Most guys like to fly many different things. Others put all their eggs in one basket.

I just got into the 33% range this year. I have about 3000 in my edge. I don't worry about the money. If I did I would not fly it. Now, I'm not made of money, I have two little girls, a house,a car,and a truck. None are paid for. I saved what I could for a long time. Now I have the best aircraft for me. Yes, I still have my smaller planes, and I fly them all the time, and I have a blast

I say: To each his own.

Later, Scott

The dollar variance in this hobby could be compared to that of practically any other hobby.

RC:
$199 ARF
$140 radio
$75 worth of field equipment

other extreme- RC:
$12,000 Jet turbine
$1,100 radio
$500 field equip

Fishing:
$19 Walmart rod
$2 scoop shovel to dig worms in wife's flower bed
$0 walk to the nearest creek

other extreme- fishing:
$28,000 250 HP competition bass boat
$400 custom rod and real
$500 fish finder
$ ???? Tournament Fee

Golf:
$199 Wilson 7 piece clubs from K-Mart
$20 greens fees at local municipal course
$0 walk to course

other extreme golf
$12,000 Country club fees
$500/month assessments
$2000 custom golf clubs
$500 golf bag
$275 shoes
$60 greens fees
$40 GPS equipped cart rental


This hobby is no different than any other. The guy playing with the Walmart clubs can have just as much fun as the guy with the 40 size RC plane who has just as much fun as the guy playing at the country club who has just as much fun as the guy flying the 42% TOC plane.

The only two caveats I would have to add is that (This is my humble opinion) you should only fly what you can truly afford to fly (i.e. even if it crashes) and you should only spend AFTER you take care of all your family obligations. I'm sure many of us have seen too often where someone spends money on planes (or other hobbies for that matter) when the dollars should have been spent on other family matter. We had a guy at our field who went h#ll bent in planes/radio in a few months only to have to sell them to pay his rent.

Just my .02

..........Mark

Ok here is my opinion on the situation. I have several giant scale aircraft (H9 Extra w/ Brison 5.8 and 8 JR digital servos, H9 Su-31 with a ZDZ 80 Twin and 8 JR digital servos, MW Extra 300 with Moki and JR 4721's all the way around, Lanier Edge with YS 1.20 and JR 4721's all the way around, 1/4 Gee Bee with 3.7 twin and the list can go on for days) Each one of these cost in excess of $1,000 some even over $3,000 but I drive a $600 truck w/ no heat or air. Now, I could sell a couple planes and be driving a new truck but what is the fun in that. I love my planes and every extra penny I have goes to them. I know some people out there have families and the like but for now my crumb snatchers are my planes and I plan to keep it that way for the time being. We all have our priorities and for me my planes are them. I am sure that if I had a family to support my planes would be smaller and not cost as much but for now I am full bore in giant scale.


Chris Puckett
Puckett Model Aviation

Yes, it was a long time in creation, but it sure is much better. I have offered to write details that would make it more clear for we Americans, but I simply have not had the time.

I have not flown the Enigma but I will have the opportunity in about a week or two. I'll let you know.

Chad, keep practicing and competing...maybe JP will eventually have to add you to the sponsee list. 30th in the worlds is going places!!! It's to bad I don't qualify. Being the Belgian Champion in the National Class is not on your level. However, I'll be shooting for the top slot in Inter-B next year.

Mark

That would be ultra cool, now that I have some good planes I just need to fly the crap out of them!!

I don't think it's a question of "is it worth it". Obviously it is or we wouldn't be doing it. I think your friends mistake was more a matter of "putting all of his eggs in one basket". If I had $2500 to spend on my hobby, I would buy several radios, several engines, and several planes. I wouldn't go out and buy a $2500 airplane. But that's just me.

Well, I would like to add my last thought here regarding the value of the modern, quite expensive 2 meter wide bodied patternship. I could tell you that the cost is because of the exacting precision or the exotic materials that make it not only extremely light weight but incredibly strong too. And with those comments, you can use your eyes and hands and all your measuring devices and see that I am not exaggerating.

And then I can tell you that the result of all of that effort, precision and technology result in an airplane that is heads better than anything you may have flown before, and you will simply never understand the truth and meaning of those word until you pull one vertical and perform a perfect 8 point roll without even thinking about it. When you lay it onto knife-edge and coast by in level flight at 20mph and your eyes become as big as saucers, and then you pull and push on the elevator and the airplane simply changes track without any noticable coupling, then you will start to see what you payed for is something truly special. And when you can fly that airplane for one thousand flights and find the airframe as straight and as solid as during the first flight (I do recommend replacing your servo gears regularly because you WILL notice the play during flight; every 150-200 flights should do), then you may never again hesitate to spend that money again.

I write this only from memory of what happened to me when I first took my Majestic into the air. I could not close my mouth or stop exclaiming joy for the duration of the six flights that afternoon.

I wish everybody could experience that feeling.

Mark

It's not the plane you're paying for. No plane itself is worth what we pay. It's the enjoyment we pay for. I've got very cheap planes that, in retrospect, are worth quite a bit more. I just love'm. I've got one fairly expensive one that I think is worthless. Sell the sizzle, not the steak!

Yes you could buy a new car engine for the price of a DA 150 or any others for that matter.
The difference is, cars are produced in the millions with automation (I'm an ex-Robotics Tech for GM) where as the model engines are a drop in the bucket in comparison.
If DA would produce 100,000 150's a year, would see a dramatic price drop, like a few hundred dollars, but who would buy 100,000 DA 150's
Just a thought.

You count me in for 10 150's if they are only $200 bucks......

Pug

It's all relative. I bought my first full scale plane, a full IFR cessna 152 for 13,000. Flying that from inside was a heck of a lot more fun than models.

Personally, I believe that flying models has gotten to be more expensive than flying full scale. At least if your flying 35 and 40% models and turbine jets. The "hobby" has gotten way out of hand. I think we now in the midst of "Yuppie R/C". Everyone has to one up the other guy. Even if they can't fly for squat.

It's not what/how you fly anymore, it's how much you spent, and mines bigger.

Silversurfer

Hi Robert,

The answer to your question is YES. As the person you are referring to I did indeed deconstruct an Angels Shadow, however, contrary to what you may think this is not my only pattern model but my perferred model. I was greatly disappointed on the day but more dissapointed that I did not bring my backup to the competition. I will indeed finish out this years season.
These models as we are all aware come custom built and worth every cent. I could not afford the time to produce a pattern ship of comparible quality.
Also, the replacement Angels Shadow should be airborne shortly after the European F3A Championships.

Regards
Brian

The CD told me that it was your only model, bugger! Is your next Angels Shadow, one of the 'New' kind?

Technically he was correct, it was the only model with me that day. New Shadow is the mk3 version

If I could afford the thousand(s) dollar plane I would have one. right now I'm arguing over 200 bucks for a plane.

My wallet dictates what I buy. The thing to keep in mind is everyone has their hobbies. Seems here in Florida (maybe everywhere?) everyone has a boat. And no I'm not talking about $20k runabouts, I'm talking 30feet and on up to the boats with more room than my house. To these guys I would imaging a $10k TOC plane would be more affordable than the $500 I just spent. I've got a friend like this and though he doesn't fly planes, he has a race car (drag, 8-second 1/4 times), an offshore power boat, a workshop to drool over, the kind of cars you read about in magazines, etc. The sick thing is it's a drop in the bucket to him. There's nothing wrong with that and I'm just glad I get to get some enjoyment out of his toys If I could get him hooked on airplanes maybe I'd get to fly a 40% edge on the buddy box.

Although, the ONE thing I dont get is people WITHOUT the means buying these planes (and I would be one of those WITHOUT large means). I saw a post on here of someone talking about a 40% (maybe 35%, don't remember the exact scale) that he had crashed. Said something about a loan for it. Showed a picture of it too. You see, all that survived was the last half of the fuse, nothing else. He had it mounted to the outside of his single-wide mobile home. That I don't understand. Live in a old $5k trailer and fly a new $5k plane. I don't get it but hey, it's his life, let him live it.

check this out. Here is a picture I found on www. down on the deck .com

http://www.*************.com/images/..._540_-_Sal.jpg

The guy that has the above site bought this 40% Carden edge from a guy that apparently lives in a trailer park. I am not trying to bash trailer parks. But if you look behind the plane their is an older style C'vette setting there.

Apparently he 1st owner of the has a better planethan me, and a older vette. We all have differant prioritys. I would rather have a nicer house, than an 40%airplane. Also I really don't have to worry, about a radio hit, mid-air, etc, taking out my house.

I would never borrow money to buy anything of RC airplane. That is totally crazy.

Yes, I would love to have a big airplane, but I can't afford the airplane, the trailor to pull it in, build an extra garage to store the plane in. And since I only fly about 1 day a week. I don't see for me that its worth it.

But for somebody that has that much money to burn, go for it. I like seeing them fly.