Model Forum / Radio Controlled / Air Models / May 2004

Hi Jack,
 I've been learning on a GWS Slowstick for about two months now and I
am making a fair bit of progress. The stock Slowstick is a 3 channel
(rudder, elevators, throttle) parkflyer ARF (Almost Ready  to Fly).
The base kit comes with the model and electric engine and you need to
add servos/receiver/battery/speed controller/transmitter.
 I've tried flying it in low wind conditions and it flies
beautifully. Very stable and very forgiving. You just need a big park
and low/no wind. There is not much that can break in there (except the
props, i ran through 5 of them before I rigged up a decent prop saver

slowstick:
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=122951
Happy Researching!!
-sharad

On 5/27/2004 10:44 AM Ted shuffled out of his cave and grunted these
great (and sometimes not so great) words of knowledge:

I suggest going and talking to a LHS (Local Hobby Shop).  DO NOT BUY
ANYTHING AT THIS TIME.  What you need to find out is if there are any
clubs in your area.

Then talk to someone at the club and find out where there flying field
is and go visit.  You will find that the majority of RCers are quite
open and talkative.  If there is an instructor available, definitely
talk to him.  See what the instructor suggests for a radio, plane, etc.
 MAKE SURE YOU TELL HIM ABOUT THE PARK YOU WOULD LIKE TO FLY IN.  An
electric plane will most likely be suggested to you, as well as popular
brands of radios in your area.  They can also advise you on which
"package deals" are good and which to avoid.  Remember, you rarely can
make substitutions in a package deal.

Now this is the difficult part - choosing how you want to learn.

Clubs provide instructors at no charge, however, they USUALLY require
joining the club AND the AMA.  Learning with an instructor is the best
way to go.

You can teach yourself to fly.  Many people have done it.  What you need
to be aware of is:  Teaching yourself to fly has a steep learning curve.
 It is normally very frustrating (not to mention expensive) and the
first flight of someone teaching them self to fly is USUALLY less than
30 seconds and frequently results in damage to the plane and/or
equipment on the plane.

IMHO, learning with an instructor is the best way to go.  The instructor
will make sure your plane is OK to fly (balance is correct, servos
working, etc).  The instructor will also "trim" the plane out in the air
 so it flies properly.  The instructor will then make sure you do not
learn any bad/unsafe habits, and finally, the instructor can frequently
keep you from damaging your plane while you are learning.

Once you have spoken to an instructor and received their
recommendations, THEN go and purchase your equipment.

As for your questions.

I learned on a glo plane.  They are 4 channel planes and do fly faster
than electric trainers.  They also require a larger area to fly in.

The MAJORITY of electric trainers are 3 channel.  The MAJORITY of
electric trainers are frequently "park flyer" size (wingspan under 30"),
fly substantially slower than glo planes and are extremely light.  Due
to their light weight, MOST of them have difficulty with wind 5 mph and
higher.  The more advanced electric planes are 4 channel, while the more
advanced glo planes often are using 5, 6, or more channels.

If you are going to stay with electric planes a 4 or 5 channel radio
will do you for quite a few years.  If you are going to fly glo planes,
I suggest a 6 channel (or more) radio so you do not "out grow it" in a
season or two.  In either case, I strongly suggest a COMPUTER radio.
Many of the functions you will not use while learning, but once you
learn to fly and move on to another plane, you will appreciate the
additional functions/abilities of a computer radio.

IF there are no clubs in your area AND/OR you decide to teach yourself
to fly, a Slow Stick is a pretty good trainer.  They are slow,
reasonably stable and normally easy to repair when you crash (not if, WHEN).

Beginner Parkflyers
http://beginnerparkflyers.nexuswebs.net/index.html

Then you haven't looked at a slow stick. The one plane that pretty much
flys itself, and so slow that you have plenty of time to work out which
way to wiggle the sticks.

Would it be easier to

No. slowstick. Its an ugly plastic sheet with a stick fuselage that you
will grow to love as you epoxy the shattered bits back together. Don't
fly in any sort of wind, but anyone with any hand eye co-ordination will
pick up the basics in a few weeks without tuution. Eventually you will
get bored with it and find somethong ore interesting to crash, but as a
basic trainer to teach you how to take off and land and fly circuits,
its the bees knees.

Get LIPO if you can, because short flights are a pain.

I learned on an AeroBird Challenger, which is an electric Ready To Fly kit
(meaning put wing on fuselage, charge batteries, and that's it) with 3-Ch
control (rudder/aileron on V-tail, elevator, throttle).  It's a tough bird, and
easy enough to repair; the replacement parts are readily available, and for
$150.00 you have everything you need to fly.  You'll probably want an extra wing
though :)

I learned the basics of turning and landing before thaking the AeroBird out,
using FMS, which is free and only requires a cheap-o $20.00 joystick (with dual
analog sticks) to operate on your PC.

This is the approach I've been recommending to my friends who are interested in
flying after they see me do it.  I've since branched out into more advanced
models but it's a good place to start, and more forgiving than some methods.

James

   The wise choice would be to buy the 4 ch. But I see you would like
to try it solo......so a 2 ch. RTF would be a good choice. Save your
money up and buy a 4 ch or more (its up to you ) and a 3 ch. plane
later. The transtion from 2 to 3 will be easier and thus flatten this
"so called steep learning curve"

   I would not say big wings are forgiving.......alot more CA and
balsa you might use in repairing them when you crash     :-)
   I have a plane with a 28" span thats very stable and cruises nice
at 60% throttle....but turn the "heat" up and its a little speed
demon.
  My fav is a GWS Slow Stick.....flies very nice and is midly
aerobatic.
As far as sailplanes???.....cant comment on them; never flew them but
ask Doug McLaren I think he flies them.

   Please let me know what your thinking of getting. Feel free to
e-mail

                 Mike

I also heartily recommend the Slowstick.
http://www.gws.com.tw/english/product/airfly/slow%20stick.htm
Sign up for RCgroups.com forum (free) and read the countless pages as to why...
Im in this now 6 months and loving it. The SS was my first. i self taught with the aid of
this NG and the RCG forum.
Assuming your interested:
The ideal setup is the SS with the "300" motor, a half dozen replacement propellers (they
break easy!) a radio that suits your future plans - a cheapo hitec neon 3 channel is fine
if you dont think you'll be moving on to bigger & better models. I have a futaba 4YF and
its fine, but i have 4 planes now, and wish i had a radio that stores settings, like this
one: http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXCZR6**&P=ML Oh well, christmas is
coming....

Almost everyone will package-deal the SS with a GWS 4ch radio. Thats fine too - works
great, but no bells & whistles though but cant beat the price.
You want (2) GWS mini servos, not pico or naro - they are too small.
The ICS 300 speed controller is the way to go. Cheap & effective.
You DONT want a GWS battery, they are typically poor performering and short-lived. The
BEST slowstick battery is the 7cell KAN 1050 from www.cheapbatterypacks.com. I own nine
packs now. $17 each
As for chargers, You NEED a true Peak Detecting charger. Its circuitry actually senses
when the battery is charged and shuts off. Anything else is garbage. I own a MRC
superbrain 959, but im not satisfied with it, others may have better recommendations. This
one looks like a nice cheap solution:
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXCJE2&P=7

All totalled, you can usually get airborne for $200-250usdollars, more if you get several
batteries (recommended) and investment-quality radio gear.

This planes top speed is like 13-15mph flying level. It can slow down to almost a walking
pace. Its beauty though is its extreme maneuverability. If you can get a friend to buy one
too, tie some crepe paper streamers on the tail and dogfight - thats incredible fun.
click on the 'combat' video link here: http://www.ripnburn.rchomepage.com/

I have helped several others with technical details for this plane, feel free to ask if
your interested.
Mike