (it runs really bad for the first 5 tanks) but after a gallon or so that engine runs really well just be a little patient.

if you dont want to go that route (which will cost you a lot more around 325-350) i can get links for everything you need just let me know

RE: Begining out (again)
 

Thanks for the recommendation, I should probably revise "eyin" to "set on".

RE: Begining out (again)
 

Bellinghan, Wa.??? I used to live in a part of Issaquah before it was Inc'ed by Sammamish.

Anyway go with a good .46 ball bearing (not bronze bushing) engine. OS is probably the top choice as it is very beginner freindly and easy to operate (hmm... that was redundant) but about the most expensive. Thunder Tiger, I feel, is right there with OS but a few bucks less. The Tower brand will take a little more patience but have been proven to be good engines albeit more finicky about their tuning (experienced operators might not even notice a difference though). The new kid on the block is the Evolution series of engines. They are very easy to operate and very well priced and would serve your project well.

RE: Begining out (again)
 

Here's my shopping list as it stands, am I missing anything (aside from fuel and oil)?
All from tower hobbies.

LXPT39 Tower Hobbies Build-It CA+ Medium Glue 2 oz.
LXJC78 Tower Hobbies #64 Rubber Bands 1/4 lb
LM2265 Top Flite 10x6 Power Point Propeller qty:3
LXCB27 O.S. #8 Plug Long Med Air/Car
LXL405 Hobbico Safety Stick Engine Starter
LXL430 Hobbico Latex Foam Rubber 1/4"
LXVY89 Hobbico Glow Starter C Cell Alkaline
LXK218 Great Planes Spinner 2-1/2" Nylon Black
LXK129 Great Planes Silicone Fuel Tubing Standard 3'
LXK190 Great Planes Plated Wheel Collars 5/32" (4)
LXGMU0 Futaba Black Transmitter Neck Strap
LXD711 Dubro 4-Way Socket Wrench XL
LXB894 Dave Brown Pour N Pump System Glow
LXK129 Great Planes Silicone Fuel Tubing Standard 3'
LXKH24 U.S. AirCore 40 Trainer Kit .40-.50,64"
LXFMD5 O.S. 46AX ABL Airplane Engine w/Muffler
LXSFY3 Futaba 6EX 6-Channel 2.4GHz Air w/4 S3004 Servos

RE: Begining out (again)
 

might want to add a prop reamer

RE: Begining out (again)
 

IMHO nowdays I would forget going to nito for learning to fly. Get yourself a electric motor powered glider like the Mutiplex Easy Star, Nitro planes (Hawk Sky), and Banana hobbies (Sky Surfer) are good examples. The planes can be bought receiver ready with servos in them. Buy the Futaba 2.4 radio you can use it. Don't buy them with the cheap radio as you will probably throw it in the trash. Get yourself at least two Lipo batteries and a decent field charger. About the only thing else you need is a pair scissors and cheap 2" packing tape to do field repairs. Be sure when doing field repairs to make them straight. If you take a look at your shopping list you're spending some big bucks. I would image that if you went the electric route you'll be spending about $200 (not including radio) and you'll be ready to fly. I did some experimental testing with a Hawk Sky and replaced the pusher brushed motor with a brushless motor in the front swing a 7 x 4 prop and a typical 1350MA, 25C, 3 cell lipo and 30 minutes plus fly and glide times are not unusual. So I forget the nitro plane for now and go electric. Don't get me wrong, I still enjoy flying Nito and gas planes as there nothing like the sound of smooth running 4 stroker in a Corsair or P-51 when you do a down of the deck fly by.

RE: Begining out (again)
 

I'm with HMT,,go ahead and get your radio and system at Tower while your there get yourself a GWS pico stick or cub and a few battery packs and the stuff to fly it with, esc,mini servos, and a rx with your radio crystal number,,I say leave the aircore alone and get the tower trainer when your ready....alot of the little stuff can be found on the bay for better prices...even better go to headsuprc.com and change over to lipo for longer flights, he has a store on the bay too......Rog
The bonus is you can fly it in an open field or the local schoolyard like I did, it will take off from the black top

RE: Begining out (again)
 

I highly recommend a Field Box as well, you can get-by with out one but they sure are handy!

http://pics.towerhobbies.com/image/g/gpmp1001.jpg

RE: Begining out (again)
 

X2 on the Pico Stick. They are cheap and easy to learn with.

RE: Begining out (again)
 

So, the field/club I was hoping to join is full at the moment. Looks like I'm holding off for a month or so to see if they have openings this year.

Not going to get anything until I hear the okay from them. But please keep the suggestions coming.


A field box, that's just something to hold all the misc equip in right? I was thinking being mr. gun dude I have a few ammo cans in a closet that should be empty (if these rifles of mine ever sell, anyone want an rifle?) and that might be suitable (if foam lined and all).

I think I'm pretty stuck on nitro, but hey maybe I can be convinced while waiting. I'd really like the full ailerons, rudder, elevator, throttle. And I for me powered all the time would be best, though with time (I have some) I might go that direction. As for design, I don't think I can settle on something that doesn't resemble a plane (nothing against the stick fliers, I just don't think I could be content with it).

RE: Begining out (again)
 

Sorry to hear about the club being full, might be worth checking to see if you can fly as a guest while on a waiting list? My club allows guests to fly a certain number of times....no sure how many. But I do remember I managed to Solo before I was an actual member of the club!

RE: Begining out (again)
 

the posted rules say something like 3 times a year for experienced folks.
the trainer I talked to said something about perhaps being able to help me out on the side get up to speed... If I can't get in, I can't think of many places around here that'd I'd feel safe pretending to control some flying object.

Maybe I'll have to start searching for a football field about a 1/2 mile from any buildings.

RE: Begining out (again)
 

the posted rules say something like 3 times a year for experienced folks.
the trainer I talked to said something about perhaps being able to help me out on the side get up to speed... If I can't get in, I can't think of many places around here that'd I'd feel safe pretending to control some flying object.

Looks like another excellent reason for you to get into electrics. I live in the Los Angeles area and there are only two public fields you can fly glow or gas planes. But there are about 4 other official areas we can only fly electric. But there are loads of parks, beaches, and hill sides that we can fly electric too. I work around the LA area and always carry an electric plane with me. On the way home, in the late afternoon it is nice to be able to just grab a few batteries, take a few flights and not have to clean or disassemble a plane. Electrics has spoiled me to such an extent that about the only time I bring out my big glow and gassers are on weekends. I have a 1/4 scale Piper Cub that takes me about 15 minutes to assemble and disassemble and an additional 5 to clean up. You will find that nearly all of the glow and gas fliers also fly electrics.

RE: Begining out (again)
 

After some talking with a few folks, I think electric might something to look more into.

If I go electric... what all do I need (by all, go ahead an mention I need batteries)?

Any good options for a trainer that sorta kinda looks like a plane, and will hold up to me? (a cub made of titanium would be nifty)

RE: Begining out (again)
 

Looks like the U.S. Aircore trainer is discontinued now.There aren't any "crashable" trainers left that I'm aware of now. I have a Duraplane (now discontinued) and it was fun to learn and crash on, and took a ton of abuse for a self taught flier like me. There are a few Electric trainers out right now that are ready to fly, just surf around Tower Hobbies and Horizon Hobbies and you will find a few.