RC plane / kit recommendations

[[AJ]]

I'm thinking about building a RC plane with my dad. He's well into his retirement now at close to 80, but we have 2 flying clubs fairly close by, so I think it's something he could enjoy and it's something we have always wanted to build together. He really likes scale models, the Spitfire in particular, however, am I right in understanding that they are far more difficult to fly than more modern sport designs? It would certainly appear so in Phoenix.

Ideally I'd like something that we can fly together after we have built it together. Something he can fly in a nice and relaxed manner and something I can do a bit of aerobatics in, but I don't want it to be well beyond our limits, despite my many hours of sim time. In short, it needs to be able to pull some 3D stuff, but be stable enough and low speeds and landing.

Ideally we'd like something with a low wing and small enough to fit in a car. I have a Spektrum DX6i which I use for my heli and I assume will be fine for a plane too? What type of engine would we be best off with, glow or petrol?

Any recommendations would be much appreciated. Including engine, RX and servos.

If we don't do this soon, we'll never get on to the Caterham!

Thanks!

[Holst]

I think you will have to cater more towards your dads ability rather than you own, which means a high wing trainer.

Im also a heli pilot and I could manage my friends high wing trainer without too much difficulty, but his low wing aerobatic was quite difficult to fly and I had to hand the transmitter over to land it. Although you might manage with a more advanced plane a beginner would stand little chance.

I would start off with a quick and easy trainer, something you can crash and repair easily. If you put too much time and effort into your first build then your dad will be much more dissapointed when he crashes it.

Most small planes will use a glow engine, 30-50 size. Most trainers will fit into the boot of a car.
I think this is similar to my friends trainer.
http://www.elitemodelsonline.co.uk/Products/Aircra...
Thats a ready to fly one but you can probably get a kit that is similar.

They will do some simple aerobatic stuff, like loops and rolls but you wont be prop hanging with one of these

One nice thing about planes is that the airframes are quite cheap so you can move your electrics and engine into a more exciting airframe once you gain more confidence.

Your Dx6i will work fine but you will need a full range receiver for a plane, as it will get much further away than a heli.
You dont need any great servos for a beginner plane, some half decent hitec ones will be fine.
As for engines, if you get an OS somebody at your local club will also have one if you need help getting it tuned.

Im not a plane flyer myself so this is all taken from talking to friends who fly planes and a little personal experience, the guys at your local club will probably have different ideas to me.. they may even try and throw you out once they find out you fly a noisy dangerous heli

Edited by Holst on Wednesday 14th April 21:23

[dr_gn]

[AJ] said:

I'm thinking about building a RC plane with my dad. He's well into his retirement now at close to 80, but we have 2 flying clubs fairly close by, so I think it's something he could enjoy and it's something we have always wanted to build together. He really likes scale models, the Spitfire in particular, however, am I right in understanding that they are far more difficult to fly than more modern sport designs? It would certainly appear so in Phoenix.

Ideally I'd like something that we can fly together after we have built it together. Something he can fly in a nice and relaxed manner and something I can do a bit of aerobatics in, but I don't want it to be well beyond our limits, despite my many hours of sim time. In short, it needs to be able to pull some 3D stuff, but be stable enough and low speeds and landing.

Ideally we'd like something with a low wing and small enough to fit in a car. I have a Spektrum DX6i which I use for my heli and I assume will be fine for a plane too? What type of engine would we be best off with, glow or petrol?

Any recommendations would be much appreciated. Including engine, RX and servos.

If we don't do this soon, we'll never get on to the Caterham!

Thanks!

If I were you I'd go for a chesap ARTF electric trainer to start with (or even an ARTF Spitfire) and then, once you've got the hang of it, progress to build a nicer model. There are dozens to choose from, and they are so cheap that you can afford to crash and repair them many times without too much worry.

Personal preference of course, but I'd forget i/c engines and go to electric: it's the way forward and is far cleaner and less hassle than fuel.

[[AJ]]

Holst said:

I think you will have to cater more towards your dads ability rather than you own, which means a high wing trainer.

Im also a heli pilot and I could manage my friends high wing trainer without too much difficulty, but his low wing aerobatic was quite difficult to fly and I had to hand the transmitter over to land it. Although you might manage with a more advanced plane a beginner would stand little chance.

I would start off with a quick and easy trainer, something you can crash and repair easily. If you put too much time and effort into your first build then your dad will be much more dissapointed when he crashes it.

Most small planes will use a glow engine, 30-50 size. Most trainers will fit into the boot of a car.
I think this is similar to my friends trainer.
http://www.elitemodelsonline.co.uk/Products/Aircra...
Thats a ready to fly one but you can probably get a kit that is similar.

They will do some simple aerobatic stuff, like loops and rolls but you wont be prop hanging with one of these

One nice thing about planes is that the airframes are quite cheap so you can move your electrics and engine into a more exciting airframe once you gain more confidence.

Your Dx6i will work fine but you will need a full range receiver for a plane, as it will get much further away than a heli.
You dont need any great servos for a beginner plane, some half decent hitec ones will be fine.
As for engines, if you get an OS somebody at your local club will also have one if you need help getting it tuned.

Im not a plane flyer myself so this is all taken from talking to friends who fly planes and a little personal experience, the guys at your local club will probably have different ideas to me.. they may even try and throw you out once they find out you fly a noisy dangerous heli

Edited by Holst on Wednesday 14th April 21:23

Thanks Holst,

Elite Models seem to have a good selection and thinking about it more seriously, a top wing may well be a better option to start with, although I'd still be tempted to go for something more 'sport' orientated.. Hummm...?

[[AJ]]

dr_gn said:

[AJ] said:

Stuff about rc planes.

If I were you I'd go for a chesap ARTF electric trainer to start with (or even an ARTF Spitfire) and then, once you've got the hang of it, progress to build a nicer model. There are dozens to choose from, and they are so cheap that you can afford to crash and repair them many times without too much worry.

Personal preference of course, but I'd forget i/c engines and go to electric: it's the way forward and is far cleaner and less hassle than fuel.

I know what you mean. I went down the electric heli route despite my previous experience with nitro buggies, however, this is as much about the father and son thing as it is the actual plane and my dad really wants a 'proper' engine. Besides, there really is something about the sound and smell of nitro/petrol engines.

[dr_gn]

[AJ] said:

dr_gn said:

[AJ] said:

Stuff about rc planes.

If I were you I'd go for a chesap ARTF electric trainer to start with (or even an ARTF Spitfire) and then, once you've got the hang of it, progress to build a nicer model. There are dozens to choose from, and they are so cheap that you can afford to crash and repair them many times without too much worry.

Personal preference of course, but I'd forget i/c engines and go to electric: it's the way forward and is far cleaner and less hassle than fuel.

I know what you mean. I went down the electric heli route despite my previous experience with nitro buggies, however, this is as much about the father and son thing as it is the actual plane and my dad really wants a 'proper' engine. Besides, there really is something about the sound and smell of nitro/petrol engines.

Fair enough, How about a Chris Foss "WOT-4" for starters?

[[AJ]]

dr_gn said:

[AJ] said:

dr_gn said:

[AJ] said:

Stuff about rc planes.

If I were you I'd go for a chesap ARTF electric trainer to start with (or even an ARTF Spitfire) and then, once you've got the hang of it, progress to build a nicer model. There are dozens to choose from, and they are so cheap that you can afford to crash and repair them many times without too much worry.

Personal preference of course, but I'd forget i/c engines and go to electric: it's the way forward and is far cleaner and less hassle than fuel.

I know what you mean. I went down the electric heli route despite my previous experience with nitro buggies, however, this is as much about the father and son thing as it is the actual plane and my dad really wants a 'proper' engine. Besides, there really is something about the sound and smell of nitro/petrol engines.

Fair enough, How about a Chris Foss "WOT-4" for starters?

Just been looking at that! Looks like it could be a good option.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdJlnlH-1ZY

Just had a quick bash on the MK1 version on Phoenix. It's very easy to fly, but doesn't do inverted very well, not sure if the MK2 version is any different in that way.

Edited by [AJ] on Thursday 15th April 09:59

[wobblyweb]

Hi I had a similar idea but the other way round! I wanted to build a kit with my grandson and fly it together. Kits are not common now as most are ARTF but a well made and simple build trainer is WOT4 http://www.rcaircraftmodels.co.uk/1644_1_105087875...

Not a bad price either.
(sorry just realised its been recommended above !!)

Rae

Edited by wobblyweb on Thursday 15th April 10:07

[dr_gn]

[AJ] said:

dr_gn said:

[AJ] said:

dr_gn said:

[AJ] said:

Stuff about rc planes.

If I were you I'd go for a chesap ARTF electric trainer to start with (or even an ARTF Spitfire) and then, once you've got the hang of it, progress to build a nicer model. There are dozens to choose from, and they are so cheap that you can afford to crash and repair them many times without too much worry.

Personal preference of course, but I'd forget i/c engines and go to electric: it's the way forward and is far cleaner and less hassle than fuel.

I know what you mean. I went down the electric heli route despite my previous experience with nitro buggies, however, this is as much about the father and son thing as it is the actual plane and my dad really wants a 'proper' engine. Besides, there really is something about the sound and smell of nitro/petrol engines.

Fair enough, How about a Chris Foss "WOT-4" for starters?

Just been looking at that! Looks like it could be a good option.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdJlnlH-1ZY

Just had a quick bash on the MK1 version on Phoenix. It's very easy to fly, but doesn't do inverted very well, not sure if the MK2 version is any different in that way.

Edited by [AJ] on Thursday 15th April 09:59

I was given a Wot-4, but I must admit I've never flown it. By all accounts they are very good models though. I have a Chris Foss Middle Phase 2 Slope Soarer and it is very well designed (learned to fly on it neary 20 years ago) and I still fly it.

[johndoe14]

by all means build a nice plane together.

but i wouldn't recommend trying to fly it. no club will let you fly it alone anyway
the chance of flying and landing in one bit will be prity slim.

then but a top wing trainer and learn to fly then first.

i fly planes and helicopters

wot4 s are prity solid kits and not bad a a traing aircraft

Edited by johndoe14 on Thursday 15th April 19:57

[Emsman]

Depends what you want to spend overall, but I would start with a trainer and work up from there.
Go for a nemo from ALS hobbies- around £80 for the plane, battery, charger and transmitter and receiver.
It also has a simulator included (from memory) and is really tough- mine ended up with more glue than material.
It will serve the purpose to get you both flying though.
I would then buy a flair se5 and make it from scratch. They are a great kit- you build each part from balsa, finish it with iron on covering or dope and tissue.