R.C. helicopters
Anyone into this hobby: Been looking into it for a while and looks like
a lot of fun. Yea, I am a bit old for this bit maybe (eighties) but just got one that I picked out for my birthday today . (along with a batch of spare parts). Now I just need the courage to fly the damn thing. Wish me luck so I dont crash it first try. Any advice outside of I am too damn old for another hobby?
a lot of fun. Yea, I am a bit old for this bit maybe (eighties) but just got one that I picked out for my birthday today . (along with a batch of spare parts). Now I just need the courage to fly the damn thing. Wish me luck so I dont crash it first try. Any advice outside of I am too damn old for another hobby?
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..."when i was a child i thought as a child and spoke as a child. when i grew up, i put away childish things."
[:o)]
bible.
let me get this right. you spend thousands of dollars and HOURS to build, to watch it crash and then you do it again....[8][:D]0 -
Joea1911a1,never tried helecopter but used to fly an old jenny till about 5 years ago.Even went to a couple meets up to New Jerseys Lakehurst air base and flew there,Last few times i went to Lake Blacksher in my homestate Georgia,Had to give it up cause my eyesite aint what it once was,Still have all the equipment ,may just dig it out and give it another whirl!.Thanks ,Paul 0 -
I've been fighting the urge to get one of those for several years
now. Had to fight it really hard a few years back when I saw one
on fleabay that was set up with a camera, had 3mi. radius range, and
could be flown from the PC. Even IF I could've flown it without
totaling it, I figured some bozo would shoot it down just for the
fun of it.0 -
Just bought the : SilverLit X-UFO.
Now I'm wondering about buying bigger accu-packs and building on it.
It's the most fun I've had in years.. =o)0 -
i had an ideal when i was still in my teens and they where still kinda experimental to strap a camera on on and cover racing events, back then you only had 8mm and no way to control it 0 -
quote:Originally posted by 1911a1fan
i had an ideal when i was still in my teens and they where still kinda experimental to strap a camera on on and cover racing events, back then you only had 8mm and no way to control it
I've seen some that had fully controllable cameras, but they
can get very pricey. I thought of getting one and taking arial
photos for real estate co.'s and/or home owners.
The plan was to have someone control the chopper, or the camera.
Have a video display, and snap just the right pics. I believe it
could've been quite lucrative, and alotttt of fun.[:)][:)]
Then again, the same thing could be accomplished with a balloon of
sorts on ropes.0 -
Quote: " ..."when i was a child i thought as a child and spoke as a child. when i grew up, i put away childish things."
bible.
let me get this right. you spend thousands of dollars and HOURS to build, to watch it crash and then you do it again.."
Bobski: I asked for advice, not damn foolishness. NO, I didnt spend
thousands of dollars and HOURS to build it. Ready to fly from the box.
Cost? $99.00 plus shipping.. ( Spare rotors, 3 sets, + other spare parts
$23.00). And please, dont throw your "master parachutist" bit at me
as was on your profile and your "retired Military" bit. Granted, I
was only a WW 2 Infantry rifleman serving in the ETO for 17 months in
several campaigns. " To each his own said the farmer as he kissed the cow".0 -
I have had tons of fun with the micro helos
http://www.hobby-lobby.com/lama-v4.htm
started out with the Piccolo a few years ago, the 70+ year old RC nut down the street got me hooked! Easy stuff for him tho the guy flys the huge 1/4 scale planes. [:)]0 -
quote:Originally posted by FrancF
I have had tons of fun with the micro helos
http://www.hobby-lobby.com/lama-v4.htm
started out with the Piccolo a few years ago, the 70+ year old RC nut down the street got me hooked! Easy stuff for him tho the guy flys the huge 1/4 scale planes. [:)]
That looks like a neat one. It says "easily flown"...is that
true? What kind of range does it have?0 -
quote:Originally posted by spryor
quote:Originally posted by FrancF
I have had tons of fun with the micro helos
http://www.hobby-lobby.com/lama-v4.htm
started out with the Piccolo a few years ago, the 70+ year old RC nut down the street got me hooked! Easy stuff for him tho the guy flys the huge 1/4 scale planes. [:)]
That looks like a neat one. It says "easily flown"...is that
true? What kind of range does it have?
I haven't messed with that one yet. The range is not that long I am sure, unlike my Terry glider that has about a 1/4-1/2 mile range. It has the older HS-555 5 channel receiver.0 -
The small inexpensive (relatively speaking) RC helicopters are a hoot. You ARE gonna crash, probably on the first flight. Accept that, and go enjoy it anyway. Drives the cats nuts! 0 -
quote:Originally posted by bobski
..."when i was a child i thought as a child and spoke as a child. when i grew up, i put away childish things."
[:o)]
bible.
let me get this right. you spend thousands of dollars and HOURS to build, to watch it crash and then you do it again....[8][:D]
I reckon you put child like faith away as well.30-70 bucks gets you a virtually indestructable outfit.Sorry Bob you wer'nt gifted with the ability to make the Bible attractive.What else ya got?Maybe some respect for your elders would be appropriate0 -
Note the emoticons, I believe he was being humorous. I thought it was. 0 -
Joe
I use to fly them a lot along with planes and race Nitro Powered RC 1/10 scale Stadium trucks.
You may do some checking in your local area for an RC flyer's club. If you find one. Pay them a visit for 99% of the people who fly are very good people that enjoys working with new comers.
I learned to fly Helicopters using what is known as a Trainers radio. They have a cord that connects two radio together. Which allows new person to learn to fly a helicopter or plane with an instructor. If you have control of the Helicopter or plane and if the instructor sees that you are about to make a costly mistake or you want him/her to. They can take over the controls.
The Futaba 6EXH is a great radio that has the trainer feather. It is also an FM radio which is the best to use for planes and helicopters.
A small word of advise.
Buy some good Rechargeable AA sized Ni-MH batteries such as Sanyo 2500. They may seem expensive at first. But 24 (eight for the radio and 4 for the helicopter) will give you a ton of play time and last for years with proper maintenance. Buying even the cheapest brand of AA alkaline batteries can get expensive over time. And you do not want to be 150' in the air and have a battery pack go dead.
It is rather expensive to get started in the RC hobby. Especially when you are dealing with anything Nitro powered. But once you get all of the needed stuff together. The cost can then be held to a reasonable amount.0 -
sounds like a fun hobby. I've always wanted to fly the real thing.[:)] 0 -
Joe,
I'm a sometimes RC flyer (mostly crasher)myself .
Get one of the RC simulator trainer programs for your computer and spend some time on the helo section.
It is a lot tougher than it looks but a true expert can make an RC copter do things that are amaging.
For the start go to a good RC hobby store and talk to the folks . Advice is freely given and usually correct from people who, at one time, have been amatuers themselves .
Satn0 -
This Swedish company makes really big rc helicopters
http://www.cybaero.se/english/0 -
I kinda like the one someone posted here sometime back that had a
rapid firing 12ga.(?)[:)][:)]0 -
I have this one - http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXLJH8&P=ML
It is a blast to fly. Electric but has full collective control just like the big gas ones. Also flies upside down and does loops, etc. Flies for a long time - like 10 minutes on 1 charge! Make sure to get a quick charger with it though.
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My Brother is big into RC plane's, and he's quite the pilot. I have one that I fly every once and a while, when I feel like crashing it. The plane is pretty tough to master. From what I've been told, the heli's are even harder to fly. More channel's to deal with. I'd go ahead and order 2 or 3 of everything on the copter for spare part's.[;)] 0 -
Not a real good pic, but you can get the idea. See on the bottom of it, the extra landing gear. There are 5 fiberglass rods with the balls on the end. It can "help" to save you a propeller or two. You can still crash it. Easy to put on and take off, once you get used to flying it. 0 -
Hey guys: Thanks for all the good input. Just ordered MORE spare parts
as I probably will need them. Today its raining and windy so no-go for
a trial flight. Finished all my reloading in March so no sweat there.
Finished going over 2 of the 6 M-1 Rifles I bought from CMP recently.
The other 4 can just wait a while. No hurry on them. Going to try some other type fun once in a while for laughs. By the way, it is a V-3
Lama chopper from Hoby-Lobby. Supposed to be "easy to fly ??".(or crash ? ).0 -
Pickenup: After todays flying and landings ? (half were "controled crashes" though, and no damage to speak of) I think you have one hell of a good idea. Does it effect balance though? I have some 3/16 nylon rod
and can pick up some ping pong balls and machine a holder to a cross support on the landing skids. Should do the job. So far I been lucky but feel I used up too much luck already. But what a lot of fun.
Damn off and on wind makes hard contoling. Going to order another one for my 50 year old son and get him "hooked" on it also.0 -
Do you think you'll ever be this good? I have never seen anyone even come close to how good a heli pilot this guy is.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gi7G-VzU2r40 -
Joe,
If you position it right on the landing skids (almost directly under the propeller) the balance doesn't change too much. You will probably have to move it forward or backward a bit, to find just the right spot. After you put it on, try to lift off, if it tries to fly backward, don't fight it, land it and move the gear forward, and vice versa. While the extra gear is not real heavy, it does take extra power to maneuver around. It will seem a bit sluggish since you have flown without it, but you will get used to it pretty quick.
Notice the wood dowel that is right in the center of the gear, sticking straight down. The fiberglass rods bend pretty easy, and this rod helps to spread the pressure evenly between the rods, rather than putting all the pressure on one of them, or having one bend too far, when your landing at a "bit" of an angle. You will see what I mean when you try it. Just don't forget to add that dowel. The piece that connects to the landing gear is aluminum, and the center piece is plastic. I can get you a close up pic if you want to see it.0 -
Pickenup: Really sounds like you have some real good "words of wisdom"
and going to try it before next time. Having a ball with THEM (not just mine but my sons also). Luckily different channels for each.
Granted, I did break one rotor blade near the end but a spare set came with it and I ordered 3 sets with it (7.90 for 3 sets). Would appreciate some pics with a bit more detail via E mail of your "landing
gear". So far I have about 40 mintes of flying time and about 40 landings (including a few "conrolled crashes" in the beginning mostly).
However I am learning some good control knowledge already. As they say,
it takes a old dog longer to learn new tricks.0 -
quote:Originally posted by joeaf1911a1
Would appreciate some pics with a bit more detail via E mail of your "landing gear".
Will do, with some measurements etc.0
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