I’d like to hear the pros and cons of electric versus gas, who’s a reputable online dealer, any gotchas or surprises for some models (like way too many hours of assembly or the need to buy extras to make it work, etc.) I prefer the longest possible flight time and distance. I prefer not to have a tethered line. I’d like to keep it around $1,000 or less if possible. Any input at all — opinions, experience, recommendations — will be appreciated.
How familiar are you with RC vehicles? Any prior experience with cars, planes, etc?
If you have absolutely no RC experience, I would highly recommend starting out with a car of some sort. This will get you used to the idea of actually controlling a vehicle remotely. many people, when they first start, have a hard time removing themselves from their perspective and placing themselves into the perspective of the vehicle itself. For example, most newbies when the car is facing them, will usually confuse right and left. Not such a big deal on the ground, but a huge deal when dealing with a speeding, airborne object.
I’ve heard from a few places that those considering getting into helicopters should first try planes. Despite appearances, planes are supposedly much easier to learn on than helis. I’ve always wanted to do helis myself, but I’m learning on planes (I’ve done cars for years). A small, slow parkflyer is a good place to start.
If you have no experience with gas I’d recommend going electric. Use and maintenance is much simpler. Cost is comparable, especially once you consider fuel costs. However, it seems electric helis haven’t evolved nearly as far as electric planes.
If you’re worried about building a kit, many models are available pre-built. However, I would recommend against this. When the model crashes (and it will, many times), you will probably have a much better chance of successfully fixing it if you built it yourself.
You’ll probably need some help. Go down to the local hobby shops and ask questions. Most will have a stack of flyers or bulletin board by the door or something with info on flight fields, get-togethers, lessons, etc.
Pick up copies of Model Airplane News at the very least. Also consider its sister publication Backyard Flyer. There is also RC Modeler and a few others.
Check out these forums:
http://www.rcuniverse.com/
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/index.php
Thanks, Spiralscratch. My circumstance is that my wife has given me the helicopter of my choice for our anniversary. I really can’t get something else. (If I could, it would be a telescope.) I am pretty good, though, at understanding subjective worldviews within an objective frame of reference. I don’t believe that I would have a problem with the left-right mirror image thing. And because my temperament is melancholy, I will proceed in extremely precise and measured steps of testing and progress to insure the fewest possible accidents. Would you happen to know the range of untethered electric choppers? I’ve seen at least one model (about $800) that will run for up to 20 minutes, but it didn’t say how far out it could go.
My dad was a huge RC guy. A real “pioneer” of the hobby, actually. He was a very accomplished airplane pilot, but still had a difficult time with choppers.
Seems to me that most modern RC gear has a range of up to 1/4 mile or so. I have never seen helicopter pilots let them get that far away, however, because it becomes difficult to see them and therefore maintain control. With planes, you have large wing areas with contrasting patterns on the two sides to help you keep it “oriented”. They also move in a fairly predicable direction, something that does not always apply to helicoptors.
Electric is cleaner than gas. My old man’s stuff was all gas and the planes were always oily/greasy. He always made us kids help clean them, on a weekend, on a freakin’ dry lake bed in the middle of nowhere and always wondered why we were not enthusiastic about the hobby. The fuel he used was a nasty mix of nitro, something else and Klotz oil. Left quite a mess.
My only advice: Have lots of spare rotor blades. My old man was constantly breaking them.
Well, as to a place to shop, check out this site: http://raidentech.com/rctank.html
This link goes to some remote-control tanks that I recently bought. Which one, you ask? ALL of them! q;}
But of course, if you click on the appropriate spot, you’ll find their aircraft section.
I’m kinda new to the RC thing. I’ve had a few RC vehicles over the years, all kids stuff of course, but enough to know how to use 'em.
These tanks just looked way too cool, and the price was right. And they’re AWESOME.
However, they’re gonna break. They’re already starting to, in fact. This is just a part of life, especially in the RC world. But at $50/each, I think I’ve gotten my money’s worth.
So, now I’m looking at the aircraft for myself. I have these visions of a small park somewhere, wherein my friends and I get a bunch of little army men and blocks and stuff, and set up this gigantic battle, with RC tanks and planes and stuff flyin’ all over. I know, I know… what can I say, I’m a guy!
This will, of course, almost inevitably result in the complete destruction of all vehicles involved.
Assuming that I were to take extremely good care of these toys, I could extend their life somewhat. But no matter what, they’re gonna break someday…
…and these are tanks. Ground vehicles specifically designed to be tough, at least the tanks they’re modeled on are.
Aircraft WILL crash. Rule #1. If you’re a new flyer, they will crash a LOT.
A helicopter is much, much less stable than an airplane, and hence will be MUCH more likely to crash in the hands of a newbie.
In real life, I can drive cars. I own a truck and have a licence, and drive it all over the place. Comparing that to my RC car-driving experiences, I can note the differences, and driving an RC car is relatively easy, thanks to my experiences behind a real wheel.
However, for some reason people seem a little unwilling to hand Mr. Average Joe the keys to a real tank, plane, or helicopter. “Come on, I’ve never driven one before, lemme take it out for a spin?”
My entire experience with driving tanks, planes, and helicopters comes from a little computer game called “Battlefield 1942”, and it’s expansions and sequels.
It took me, rough guess, 20-30 crashes to even BEGIN to fly one of the little planes in that game ‘safely’. I still crash on most of my missions, when I don’t get shot down first. And the helicopters… oy! Don’t even ask! Those things are tough to fly, dunno how many of those things I crashed before I got any good.
So, I know for a fact that, if I bought an RC plane or helicopter, it would crash. Probably right out of the box. If I was lucky, I could put it back together and fly it again… until it crashed again.
Eventually, it will have crashed so many times as to be completely unfixable, and to the trash it goes.
No way in hell am I buying an $800 helicopter as my first flying toy.
If I just had to get into the RC thing, and I could only pick ONE item, I’d say stay on the ground. Failing that, get an airplane… a big, slow, easy-to-fly airplane. And a lot of replacement parts, 'cuz it’s gonna crash.
Gotta get a helicopter? Try this, for about $200: http://raidentech.com/ne04mismaera.html
Plus side: Small, cheap, light, gyro-stabilized to reduce crashing.
Downside: Small, cheap, probably could find something better elsewhere.
Did you know that you can buy radio-controlled ornithopters???
Those look so cool! Check out the videos!
I don’t fly anything myself, just thought “Wow!!!”
Something I just thought of: Get a simulator.
Realflight seems to be the most popular, and from what I’ve read is a pretty good package. I’ve been meaning to pick it up myself. Check the forums I linked to earlier for more info.
As for stores, the largest mail-order outfit is
Tower Hobbies, I believe. I’ve ordered from them before and have had nothing but good experiences.
Lib, I work for a helicopter company and there are several RC guys here. I asked one of them what the best unit for a newbie would be.
This is what you need to get started. All new, this would be about $1500.00
Raptor 30 Helicopter kit
OS32SX-H Engine
JR8103PCM Heliversion Radio or a Futaba 9CHP Radio
Futaba GY401 Gyro and S9253 Servo
Muffler
Other equipment needed:
Starter and Starter wand
Fuel Pump
Pitch Gauge
Ignition Wrench set (metric)
You can go on-line to these sites for parts and info:
www.heliproz.com
www.rcheli.com
and www.runryder.com (This site has a message board and a lot of links)
My friend also has two of his older helos, 1 flying and one almost flyable (needs receiver) that he would sell (both) for $300.00. They are Concept 30 models.
You would still need a radio and the other equipment listed above, but you could have 2 flying helos for less than $800.00
If your interested, send me an e-mail and I’ll put you in touch with him.
You might be interested in the OptiFlight Home Defense Copter. With autopilot and six air-to-blimp missles (sold separately), nocturnal dirgible attacks are a thing of the past.