uh, help a Newb anyone?

[KevanB]

Hi i just got that little thing inside me that wants to fly :p . I like the Merlin, Tiger Moth too. BUT what is an inexpensive park flyer(with radio too)? I like the tiger moth, but 3 channel radios cost alotta money:confused: what to get what to get?

[2NG]

firebirdXL $120....This hobby is expensive, get out if you can:( On the other tip.... It's fun:)

[CalmAir]

Hi Kevan,

I will chime in since you mentioned the Merlin. My brother and my son both have one. It is a tempting aircraft due to the fact that it has everything to get you going in the box. It also can be built in about 20 minutes. Actually it takes much longer to apply the decals than to assemble the aircraft.

I am not going to knock the airplane because it is easy to learn on and fun to watch in the air. The problem is if you enjoy the hobby and want to continue with it, you will eventually want to move on to another aircraft. The radio and servos that come with the Merlin are full size, and you will not be able to use them in other parkflyers. So if you decide to move on you will end up purchasing another radio system.

The Tiger Moth is a great one to learn on. It will require 8 to 14 hours construction time depending on your experience, as will most ARF models.

Hitek makes 3 channel radios that sell for $89.95. Not sure what you are wanting to spend.

The Firebird XL is a low cost way to enter the hobby with a ready to fly aircraft. However it has a 2 channel transmitter that is on 27Mhz. Again if you wanted to move on you would still be purchasing a radio system. But for $100 it is a good way to find out if you will enjoy the hobby, and they do fly. I witnessed a young boy and his father trying to fly one. It was windy, and it would fly about 150 feet. As soon as he tried to turn it spiraled right into the ground. After the third time it was finally damaged. As they were leaving I asked to see the plane. Upon my inspection I informed them that the wing was installed backwards. I could not believe it flew as far as it did, and after 3 very hard crashes it had minor damage. They fly much better with the wing on correctly.

Well enough of my rambling. I hope this helps a little.

Regards,
Dale

[all_fly_all_day]

well i thought i would mention this. I bought a 4 channel radio, micro reciever, micro speed control, 2 micro servos, and a batery pack, Motro, gearbox,prop, AND a plane to put it all in for about $160. Plus the radio equipment is one of the most versital (sp) stuff you can get. There are like 100 planes that it can be put in. I have even heard ways of using it for a 30g indoor model. What is this system? GWS !!!! The only downside that i noticed was that the radio doesnt have the mixer for a V-tail, but you can buy an on-board mixer instead. here are the "specs"

1. GWS flight pack for $84 included: R4-P reciever, ESC (2 amp) two pico servos and a 280mah(or 110mah) 7.2v nicad battery pack.

2. the 4 channel transmitter for $40 included: the Tx and crystal.

3. a GWS Pico Stick for $35 included: all hardware for the plane plus the IPS "A" motor,gearbox, and prop.

Thats all i have to say:cool:

[KevanB]

thnx for the help! i really like tha gws thing! what plane do u reccomend? and i willing to spend less than 300

[AirWarriorBelgy]

here here to what calm air said

gws best way to go (but i stay away from the straight sticks)
get on with a fuselage

ii started withe the pico stick "F" ("F" for fuselage) spent 4 hours building it and flew next morning

i got a package deal from the local hobby store the whole plane with 4 channel jr -line quattro and all other electronics was only 224.00 with tax (including the charger)

my tiger moth was about 200 (but i didn't by a transmitter got one with the "F" stick)

believe it or not i like my "f" stick very much in spite of its weaknesses ( poor landing gear and wings have no support for loops) but i added struts on the wings and gear upgraded the motor to a eps 300 (280 geared) and the little devil will most definately hold its own against the tiger moth and the j-3 cub infact i was outflying a stock j-3 the other day

my biggest expense is batteries i have 6 - 6 cell eflight 400 milliamp nicads for the pico f and 4 - 7 cell 300 millamp nihms for the moth

i get about 15 to 20 mins flight time on the pico per battery and about 10 minutes on the moth ( when there is no wind)

when the wind is up it drops dramatically ...but i can fly non stop now for about 2 and 1/2 hours , switching back and forth between both planes and i always have a battery for one of em charging

and most days 2-1/2 hours of no wind is all you get on the florida west coast (just ask basket case ...lol)

but both these planes will fly in a pretty stiff breeze now
especially the tiger moth
the Pico Stick "F" didn't like the wind at all until i strutted the wings, the strut parts are in the kit's a-1 parts tree (except the bamboo sticks - same as BBQ skewers at grocery store)
now it handles the average 7 -10 mph wind just like the moth and will loop!! (whoopee)

but neither like landing in the wind.....hence...most of my repairs

lol

[KevanB]

cool is the tiger moth compatible with the GWS system?:confused:

[AirWarriorBelgy]

the tiger moth is made by gws ....so i guess that is compatible as it gets

check through the threads / posts in the park and backyard flyers section there are alot of photos of tiger moths

and they fly better than they look i think they look great


if you have hi speed access (dsl or cable) one of the threads takes you to a link where you can watch 3 of them flying at the same time

and 2ng started a thread of photos

they fly great,, and take about 6 hours to build (with no modifications) and then there are all kinds of mods posted, on how to improve them although i have found no need to do this

you can roll off the ground in about 3 feet
and in the right wind conditions they almost hold still in the sky like a kite they are a definite blast

[2NG]

Kavan,

AirWarriorBelgy, and CalmAir have given you the best advice, that I could think off. The TM is truely for a beginner. Can tolerate strong wind, but due to this. It teach's the pilot to be patient as well.:)

As AirWarriorBelgy, CalmAir and myself have lot's of posting about the TigerMoth. Good Luck, and have fun

[all_fly_all_day]

Yes, listen to all these smart people kaven. They have flown MUCH more then me and have more experience in this hobby. But i still think GWS is the best you can get for the money. If you really want to go small you could order the Dynamics Unlimited system from www.smallrc.com. They have a deal on it thats good till the end of the month. and you can purchase eveything you need for micro plane not including the transmitter. Its a pretty good deal really. But all that was beside the point (sorry). Stick with GWS and get the Tiger Moth. From what i have read in this forum its the best you can get:) .