RE: Plane recommendations for starting IMAC
 

A bit off topic but now that your closing in on an airplane and motor think about attending an IMAC judging seminar if at all possible. They will teach you about how to read Aresti and most importantly what the judges are looking for in order for you to get good scores. There is nothing more frustrating than spending lots of time and effort practicing, picking out the right airframe etc... only to get low scores and even worse not knowing why! The school will teach you how to do the manuevers right (right being defined as what the judges are looking for). It will give you a whole knew outlook on what a loop, roll, etc... is supposed to look like. And don't pass up flying in Basic jumping into the higher levels immediately. The skills you learn in basic are the most important parts as you progress up the levels. Most of the points left on the table in the higher classes are because the pilot messed up on the skills they learned (or didn't) in Basic. OK, back to the discussion at hand. I think you'll be happy with a small gasser. Good luck.

RE: Plane recommendations for starting IMAC
 

Not sure where or how to get into 'classes' but I'm definitely not jumping past basic and definitely am doing whatever research I can to learn the moves. I've been working with some pattern guys and flying in pattern meets, so at least I know to look for constant radius loops, round circles, and most important straight and level flight (not that I can do it easily or anything, but at least I know what I'm NOT doing right;))

Majortom, you definitely nailed my enthusiasm bit - I'm thankful I didn't let it get the best of me. I love everything about this hobby, from picking out planes to assembling them to flying them, setting them up, talking about them, and competing with them. Every aspect of (competitive) flying is truly fascinating.

RE: Plane recommendations for starting IMAC: NEW POLL!!!
 

You may want to check out fliton,..they have a 50cc Extra 260 and a 120 sized Extra 330 you could easily use for IMAC. All the suggested planes are all great ones.:D:D

www.fliton.com


Regards,
Bill Holsten
Team Fliton

RE: Plane recommendations for starting IMAC
 

Ok, so after hours and hours of research I found these two AMAZING deals:

http://www.qqaircraft.com/planes.asp...&s_PLANE_CAT=c

http://troybuiltmodels.com/newsite/a..._yak54_73.html

They recommend 26cc - is that enough? Is 45cc too much?

RE: Plane recommendations for starting IMAC
 

another possible option:

http://www.extremeflightrc.com/html/74yak54.html

RE: Plane recommendations for starting IMAC
 

I can't transport more than a 70" fuse.

Geez, as the cost of this plane keeps rising, I'm questioning spending $700+ on a plane I don't even know that I'll like to fly! I love flying a pattern plane - will I be disappointed with a scale plane? I'm guessing I won't and that it will be different in a good way, but just figured I'd get this out there.

RE: Plane recommendations for starting IMAC
 

Hey Joe, here's a suggestion: IMAC Basic says you can fly any AMA legal plane, such as a pattern plane, or a Venus, or anything that will fly straight. I've known guys who have done that, enjoyed themselves, learned a lot from the experience, from seeing the popular choices of scale aerobats, from talking to the competitors. Get the Basic sequence from off the IMAC site, and try flying it along with your pattern routine. I think you'll find the feel and the challenges, pretty similar to pattern flying. After you've practiced that over what's left of this season and into next year, you'll be ready to fly IMAC with confidence. Take what you've got, fly it, show the rest of the gang the best you have to offer, and take it from there.

Of course if the right deal presents itself, such as maybe a bargain on a scale aerobat at one of the winter auctions, something that is too good to pass up, grab it if you want. But don't feel pressured to buy something before you feel confident in what you want.

I fly and enjoy my gassers at least as much as my glow models. When I broke into gas, like so many others, I searched and searched for a not-too-big, not-too-heavy, not-too-expensive gas engine that would fit well on a not-too-big model. I never found one. The reason the 50 cc class is so popular in the ARF offerings is because that's a good power/weight point at the smaller end of the scale. If you don't have the vehicle to lug that size around in, then compromising good flying characteristics to get something that fits in your car, that to my way of thinking is not an acceptable compromise. 50 cc, 14-15 pound aerobat, now you're in business.

RE: Plane recommendations for starting IMAC
 

gaRCfield, I will throw this out, just because you started out asking about the 73" QQ yak. It is on sale until December for $339

RE: Plane recommendations for starting IMAC
 

I know it, great deal, and I think I just might go ahead and get it:D And a 45cc???[>:]

MajorTom, thanks for the suggestion. I'm in the market for a second plane anyhow and would like something different than my Venus. I'm sure there will be more planes in the future, so if this one doesn't cut it for IMAC...well at least it should be a blast to fly.

RE: Plane recommendations for starting IMAC
 

Hi Joe...well I have to be honest, I have kinda backed away from your thread. You had the right idea but you are listening to way too many people and most don't have a clue to what there telling you or suggesting you should do! I'll give you this last bit of advice...dont get caught up into most of these guys tales...and for the plane you have here, the 45cc engine is way too big, heavy, and powerful for this planes light airframe! The correct engine, with plenty of power for this plane is the 26cc and NO MORE than a 32! Thats it! Plain and simple this plane and its light airframe will do you wonders with a 26cc engine when propped right!
Thats it for me buddy and good luck! :eek:

RE: Plane recommendations for starting IMAC
 

Yep, time for a break - I'm losing it...

RE: Plane recommendations for starting IMAC
 

Get used to it, this hobby will do that to you ;) :D

I'd go with the Venus if you are staying in basic for a while. Look at it this way, for a 2 day contest the average is 3 rounds on Saturday and 2 round on Sunday. Basic takes roughly 5 minutes per sequence and since you do two per round then figure 10 minutes per round, now on Sunday you will only fly one sequence for the first round and then two for the second round. Now total all that up and you have roughly 45 minutes total flying time but those 45 minutes will be the hardest 45 minutes you have ever flown until you get used to it. This only takes into account the contest time. I've heard and agree that one contest equals about 25 full practices flights so figure you need 25 flights to get ready, less if you concentrate and stay focused.

Basic may seem easy looking at the sequences but you need to remember that flying a perfectly wind corrected line, both vertical, horizontal and a 45 degree line is not the easiest thing to do. Now toss in a half roll on a 45 degree line and have the half roll be perfectly centered on the line and things just got a bit harder. There is a bit of work in flying IMAC and you have to discipline yourself a bit but it will certainly make you a better pilot and the camaraderie is like nothing you'll find in most other hobbies

Also, it would certainly be very helpful to learn to read the Aresti, I can certainly help with that via email or PM or other means. If you did not live 600+ miles from me I would certainly help you out, I've done it several times before

So what does this all mean, it can be tough, it takes a good level of dedication, but the new friends you will make, the fun you will have and most importantly you'll have a goal that you can certainly achieve, makes it all worth while and pretty soon all this stuff I've explained won't even matter to you, you'll just go and do it

As far as judging schools and stuff there are at least a dozen really good IMAC pilots in the area for you. John Glazelis in Massachusetts, John Banks in CT, Ray Labonte (I think he's in Maine or Vermont, check composite-arfs web site at www.composite-arf.com, he's a rep for them so you can find his info there and a host of others) Anyone of them will certainly help you out if you just ask. John Banks is a moderator over on FG (RCU chops the name out if I post it).

Tony Banano and Bill Larsey will be hosting several IMAC judging schools next year in the NE region so what out for those. You will see them come up on this web site [link=http://www.thehiddenhangar.com/imac]NE IMAC forum[/link]. I'll be going over the rules along with 2 others in the NE and recommending changes to the IMAC BOD starting very soon and going all the way to the end of next year. I'll be doing some Aresti schools via podcast after the first of next year

RE: Plane recommendations for starting IMAC
 

Thanks bjames, I've definitely got plenty to do and learn.
Thanks again guys. I've got my Venus back up and running and have given the thought of a new plane a rest. I'm in my first season flying, ever, and I'm on my 4th and 5th airframes - the idea of me buying another plane, a gas engine...just absurd!

The Venus is such a joy to fly. Now I need to learn how to trim it, tune it, adjust it, and FLY it! Maybe when my skill level is somewhere even close to the capabilities of the Venus II I'll start looking for an IMAC compatible gasser.

Not having a big, stable plane to fly (engine was bad and had to be replaced) really drove me nuts, and I know I drove a few of you nuts because of it, but thanks to everyone for the help, advice, and telling me to chill out in kind words. Hope to see you all next season as I fly my Venus in the Basic IMAC class in as many meets as possible;)

RE: Plane recommendations for starting IMAC
 

Don't sweat it. As your signature says, this hobby will do weird things to you and me and just about everyone on RCU and other forums as well at one point or another and possibly still (like me [&:]) but I would not have it any other way. I'm in the same boat as you. I'm a huge Sukhoi lover and finally someone makes a 40% one (Airwild) I'll be either flying that one next year or my 40% Carden Cap if I ever get it finished

The pic is exactly the same one I am doing (covering is done) and is exactly like this one with some minor differences

For the further and if you want to stay glow, take a look at the Great Planes performance series planes. I had the Cap 232 with a DA50 on it at it came in at 13.5 pounds and was literally a missile but the wing was one piece and 78 inches long so that limits you. They also have a very nice Yak and a killer Biplane (had one of them at the same time I had the Cap with the same DA50 in it at 16 pounds). A friend of mine had the same one down at 11.5 pounds on an OS160 and would barely keep up with mine up to about 1000 feet then my gas engines power began to really shine and easily pull away and yes I was running the engine a bit rich at that time.

The Carden Cap, the Great Planes Cap and the Great Planes Ultimate


OS 160's are great glow engines and they run best when using FAI fuel (no nitro) Once you get into 15 % nitro your cooling had better be good as they will over heat

RE: Plane recommendations for starting IMAC
 

The red and blue one is one classy plane...I can't stop clicking on it! Is it a cap? I didn't even know I liked caps.

RE: Plane recommendations for starting IMAC
 

First pic is the 40% Carden Cap 232, it the original color scheme that Michael Goulian used a few years ago

Second pic is the Great Planes 27% Cap 232 for their Performance series

Third pic is the Great Planes Ultimate, also from their Performance series

RE: Plane recommendations for starting IMAC
 

Beautiful.

RE: Plane recommendations for starting IMAC
 

What do you guys think of Hitec servos? I know the pattern guys don't like them for not centering as well as JR and Futaba.

I got myself a nice 25% Yak and am wondering if I should invest in more expensive JR servos for IMAC flying.

Thanks!

Edit: I guess comments on whether or not people program their servos (with a programmer) would be helpful too.;)

RE: Plane recommendations for starting IMAC
 

Hitec servos are excellent for IMAC. Many guys are running them. The high-end Hitec servos are not much cheaper than JR servos FWIW. I wouldn't spend more than what you need on a 25%.

RE: Plane recommendations for starting IMAC
 

My personal advice at this early stage (college to pay for, second season coming up, first IMAC venture, quarter scale model) would be to not torture yourself with getting the ultimate in every component. It's nice to have JR servos, top of the line transmitter, 40% model, etc., but you can do a lot of good flying with Hitec servos. Digital is nice, digital coreless is nicer, programer is nice (once you learn how it works... takes some patient study). If you had cash to burn you could splurge on the best of everything, but without meaning to be insulting about it, learning pilot skills, practice skills, trimming & mixing skills, a whole lot of pilot-centered stuff is more important for the next couple of seasons, more so than the difference between Hitec and JR/Futaba. There are plenty of IMAC flyers driving home with a plaque to hang on the wall, won fair & square with their Hitec servos. When your pilot skills are such that you can fly better than your servos, that will be time enough to get the JR's. I've used JR Sport 126's all around on quarter scale and larger and been happy with my flying. Not the best, but good value and more than adequate for a po' boy to practice with.

RE: Plane recommendations for starting IMAC
 

I have used both Hitec & JR servos quite extensively over the years and they are both (depending on the model used) great servos. I don't know what your talking about the Hitec with centering problems??? I have never in all the years had a "centering" problem with a Hitec servo???
For giant scale flying of 25% or larger, if you stay in the Hitec "79" series or the JR "87" series servos you won't be dissappointed in their performance! [8D]

RE: Plane recommendations for starting IMAC
 

Just from hanging out in the pattern forum. Guys are saying they are not as precise due to a deadband something or other. It's easy to get hung up in all this stuff, but you're totally right in that at this stage I probably wouldn't know the difference, and switching to a more accurate servo when I can actually tell the difference will be a nicer way to go.

Hitec 5625 has all the power I need and tons of speed so is probably the way to go - only $55 as opposed to a JR 8411 for $95.

Thanks guys!

RE: Plane recommendations for starting IMAC
 

Well I'll tell you right now...at any stage, you would know the difference between a regular servo and a Hitec "79" series or a JR "87" series servo. You can actually SEE the difference right in front of your eyes the first time you actuate the servo on a control surface!

I use the Hitec 5625mg as a throttle servo in most of my build applications. My typical 50 and 85cc class planes I'll run...
Hitec:
7955TG Rudder
7985MG Ailerons & Elevators
5625MG Throttle
or
JR:
8711A Rudder
8611A Ailerons & Elevators
8417 Throttle

When you start getting into the 100cc class then you change things a bit but the basics remain the same!
As far as the Hitec being a "sub-standard" servo to JR...never herd or experenced that either. With the exception of a few guys that like to talk about things they have NO experence with or about nor have ever tried, to actually base their opinions on! [8D]

RE: Plane recommendations for starting IMAC
 

I guess I'm confused. I definitely noticed and appreciate the difference between my Futaba standard 3004 and my newer JR DS821 digitals. This obviously is JR's bottom line digital servo. Can I assume I'll get similar quality out of the Hitec 56xx, and that this should be fine for where I'm at?

RE: Plane recommendations for starting IMAC
 

I use a Futaba 9 CAP Super all Synthized Radio and recievers but I really don't know anything about the futaba 3004 servo or any of the rest their other servos...I only use Hitec 59 or 79 series or the JR 86 or 87 series servos for all my applications with the exception of the Hitec 5625 for my throttles. [8D]

RE: Plane recommendations for starting IMAC
 

Ok, thanks for the help. I've got an offer to grab a couple of used JR 8411's for a good price. They're not new but I know he won't sell me junk.

RE: Plane recommendations for starting IMAC
 

Here's a pic of my new baby getting acclimatized to the northeast :D

Of course engine won't be decided until it's installed: YS 110 is wickedly appealing, KISS theory points to the 120AX. Only time will tell...

RE: Plane recommendations for starting IMAC
 

I got some gift money to Tower. What do you think of Hitec [link=http://www.hitecrcd.com/servos/show?name=HS-7975HB]7975[/link] for the stabs without using a programmer?

The other option is the 5965 which has metal gears but lower resolution (don't know what that means to me though).

Thanks