Getting back into RC aircraft
Discussion
tim0409 said:
Great to see progress on the fun fighter. I mentioned earlier in the thread that my dad built one for me, and your pictures remind me of painting it on my bedroom floor on a makeshift building board. That was around 35 years ago! From memory my dad had bought an OS25 FP to go with it.
Hi Tim, glad you are enjoying the progress, working on this brings back a lot of memories for myself.Opening up a tin of Humbrol certainly brings on a whiff of nostalgia. I remember when I was originally painting it. It was June 1995 and I was watching the Canadian GP on tv, Jean Alesi went on to win his one and only F1 victory in the Gorgeous Ferrari 412 T2.
I had to put my paint brush down!
This is my dear late father with the Spitfire when I’d finished it.
Right, back to work!
The first model I ever flew successfully myself was a Kyosho Petit Ballad, which was a very simple foam electric model circa 1988. I still remember heading down to the village football pitch after charging up the battery, hand launching it and doing a couple of circuits of the pitch. I absolutely treasured that model! I saw one of its stablemates on ebay a couple of days ago and won it tonight for £44. Purely for nostalgia - I can’t wait to build and fly it.
tim0409 said:
The first model I ever flew successfully myself was a Kyosho Petit Ballad, which was a very simple foam electric model circa 1988. I still remember heading down to the village football pitch after charging up the battery, hand launching it and doing a couple of circuits of the pitch. I absolutely treasured that model! I saw one of its stablemates on ebay a couple of days ago and won it tonight for £44. Purely for nostalgia - I can’t wait to build and fly it.
Morning Tim, nice one!It always amazes me how folk squirrel these kits away for years on end without ever opening any of it.
I just couldn’t / wouldn’t be able to resist the temptation to make a start. I’ve viewed all sorts of Tamiya (RC) kits over the years which have been purchased and never touched.
Just a little word of warning. I had absolutely zero intention of getting back into this hobby 4 years ago during Covid. I just thought I’d buy a model and put it on a shelf and get round to it one day.
Now I’ve got 5 aircraft and a bedroom converted to my ‘Model Room’..
My only limiting factor is time, if I had more of - I’d soon be buying more!
Jim H said:
Morning Tim, nice one!
It always amazes me how folk squirrel these kits away for years on end without ever opening any of it.
I just couldn’t / wouldn’t be able to resist the temptation to make a start. I’ve viewed all sorts of Tamiya (RC) kits over the years which have been purchased and never touched.
It’s crazy; my first RC car was a Tamiya Falcon (I lied to my parents that the kit was everything I needed as the Futaba radio was way beyond their budget for a Christmas present…I ended up buying a second hand set not long after I had built it); I have seen a few untouched kits for sale but they sell for a fortune. I would love one and the best I can hope for is that Tamiya re-release it.It always amazes me how folk squirrel these kits away for years on end without ever opening any of it.
I just couldn’t / wouldn’t be able to resist the temptation to make a start. I’ve viewed all sorts of Tamiya (RC) kits over the years which have been purchased and never touched.
That said, I’m building up a small collection of car kits, which I really wanted when I was young. I have an Tamiya Egress and Buggy Champ, a re-released Team Associated RC10 (I had a second hand one back in the day), and I’ve just ordered a Kyosho Optima Mid. I have them sitting in my office and it’s difficult to explain but I love looking at the kits! I will build them at some point but probably only to look at (also known as a “shelf queen”). I really need to get on and build a proper radio controlled aircraft though!
I check ebay for vintage kits most days and there is always something that takes me back to working in the model shop. There was a kit called a Cambria Navion, which is a bit left field (I think we only ever ordered and sold one kit) but I always wanted to buy it. I never did and one appeared last year on ebay but it sold for more than I was prepared to pay. I have ordered the plans for it and will get round to it someday.
Edited by tim0409 on Friday 12th July 19:40
Morning Tim,
First RC car memories made me laugh.
First was a Tamiya Audi Quattro.
There was absolutely no way dad was going to buy me one no matter how much I nagged. He worked out a scheme where if I washed and polished cars, washed dishes and other chores for about £1.50 a time - I’d eventually get to the total price of about £160 total package in about 1983.
So with that carrot dangled, it took me about 6 months!
Mums Sandpiper Mk 1 Fiesta and Dads Opel Rekord were spotless
The second was a Tamiya BIGWIG.
At the time of purchase I had a paper round, but still needed a little help from dad. He used to have a sum total of what I owed him written on the back of a brown envelope.It actually had a title: ‘Jim Owes’. I used to have to attend a weekly meeting and pay some off which dad proudly subtracted.
Me and brother still laugh about it now.
First RC car memories made me laugh.
First was a Tamiya Audi Quattro.
There was absolutely no way dad was going to buy me one no matter how much I nagged. He worked out a scheme where if I washed and polished cars, washed dishes and other chores for about £1.50 a time - I’d eventually get to the total price of about £160 total package in about 1983.
So with that carrot dangled, it took me about 6 months!
Mums Sandpiper Mk 1 Fiesta and Dads Opel Rekord were spotless
The second was a Tamiya BIGWIG.
At the time of purchase I had a paper round, but still needed a little help from dad. He used to have a sum total of what I owed him written on the back of a brown envelope.It actually had a title: ‘Jim Owes’. I used to have to attend a weekly meeting and pay some off which dad proudly subtracted.
Me and brother still laugh about it now.
Hello Folks.
So the Spitfire is nearly there, I’m going to have a go at firing up the Merlin (cough OS) this afternoon. It’s brand new and obviously very tight.
New Invasion Stripes on the wings.
The finish is a bit of a hotch-potch all over, ideally I like my models looking really nice, but I want to get this in the air asap.
This model is going to flown very rarely, It may not fly very much at all! Low wing, no landing gear, it always calls for a very precise landing. I may repaint it all over the winter and enjoy doing so.
Right, I’m going to drag myself away from the Goodwood FOS YouTube live feed and make a start!
Oh! The Acro Wot is back together again.
So the Spitfire is nearly there, I’m going to have a go at firing up the Merlin (cough OS) this afternoon. It’s brand new and obviously very tight.
New Invasion Stripes on the wings.
The finish is a bit of a hotch-potch all over, ideally I like my models looking really nice, but I want to get this in the air asap.
This model is going to flown very rarely, It may not fly very much at all! Low wing, no landing gear, it always calls for a very precise landing. I may repaint it all over the winter and enjoy doing so.
Right, I’m going to drag myself away from the Goodwood FOS YouTube live feed and make a start!
Oh! The Acro Wot is back together again.
Jim H said:
OS engines are the Rolls Royce in the RC world. Just beautiful brilliant examples of engineering - they just work.
I would definitely agree with that. When I worked in a model shop when I was young, OS were always the premium engine that didn’t give us many issues; at the time we sold quite a lot of the FP series (the OS FP 40 was the engine we sold with most trainers including the DB Mascot), and Surpass four strokes (mainly the 40/48/70 and some 120). Saito four strokes were pretty good as well, and had a lovely “lumpy” FS sound. Super Tigre, Irvine and Enya were some of the other brans we stocked. I remember when the cheaper engines came out like MDS (Mine Doesn’t Start was our nickname for them), and whilst I’m sure they improved over time, their first attempt was sub par.Hello folks,
I had an absolutely fantastic night on Tuesday. The wind was blowing North westerly off the ridge I fly.
Absolutely perfect for my big Slope-Soarer.
A big discipline change from going from a powered model - you’ve just got to be so gentle on the controls to maintain lift.
I was up for over an hour, absolutely brilliant.
I don’t think there is anything more graceful than a big glider - big rudder . Big dihedral, Big wings
Of course I made a right dogs dinner getting it down.
It wasn’t a landing, it was a crash, out of site.
Just a bit of a muddy nose
Thankfully - and relief!
The Acro Wot flew too but has developed a big fuel leak , probably a pin prick in the fuel supply.
Fixing them both now.
Hopefully get the Spitfire up next week.
I had an absolutely fantastic night on Tuesday. The wind was blowing North westerly off the ridge I fly.
Absolutely perfect for my big Slope-Soarer.
A big discipline change from going from a powered model - you’ve just got to be so gentle on the controls to maintain lift.
I was up for over an hour, absolutely brilliant.
I don’t think there is anything more graceful than a big glider - big rudder . Big dihedral, Big wings
Of course I made a right dogs dinner getting it down.
It wasn’t a landing, it was a crash, out of site.
Just a bit of a muddy nose
Thankfully - and relief!
The Acro Wot flew too but has developed a big fuel leak , probably a pin prick in the fuel supply.
Fixing them both now.
Hopefully get the Spitfire up next week.
Look forward to hearing about the Spitfire. I think I can see a Futaba TX sneaking into the corner of the picture…I bought this last week to use with my vintage foam model, and then the “proper” model I am building afterwards..
I need to get some rechargeable battery backs (TX and RX) and a charger; any recommendations? I also need to buy a couple of cheap mini servos…I take they are now pretty much interchangeable in terms of brands (I seem to remember shaving the edge of Futaba plugs back in the day and swapping the red/back leads for JR)?
Cheers!
I need to get some rechargeable battery backs (TX and RX) and a charger; any recommendations? I also need to buy a couple of cheap mini servos…I take they are now pretty much interchangeable in terms of brands (I seem to remember shaving the edge of Futaba plugs back in the day and swapping the red/back leads for JR)?
Cheers!
Evening Tim.
Well, it happened tonight. The Spitfire. I’ve had an absolutely appalling week with my daily driver road car ( in another thread)
My mind was definitely not focused towards flying model aircraft this evening, but my mate was insistent ( and I need him to chuck the Spit)
I’d decided if it was bad news from the dealer fixing my car, I could only handle the Electric plane tonight, my nerves have been shot all week. Defo not the Acro.
However it was not too bad news about my car. So I packed the Ruckus and Spitfire in my hire car.
Had a quick flight with the Ruckus, then it was a realisation I’d brought it along.
Checked and double checked between me and my mate as ‘second eyes and conformation’ .
Range check to verify radio signal.
Ailerons going the right way? Right we are all happy. Got the OS going second flick and we are off, heart racing.
It absolutely shot up straight and true, and then it all went wrong big time in a very short space of time. I had plenty of height, but it had ridiculous up- pitch, and the engine at full throttle was way over the top and with the way it was pitching up. But the ailerons, my god did I have too much movement. You gotta remember the last time I flew this was 30 years ago, I don’t have the OEM spec for throws. I guessed it. I always like more movement in flight controls just in case , but this was excessive.
It was totally out of control and I couldn’t really tell which way it was going, what side up it was and more importantly where was it going to crash!
I managed to have a bit of a word with myself in a moment of panic and say: ‘ Jim, don’t f
k this up’.
I cut the throttle way back and realised I was just over controlling it, remember you’ve got plenty of height. The elevator pitch was way out, but the ailerons were another level. I was moving the sticks the tiniest movements.
I forgot to set my timer on my TX an the engine cut, great I thought: ‘ dead stick’ on a model I’ve not flown in nearly 30 years .
All of those checks? Totally forgot to check the CofG.
It was was perfect, the flair was just as you want it. Perfect.
Yeah it was an interesting flight, I’m glad it’s all over - till the next time …
Well, it happened tonight. The Spitfire. I’ve had an absolutely appalling week with my daily driver road car ( in another thread)
My mind was definitely not focused towards flying model aircraft this evening, but my mate was insistent ( and I need him to chuck the Spit)
I’d decided if it was bad news from the dealer fixing my car, I could only handle the Electric plane tonight, my nerves have been shot all week. Defo not the Acro.
However it was not too bad news about my car. So I packed the Ruckus and Spitfire in my hire car.
Had a quick flight with the Ruckus, then it was a realisation I’d brought it along.
Checked and double checked between me and my mate as ‘second eyes and conformation’ .
Range check to verify radio signal.
Ailerons going the right way? Right we are all happy. Got the OS going second flick and we are off, heart racing.
It absolutely shot up straight and true, and then it all went wrong big time in a very short space of time. I had plenty of height, but it had ridiculous up- pitch, and the engine at full throttle was way over the top and with the way it was pitching up. But the ailerons, my god did I have too much movement. You gotta remember the last time I flew this was 30 years ago, I don’t have the OEM spec for throws. I guessed it. I always like more movement in flight controls just in case , but this was excessive.
It was totally out of control and I couldn’t really tell which way it was going, what side up it was and more importantly where was it going to crash!
I managed to have a bit of a word with myself in a moment of panic and say: ‘ Jim, don’t f
k this up’.I cut the throttle way back and realised I was just over controlling it, remember you’ve got plenty of height. The elevator pitch was way out, but the ailerons were another level. I was moving the sticks the tiniest movements.
I forgot to set my timer on my TX an the engine cut, great I thought: ‘ dead stick’ on a model I’ve not flown in nearly 30 years .
All of those checks? Totally forgot to check the CofG.
It was was perfect, the flair was just as you want it. Perfect.
Yeah it was an interesting flight, I’m glad it’s all over - till the next time …
tim0409 said:
Look forward to hearing about the Spitfire. I think I can see a Futaba TX sneaking into the corner of the picture…I bought this last week to use with my vintage foam model, and then the “proper” model I am building afterwards..
I need to get some rechargeable battery backs (TX and RX) and a charger; any recommendations? I also need to buy a couple of cheap mini servos…I take they are now pretty much interchangeable in terms of brands (I seem to remember shaving the edge of Futaba plugs back in the day and swapping the red/back leads for JR)?
Cheers!
Morning Tim,I need to get some rechargeable battery backs (TX and RX) and a charger; any recommendations? I also need to buy a couple of cheap mini servos…I take they are now pretty much interchangeable in terms of brands (I seem to remember shaving the edge of Futaba plugs back in the day and swapping the red/back leads for JR)?
Cheers!
I apologise I didn’t reply to this question last night, in all honesty after a fraught filled week (and a fantastic bottle of red) afterwards!.
Yep that’s the same RX / TX I’m using and recommend, took a bit to get my head around programming to specific models initially, however once you’ve done it a few times - it becomes second nature.
Cheap servos? What’s that old adage, pay cheap buy twice. I’m pretty much ALL Futaba kit now. I’ve got some very tiny mini servos in the wings of my Mirus for the ailerons and they have worked well so far. However I purchased other servos from the same company and the elevator servo failed ( Mirus) on about its 10th flight and went nose in. Fortunately I realised what had happened straight away, I wasn’t too high and cut the throttle, the ground was very wet and damage minimal.
Loads of stuff out there, but be careful. Any sort of Radio-tech failure you don’t want floating around in your mind when flying these models.
Rechargeable battery packs, I actually don’t use Futaba for this as they are ridiculous expensive, and a battery is a battery. I can’t remember the brand of what I’m using in all my models, I’ll report back.
One thing I will say: Leeds Model Shop, highly recommend. Easy to use website, helpful friendly staff prompt and efficient on-line ordering service.
Jim H said:
It absolutely shot up straight and true, and then it all went wrong big time in a very short space of time. I had plenty of height, but it had ridiculous up- pitch, and the engine at full throttle was way over the top and with the way it was pitching up. But the ailerons, my god did I have too much movement. You gotta remember the last time I flew this was 30 years ago, I don’t have the OEM spec for throws. I guessed it. I always like more movement in flight controls just in case , but this was excessive.
It was totally out of control and I couldn’t really tell which way it was going, what side up it was and more importantly where was it going to crash!
I managed to have a bit of a word with myself in a moment of panic and say: ‘ Jim, don’t fk this up’.
I cut the throttle way back and realised I was just over controlling it, remember you’ve got plenty of height. The elevator pitch was way out, but the ailerons were another level. I was moving the sticks the tiniest movements.
I forgot to set my timer on my TX an the engine cut, great I thought: ‘ dead stick’ on a model I’ve not flown in nearly 30 years .
All of those checks? Totally forgot to check the CofG.
It was was perfect, the flair was just as you want it. Perfect.
Yeah it was an interesting flight, I’m glad it’s all over - till the next time …
Hi JimIt was totally out of control and I couldn’t really tell which way it was going, what side up it was and more importantly where was it going to crash!
I managed to have a bit of a word with myself in a moment of panic and say: ‘ Jim, don’t f
k this up’.I cut the throttle way back and realised I was just over controlling it, remember you’ve got plenty of height. The elevator pitch was way out, but the ailerons were another level. I was moving the sticks the tiniest movements.
I forgot to set my timer on my TX an the engine cut, great I thought: ‘ dead stick’ on a model I’ve not flown in nearly 30 years .
All of those checks? Totally forgot to check the CofG.
It was was perfect, the flair was just as you want it. Perfect.
Yeah it was an interesting flight, I’m glad it’s all over - till the next time …
Good save!!
I had a similar 'moment' this week, when I maidened a little Seagull PC-9 electric model.
All set up as per the instructions, although I was a bit uneasy with the published c of g.
I should have listened to myself - the flight sounded somewhat like yours - 10 seconds of panic followed by 2 minutes of trying desperately to trim the up out of it, then a very gentle circuit and landing (in the long grass, but no damage).
Now I've re-balanced it and waiting to have time to have another go. Deep breath and........................................................................
Tim
I've seen your thread on the other forum - good luck with the Maricardo - it's a design which has always appealed, and reported to be a good flyer
Kim
Thanks Jim for the advice re servos/batteries. I’m just about to order a TX/RX battery and charger, and a couple of servos to get the small electric foam model up and running. My wife and I took a drive back to the village I grew up in yesterday and we took our dog for a walk round the football pitch/park where I flew my first RC model…although it was 35 years ago it felt like yesterday. I might maiden this model there when it’s done!
Kim - the Maricardo is a great flyer and Carlo got the design just right. They used to do a low wing version called the Coyote, which sold as a kit alongside the Maricardo in the model shop (they had foam wings back then), but that’s been long forgotten. My dad took a Coyote kit abroad to build (he took a different kit with him each time he came home from the Middle East), and it was a lovely model. I remember it had an NGK 45 engine in it; you don’t see many of them nowadays!
Kim - the Maricardo is a great flyer and Carlo got the design just right. They used to do a low wing version called the Coyote, which sold as a kit alongside the Maricardo in the model shop (they had foam wings back then), but that’s been long forgotten. My dad took a Coyote kit abroad to build (he took a different kit with him each time he came home from the Middle East), and it was a lovely model. I remember it had an NGK 45 engine in it; you don’t see many of them nowadays!
Evening Kim and Tim.
I’ve been out again tonight, no photos I’m afraid the night was a bit of disaster and the weather was beautiful!
First up my Acro Wot was up and away and sounding absolutely awesome, it sounds a total beast on-song.
The resonance through the exhaust note is amazing.
Then it suddenly cut after 5 mins of flight. Rapid dead stick landing.
All ok. Loads of fuel down the side of the fuselage and coming from within. I’ve got it stripped down now - I’m scratching my head a bit. It’s just a leak somewhere.
I gave up on that one and switched to the Mirus, just after my buddy hand launched it the
Engine cut - landing lead to a snapped prop.
Replaced prop and after an age trying to start the engine (hot night)!got it up and going again and a reasonable landing.
My mate was up next with his
Plane and the prop broke in flight, I’ve never ever seen that before!
Before I went flying, I googled ‘Cambria Fun Fighter Spitfire aileron Throws’.
Results came back from RCME forum.
A chap on there had built one over a few weeks and smashed it to pieces on the first flight - just too much aileron.
A guy on that forum suggested it should have been about 5 mm up / down (aileron movement). Out of curiosity I checked mine as settings from last week. I had 12 mm up and down.
No wonder it was a bit frisky……
I’ve been out again tonight, no photos I’m afraid the night was a bit of disaster and the weather was beautiful!
First up my Acro Wot was up and away and sounding absolutely awesome, it sounds a total beast on-song.
The resonance through the exhaust note is amazing.
Then it suddenly cut after 5 mins of flight. Rapid dead stick landing.
All ok. Loads of fuel down the side of the fuselage and coming from within. I’ve got it stripped down now - I’m scratching my head a bit. It’s just a leak somewhere.
I gave up on that one and switched to the Mirus, just after my buddy hand launched it the
Engine cut - landing lead to a snapped prop.
Replaced prop and after an age trying to start the engine (hot night)!got it up and going again and a reasonable landing.
My mate was up next with his
Plane and the prop broke in flight, I’ve never ever seen that before!
Before I went flying, I googled ‘Cambria Fun Fighter Spitfire aileron Throws’.
Results came back from RCME forum.
A chap on there had built one over a few weeks and smashed it to pieces on the first flight - just too much aileron.
A guy on that forum suggested it should have been about 5 mm up / down (aileron movement). Out of curiosity I checked mine as settings from last week. I had 12 mm up and down.
No wonder it was a bit frisky……
Good afternoon folks.
I hope you are enjoying a nice weekend.
Ok, my flying buddy is on holiday so I’ve got two weeks to rectify a few little issues. The other night when I landed the Mirus I was on full up elevator in flair and it was still not enough. I resigned myself to adding some weight / lead to the tail area. I’ve always known it is nose heavy.
I absolutely hate adding mass like this, i ideally want it as light as possible. I know the radio gear installation was about optimal, however the last big mass - could go further rearward. The RX nicad.
I really don’t like doing this as in the event of a crash, this normally leads to it tearing down the fuselage and wiping out all in its way.
But I had to do it, it would have required so much lead on the tail it would have been difficult to hide and ruined the aesthetic.
So I moved the nicad, bit of a fiddle but necessary.
It now sits behind the throttle and elevator servos, where before - it was in front. The nicad has plenty of high density foam around it.
It used to sit ahead of the rear wing mount in this area.
Cue, just about perfect balance at CofG.
Right, I’m going to have to go out and do some chuffing gardening now. Joy of joys!
Enjoy your weekend folks.
I hope you are enjoying a nice weekend.
Ok, my flying buddy is on holiday so I’ve got two weeks to rectify a few little issues. The other night when I landed the Mirus I was on full up elevator in flair and it was still not enough. I resigned myself to adding some weight / lead to the tail area. I’ve always known it is nose heavy.
I absolutely hate adding mass like this, i ideally want it as light as possible. I know the radio gear installation was about optimal, however the last big mass - could go further rearward. The RX nicad.
I really don’t like doing this as in the event of a crash, this normally leads to it tearing down the fuselage and wiping out all in its way.
But I had to do it, it would have required so much lead on the tail it would have been difficult to hide and ruined the aesthetic.
So I moved the nicad, bit of a fiddle but necessary.
It now sits behind the throttle and elevator servos, where before - it was in front. The nicad has plenty of high density foam around it.
It used to sit ahead of the rear wing mount in this area.
Cue, just about perfect balance at CofG.
Right, I’m going to have to go out and do some chuffing gardening now. Joy of joys!
Enjoy your weekend folks.
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