I dont suppose anyone knows anything about...

EineBeBoP

EineBeBoP

Well-Known Member
RC Airplanes? :D

I'm thinking of getting a small plane I can go to the park and fly when I cant go up for real.

Any suggestions? Anything I should know?

I'm thinking about springing for this plane:
http://www.redrockethobbies.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=HBZ7000&Click=6136
Ive got about $200 I'm willing to spend on this.


Thanks for any advice!

(I hope general is the right place for this, I figured it was still related to aviation, but feel free to boot it to the Lav if necessary)
 
This might sound stupid to you, but whatever you do make sure you get an instructor for the thing! R/C planes are dangerous little things, and you can really get somebody hurt if you just trying to launch into the wild blue yonder with no training on how to operate the thing.
 
Before you do that, get one of these...

Picoo Z.

We had a long thread about these little guys a while ago. This way, you don't have to go the park and get...y'know...sunshine on you or anything. Ewwww.

You can fly right in the living room.

I have three. They are the R/C equivalent of a giant bowl of crack...
 
killbilly said:
Before you do that, get one of these...

Picoo Z.

We had a long thread about these little guys a while ago. This way, you don't have to go the park and get...y'know...sunshine on you or anything. Ewwww.

You can fly right in the living room.

I have three. They are the R/C equivalent of a giant bowl of crack...
Click to expand...

COOL!! :rawk:I've never seen those before, and for $50 how can you go wrong?!?!

I was going to suggest this, but then I saw how much the asking price was:
http://www.plantraco.com/hobbies/product_butterfly.html


But in all seriousness, if you're looknig for a real outdoor r/c model, I have to ask you a question Einebebop:
Are you mechanically inclined? (would you enjoy building a plane from a beginner's kit?)
If so, then I would probably suggest looking at a kit called the "slow stick", google it. It is a very affordable and great trainer plane but takes a little effort to put the plane together. Be aware that the kit does not include a radio, servos, battery pack & charger - you'll have to buy these things separately and may have to ask your local hobby shop associate for help.

If not, consider looking at plane kits that include in the title "RTF," meaning...yes, you guessed it..."ready to fly"....meaning everything in that kit has what you need in it with very little assembly required. However, these are often more expensive kits for obvious reasons. Although I'm not familiar with the kit you're looking at, I might take a visit to the local hobby shop if I were you and ask them their recommendations. Then, go back home and search for a few beginner RTF models you saw at your hobby shop on google - I find that 90% of the time the hobby shop is more expensive than any online retailer, even after shipping.

My response may be more than what you're asking, but I hope it helps. If you have more questions let me know.
 
I had a gas powered R/C Truck....got it as a gift. The truck was about $450 and after buying all of the other little things like Gas I spent about 300 before it actually hit the road....then kept spending. This breaks, that breaks, and the parts dont last very long. I eventually got rid of it because the cost to operate I could be driving and ruining a full size truck!

If you make the initial investment in a true plane realize it will cost at least twice as much to operate in a given year.
 
aeronaut said:
...Be aware that the kit does not include a radio, servos, battery pack & charger - you'll have to buy these things separately and may have to ask your local hobby shop associate for help.

...I might take a visit to the local hobby shop if I were you and ask them their recommendations. Then, go back home and search for a few beginner RTF models you saw at your hobby shop on google - I find that 90% of the time the hobby shop is more expensive than any online retailer, even after shipping.
Click to expand...

Good advice, but I would add that if you can afford the couple of dollars more, buy it from your local hobby shop. He's the one that you're getting assistance from, so it'd be nice to support the guy so he stays in business and can help you, and others, in the future.

:)
 
S.T.Aviator said:
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=4179936

Check this out Dude. $133.56 Boeing 747 Air Force One with four electric ducted fan engines. Looks sweet.
Click to expand...

:o cool, and could probably do that within my price range, but I think that might be a little outa my skill range so far :p

killbilly said:
Before you do that, get one of these...

Picoo Z.
Click to expand...

Hah, im going to order one of these on the side just for fun. Looks cool :D

aeronaut said:
Are you mechanically inclined? (would you enjoy building a plane from a beginner's kit?)
If so, then I would probably suggest looking at a kit called the "slow stick", google it. It is a very affordable and great trainer plane but takes a little effort to put the plane together. Be aware that the kit does not include a radio, servos, battery pack & charger - you'll have to buy these things separately and may have to ask your local hobby shop associate for help.

If not, consider looking at plane kits that include in the title "RTF," meaning...yes, you guessed it..."ready to fly"....meaning everything in that kit has what you need in it with very little assembly required. However, these are often more expensive kits for obvious reasons. Although I'm not familiar with the kit you're looking at, I might take a visit to the local hobby shop if I were you and ask them their recommendations. Then, go back home and search for a few beginner RTF models you saw at your hobby shop on google - I find that 90% of the time the hobby shop is more expensive than any online retailer, even after shipping.

My response may be more than what you're asking, but I hope it helps. If you have more questions let me know.
Click to expand...

I actually am pretty mechanically inclined, but was thinking id get a basic kit to start off with, and if I really got into the hobby, build my next one.

I plan on running to my local hobby shop tomorrow, but wanted to see what people here thought first.


Would an RTF model come with the controller too? (Radio its called, right?) Or do I need to leave room in the budget to buy one of those, too?
 
jtrain609 said:
This might sound stupid to you, but whatever you do make sure you get an instructor for the thing! R/C planes are dangerous little things, and you can really get somebody hurt if you just trying to launch into the wild blue yonder with no training on how to operate the thing.
Click to expand...

:yeahthat: Still have scars on my knuckles to prove this. :( My dad got me one for xmas when I was 11. We took it to the battlefields in Manassas and had no clue how to work it. Here you have a 767 captain with a remote control plane crashing it into his son. I saw it coming at me and put my hands up to stop it from hitting my face and grnngggggg ... Controlled flight into terrain. Those were my first stitches. :)
 
EineBeBoP said:
RC Airplanes? :D

I'm thinking of getting a small plane I can go to the park and fly when I cant go up for real.

Any suggestions? Anything I should know?

I'm thinking about springing for this plane:
Hobby Zone Firebird Freedom RTF R/C Airplane
Ive got about $200 I'm willing to spend on this.


Thanks for any advice!

(I hope general is the right place for this, I figured it was still related to aviation, but feel free to boot it to the Lav if necessary)
Click to expand...

If your really serious about rc flying and learning how to fly, don't get that little thing in your link. Here is an excellent trainer, and it comes with almost everything you need...
Hangar 9 Alpha Trainer 40 RTF R/C Airplane

You'll need some additional field equipment that the instructions will break down for you.
This is the plane I learned on. I had it for about six months before it crashed (wasn't my fault!!!!!). You definatly will need flight instruction, regardless of what you get. These planes are definatly an investment that you need to take care of.
Find yourself a local hobby store, get to know some people. Just like our Flying community, people in the RC community are always willing to help.

PM me if you have any questions.
 
SRA_kbad said:
If your really serious about rc flying and learning how to fly, don't get that little thing in your link. Here is an excellent trainer, and it comes with almost everything you need...
Hangar 9 Alpha Trainer 40 RTF R/C Airplane

PM me if you have any questions.
Click to expand...


Id rather be certain that I really get into RC planes before spending $500 on one. I was hoping that starting off small would let me see if I was really into it before spending a ton on it.

..that plus all my money right now is going towards my flight training, and all the money from this will be birthday money :p
 
Believe you me, get an instructor if you want to save yourself some embarrassment!

I think I went through at least four wing kits when I thought, "Oh hell, I fly a mad dog, how hard can an Aspire EP be?"
 
EineBeBoP said:
Id rather be certain that I really get into RC planes before spending $500 on one. I was hoping that starting off small would let me see if I was really into it before spending a ton on it.

..that plus all my money right now is going towards my flight training, and all the money from this will be birthday money :p
Click to expand...


I hear ya. The world of RC is definatly not cheap. My newest plane, as seen in the attatchment, has about 800-900 bucks worth of crap on/in it. If you're anything like I was, the planes will just keep getting bigger and bigger. Just have fun with it, AND GET HELP!!!!! DON'T ATTEMPT TO FLY IT YOURSELF!!!! Like I said earlier, find a local hobby shop and get direction. Protect your investment. It sucks crashing a plane. Even if its only worth a 100 bucks. It hurts. I've seen some guy's almost in tears because they just lost there 3,000 dollar airplane. A little help never hurts anyone.

Here are some good websites...
RC Universe features rc cars, rc airplanes, rc helicopters, rc electric planes, rc boats, radio control jets, rc discussion forums, rc classifieds and auctions., The Flying Giants! : The Online Source For RC Modeling!, and Tower Hobbies - Radio Control ( R/C or RC ) Cars, Trucks, Airplanes, Boats and Helicopters.

The first two have a bunch of experienced folks on there, a lot like this site :D
 
EineBeBoP said:
Would an RTF model come with the controller too? (Radio its called, right?) Or do I need to leave room in the budget to buy one of those, too?
Click to expand...

Normally, yes. Just be sure to read the contents of the box carefully and double check it truly does have everything you need. You shouldn't pay anything more than $100 - $200 at most for a beginner RTF kit.

Don't worry about crashing - everyone does it a million times on their first model, and most of the times your model will only need a quick fix (ie., new prop, new rubber band, straightening of frame, gorilla glue, etc).

Speaking of gorilla glue, if the model you decide on is stirofoam, I would definately invest in a small tube of this stuff - a little goes a long way. This stuff has saved my model MANY times!
 
I used to be real into them when i was younger then got out and then about a year ago got into rc helicopters which are way freakin expensive. One crash cost me 350 bucks and I think I had almost 2g's into the thing before it got off the ground...so i've decided to kinda get outta that for now as well.

I've got a bunch of stuff I'm probably gonna sell pretty soon if youre really interested.
 
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