Sure, but I get to pick the bar.Originally Posted by comfortably numb
Sure, but I get to pick the bar.
Can we go back to talking about flying model airplanes?
It seems that while myself and others find the topic interesting, it also has the distinct result in derailing very negative threads so that they are locked which returns us to civil discourse.
So, you guys said that you can get started for about $200. What does that really get you?
You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be misquoted and used against you.
Shut up!
We've got three threads locked on this forum---we're going for home plate!
"The number of threads by one poster in the OT is getting a little out of hand, IMHO. "
"In the land of freedom we are held hostage by the tyranny of political correctness...If we speak..we say it the wrong way; if we do not speak we are cowards…."
There's no crying in baseball!
**** YEAH!
For about $150 you can get a Park Zone Super Cub. It's super easy to fly, but you'll outgrow it really quick. It is, however, a cheap way to find out of you reall want to do it. You can have it out of the box and in the air in about 30 minutes.So, you guys said that you can get started for about $200. What does that really get you?
Better still for about $300 is the E Flite Apprentice. It is a nice 50" or so span plane that is easy to fly, and big enough to see easilly. It comes almost ready to fly with the rqadio installed, but it is a starter type of radio. It is still on the preferred 2.4 gig feequency, but it has no computer programming, mixing, expo, rate or any of the other bells and whistles you will probably want later. The whole idea is something that gets you in the air fast and teachesa you to fly with a minimum of hassle.
It comes with a radio, battery and charger so you don't spend another time. Everything you need is here. You will probably want to pick up a second battery though, just so you can be charging one while you are flying the other.
From there your next best step is into something like the Park Zone T28 Trojan. That will work with the Apprentic transmitter and it is a good basic aerobatic trainer. It's a sweet little plane that flies really gently. If you had a good instructor you could probably even learn how to fly on one of these.
"Is that my *** that I smell burning?" ... Helmet Stogie from "Death spasms of the Mabuchi"
15 minutes of battery life? How long does it take to recharge? I assume the standard answer to that is, "It depends".
After those two you sell everything and start over. Apprentices and T28s in good shape are in high demand because there are always lots of people loking to save a few bucks when they get started.
Then you get yourself a good computer radio like a Futaba 7C (my favorite) or a Spektrum DX8. You can get either of those for about $270 (which is reasonably priced) and they are both really good radios. You can spend more, but you don't need to unless you are going to compete fly super complex airplanes. With the computer radios, you can store (depending on the radio) fanywhere from 10 to 100 different model memories. This way you only need one radio and can fly as many planes as you want off of that.
The two planes I mentioned are made of styrofoam, which is wwhat you want in the beginning. You are going to knock the airplane around a lot and foam takes the abuse well. It also repairs easilly with fioam safe super glue or epoxy. You can crash/repair/fly over and over.
Wood is nowhere near as forgiving or as easilly repairable, but I dispise foam airplanes from a purist point of view. However, some foam planes are great for training or just screwing around. You will have to go all the way to the end and past the colsing credits to see it, but here is the world's first BUTT CATCH.
No, probably more like 8 or so on an Apprentice, but after three or four minutes you will be ready for a break, at least in the bgeginning.
I think about 30 minutes with the Apprentice's battery and charger. I've got a super bad ass Thunder Power TP820CD charger that will charge a 6 cell 3860 65C pack in about 18 minutes, and it will do a 2250 pack in eight minutes! Of course, I have the best batteries that can take being hammered that hard, but cheap batteries will burst into flames if you put that much current into them. That, and that charger is about $270, and I have a $100 110v to 12v power supply I use for it.How long does it take to recharge? I assume the standard answer to that is, "It depends".
You can get all kinds of chargers cheap online. It all depends on what you want.
Wouldn't crack be a cheaper hobby? Maybe not as fun, but dang, that stuff adds up. This is not child's play in the least.
Oh, go fly a kite.
It's a Hoosier thing, you wouldn't understand...
We have one in the basement.
No, we don't try to fly it there.
Some crack, obviously, is much better than others.
It doesn't have to be. Lots of guys are happy flying their T28s ($175) and don't care to take it any further.
If you think what I am doing is expensive, consider that it's very easy to put $30-40,000 into a jet turbine model.
Excluding radio and batteries, what I fly can be built for around $400. Of course, that's the bread and butter 48" span size. that's as big as you can go until the prices start to become less and less reasonable. I love the 48s because they are affordable, they fit in the car assembled, and they take up less space so I can have a lot of them.... right now that number is at 10, but we are coming out with the new Pantera Hybrid in September, so that number will grow by two. Gotta hava a backup if you are going to fly this hard.
Chicks dig a guy who can swing his Pantera.This is not child's play in the least.
$200 to $400 for something that challenges the mind, and gets you outside really isn't so bad a price of admission.
I know I'd never do the whole flying lesson thing for real, but there is that 'thing' down inside that just makes you jealous of birds and their ability to fly. The model planes feed that need. I think that is pretty cool.
Well, that's just the gateway.
I love airplanes but I really don't like actually flying in them. That's why the models are so great. I get to fly without leaving the ground.I know I'd never do the whole flying lesson thing for real, but there is that 'thing' down inside that just makes you jealous of birds and their ability to fly. The model planes feed that need. I think that is pretty cool.
Now THIS is a Pantera!
This is the Pantera prototype. After initial testing a few changes had to be made and the final prototype is in final pre-production testing. It's probably just a formality, but if there is anything that needs addressing it is better to do it now.
Sorry it's just a link, but the picture is huge.......
http://static.rcgroups.net/forums/at...work%20001.jpg
Doc....we have successfully stopped the bickering in this thread. Our work is done...for NOW! LOL!
Aloha Z Man,,,
I can answer that for you,,,
With Out Help,,, Those Two One Hundred Dollar Bills,
that you just spent,,, will end up,,, a pile of splintered
balsa wood and plastic pieces, in a smoking hole in the
ground,,, if you don't get help first...
Cash to Trash,,, But Usually In a Very Neat Pile,,,
With Help,,, You Won't Even Scratch the Paint,,,,
Ever hear of a guy by the name of Larry Ellison ???? This
guy walks into a local hobby shop to buy his boy a Christmas
present... It's a couple of days before Christmas, a few years
back... The clerk sells him a full set up, radio, batteries,
training airplane, flight box,,, et cetera,,, et cetera,,, et cetera...
($400.00 Bucks,, Maybe $500.00 Bucks,,, Cheaper Now )
The "Clerk" also tells Larry, that the "boy",,, will need help and
instruction, if he wants to learn to fly,,,, et cetera,,, et cetera,,, et cetera...
In one ear, out the other,,, this Larry's some kind of a
smart guy...
Two days after Christmas, Larry walks back into the hobby
shop, broken airplane, with teary eye'd boy in hand... The clerk,
also a Smart Kid, replaces, the broken wings, and replaces
various broken parts, and dry's the boy's tears... Then the "Clerk"
tells Larry, he will personally help the boy, and teach him to fly...
Larry ask's how much, the "Clerk", tell him, no charge... Free,
that's the way it's done in the R/C world... The "Clerk" at this
point in time doesn't know Larry, from a stick of wood... But,
Larry had spent the money in good faith, at a local hobby shop,
and this "clerk" and the shop owner wanted happy customers...
SMART MOVE,,,
It was no big deal, as it was a kit airplane, just like da Doc is
talking about... Durable, and the parts are easily replaced...
I think this "Larry" guy, just thought it was going to be easy,
as do a lot of people... It's easy to turn a lot of cash to trash,
on that first flight... It's a toy airplane, how hard can it be ???
Larry flew, even own'd his own airplane,,, or two...
Remember the original movie, Flight of the Phoenix,
not the remake, but the original ???
Now Time for the Punch Line,
The "Clerk" kept his word, and taught the boy to
fly, and he also taught this arrogant Larry
fellow to fly R/C...
This Larry fellow,,, did return the favor,,, in spade's...
This "Clerk" already had his private licence, was
working on his Commercial Ticket, going to
school, and working at the Hobby Shop, part time...
But he kept his word and helped Larry and the Boy...
Later, this Larry guy helps the the "Clerk" with
his ongoing instruction, in full sized airplanes...
Also helps the "Clerk", get his Instrument Rating...
As the "Clerk" needed an Instrument Rating to get
insurance, just to fly some of Larry's airplanes...
The Clerk went on to fly all of Larry's airplanes, all 5
of them... A G-4,,, a G-5,, Lear 31,, Falcon 50, and a
Hawker 800... Larry also paid and sent the "Clerk" off
to get "Type Ratings" in all 5 airplanes... Then the "Clerk"
became a Pilot for Oracle... That's Larry "Oracle" Ellison,
that Mike, the "Clerk",,, helped...
At least $250,000.00 dollars, maybe as much as a half
a million dollars in today's money...
So Be Nice Z Man,,,
I am not sure who this Doc Fellow is either,
but he is good, could be the Sean D Tucker of R/C...
He's Good,,, That much I know,,,
Big
Last edited by BigWheelHawaii; 07-11-2012 at 07:35 PM.
Yes,,, Yes,,, Tony,,,
Your Grandfather was a friend of Roger Penske,,,
Your Grandfather did business with Roger Penske,,, but
Your Grandfather never trusted Roger Penske,,,
Aloha, and thanks for the kind words, BigWheel!
"being too sensitive to an issue" definitely means your grasp of that issue isn't rational.
...aaaaaaaand we're back
"The series may be hesitant to say it, but the day is here for everybody that loves IndyCar racing to link arms and help each other out. Anybody who doesn’t want to do that needs to find something else to do with their time.”
-- Eddie Gossage, President, Texas Motor Speedway, ICONIC Advisory Committee & TrackForum member
How is the term "manly girl" viewed among the community?
Just saw this thread a few minutes ago. My advice would be to get some thicker skin, grow a set, and shut up.
Apparently girly men fly airplanes. Who knew? Makes sense though....aaaaaaaand we're back
Make that "some girly men" and "some airplanes." I hate it when I accidently stereotype.
Not that there's anything wrong with that.
43 -- Joe Gosek -- ALTA Team Scandia -- Lola/Ford
Oh, one of those, eh??
Aloha BigWheel...Great story. Hadn't heard it before, but as soon as you mentioned Larry's name at the beginning, I figured it was headed someplace cool.
To be clear, I'm being nice to Doc. I really think the whole RC plane thing is pretty darn cool. Always have. My hobbies have always pulled me in other directions, but I've always had a respect for the RC planes. Heck, I'm impressed by the RC sailboats. You ever see those miniature working motors that people build? Seriously cool stuff.
You are not going to find me knocking someone's hobby choice. OK, there are few that are kind of weird for an adult. But anything mechanical, thought intensive or physical is all good with me.
Leave it to a writer to spot "one of those" guys who can't spell. "Accidently" indeed.
You stereotypers are all alike...
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