Come R/C enthusiasts, represent!

I really have to recomend the HobbyZone Champ RTF G-Flyr RC airplane, particularly for a beginner.

IMAGE(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41XWddeAcKL._SL500_AA300_.jpg)

It's relatively easy to fly, apparently easy to repair and has a lot of power. I was able to power out of a full stall without diving. Unfortunately I also snapped the wing off (nose-dive landings apparently aren't real good for the plane). But after looking online, the wing is simply held on by strong double-stick tape and a new one is easily attached. I'll be able to purchase a new wing for like $12.

Nevin73 wrote:

I really have to recomend the HobbyZone Champ RTF G-Flyr RC airplane, particularly for a beginner.

IMAGE(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41XWddeAcKL._SL500_AA300_.jpg)

It's relatively easy to fly, apparently easy to repair and has a lot of power. I was able to power out of a full stall without diving. Unfortunately I also snapped the wing off (nose-dive landings apparently aren't real good for the plane). But after looking online, the wing is simply held on by strong double-stick tape and a new one is easily attached. I'll be able to purchase a new wing for like $12.

Is that really using AA batteries? I wonder how much time you would get off of some nice Sanyo Eneloop rechargeables?

The little rectangle thing in the lower center of the pic is a rechargable battery that the plane runs off of. Not sure what type it really is, but its charger runs of off 4 AAs.

Those are little LiPo batteries. Some of the chargers have an AC adapter jack, but you could always bash it to add a 6v power supply. Charging from alkaline is convenient but lossy and sloppy.

Hey cool! I knew I could count on GWJ to have an R/C thread.

I recently dove into this after seeing a multi-rotor craft first hand. After a few months of reading, drool, and saving, followed by a month of soldering and tweaking, I have a quad rotor!

My first flight was pretty horrific. Keep in mind I'm a complete novice at this. I'm pretty handy with building things, but I've never flown an R/C craft before. I managed to break a landing gear and two rotors after flipping it over and crashing into the pavement. There's a bad vibration in the video I've since solved as well.

Since then, I've made many adjustments (and repairs) and it now flies super smooth. I'll probably get some good footage this weekend, weather permitting.

IMAGE(http://i.imgur.com/8dMxzl.jpg)

My favorite part is watching this bald doppelganger version of me walking to the copter upside down.

That's pretty awesome. What is it?

Nevin73 wrote:

That's pretty awesome. What is it?

From the video title, Elev-8. (wondered the same thing myself)

How do you control it? Is it a standard remote or something else?

@rabbit: I was wondering how I ended up in your avatar.

It's a nice, comparatively cheap, quadrotor kit from Parallax based on the Hoverfly Sport controller board (for which they make the processor). I'm using a Spektrum DX6i transmitter, though I wish now I'd sprung for something with more channels. I want to add things.

That video really is horrible. I hope I can capture something nicer soon. The flight I had last night was super smooth, but the sun was so low in the sky the camera had a hard time seeing anything.

Orphu, Do you have a link to build info?

I'd love to see what's involved. I'm considering getting the AR drone 2.

Sure! I'd say it takes a moderate amount of soldering and mechanical know how. I'm a total novice at R/C though.

Assembly Diagrams

Assembly Docs

A Build Log

Another build log

A time lapse build video

Some sweet videos

In the much more "not working towards Skynet" side of R/C, this summer my work schedule should actually allow my buddy and me to go outdoor racing.

I have plans to compete and get badly crushed in the Short Course Truck category (2WD). There are two local tracks that race every weekend from mid-April to mid-October, so I'm stoked.

My schedule does give me plenty of time each week to hit one of the two tracks and practice, though.

Many adjustments later, it's flying pretty well. Still getting a feel for it. Stuck the landing on this one!

Orphu wrote:

Many adjustments later, it's flying pretty well. Still getting a feel for it. Stuck the landing on this one!

Damn, you live in a nice neighborhood! My neighbors get antsy when I drive the ground R/C stuff, I don't think they'd go for the flying stuff at all. Even so, your neighborhood looks like 10X classier than mine.

Also, your copter is wicked cool!

Control looks pretty tight. I'd be nervous to fly something like that with so many trees and roofs around.

Have you thought about trying to use it to cut the lawn?

Orphu wrote:

Many adjustments later, it's flying pretty well. Still getting a feel for it. Stuck the landing on this one!

Yeah, I'm going to have to show my wife this. Not so that she'll allow me buy more RC stuff, but because your house, lot, spacing to the neighbours, and greenspace behind, is probably the perfect blend between what I want, and what she wants. I'm a rural sort, she's more (sub)urban.

Of course I think it will be a few years of saving before we can move that much bigger than our current digs.

Nice.

I finally watched the video and yeah, that's a damned nice pad and location, Orphu.

Heh! Thanks guys. I guess I should have pointed it the other direction to show you I-85, the train track and the Walmart.

Anything I should look for if I'm going to buy a used electric car (specifically a used E-Maxx, E-Revo etc)?

Losi Aftershock fan here!

me blowin up my tires lol
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sup_x...

I dont know how to put the video as a reply

@elewis

Decide if you want to race for bash. If you want to race, find out what the stock class is at your local club.
Around here, there was enough of a hobyist base to sustain only a 2wd spec stock electric club for offroad and an onroad nitro club, also spec racing.
Spec racing is more fun than open. You can be more sure that driver skill is the reson for success, instead of the guy who is willing to pour $5000 into the hobby being the winner.

If you're going to bash, watch that you don't fall into the trap of tickling your novelty cortex now then having a $1500 shelf ornament later. Find a local club who hold events, etc.

Crawling may also be your thing, but also be sure that you have club running events.

I kept missing good deals on used RC stuff on CraigsList, so I picked up a Traxxas Slash VXL 4X4 this afternoon. So far it is a ton of fun, but I don't really have the room to really open it up near my house. I need to head to the park this weekend.
IMAGE(http://i.imgur.com/aoIZB.jpg).
There's an RC club near my place that races these, but I think I fall under the 'basher' category, for now.

Nice! That one is a lot of fun.

I have this sitting in the shopping cart.
I need enabling.

IMAGE(http://images.thesource.ca/images/Online/99/9993321l.jpg)
http://www.thesource.ca/estore/produ...

EDIT:
Enabled myself.

Well, my truck doesn't look nearly as shiny as it did when I took that picture, and the cool white lettering on the sidewalls of the tires is barely visible. I've been driving the wheels off this thing. It is so much fun!

Thinking of jumping to LiPos in the next week or so. Anything special I should look for when purchasing LiPos? I have a proper charger, and want to go all out on some 3S packs. Does brand matter much, or do you pay for brand names and a battery is just a battery?
I went with a Traxxas battery for starters. The price difference was $4 after the cost of shipping.

Almost all my LiPos are from HobbyKing. I've had a couple of early life failures, but that's out of a dozen batteries I have from them so I'm still waaaay ahead of the game compared to paying a name brand premium.

Go Lipo, don't look back.
They're quite safe if you have a hard case.
Lastest generations can charge much faster than first gens.

I'm never buying batteries off Amazon again...
This LiPo is half the price of the one I purchased last night. Hell, it is what I paid for a 4500 NiMH at the store.
It is labeled as 3S1P. Any clue what the '1P' stands for?

Not sure.
The numbers you want are
mah - miliamp hours. This is how long the battery will last on a charge. 4k and up is lots.
25, or 30c, etc. This is the maximum discharge rate. It has to do with how fast you'll go using it. Depending on a log of other things like your motor and gearing.

1c - was the old common maximum charge rate. I think 5amps was the norm.

Newer generations are charging at 2c and better.

It's been a couple of years since I was playing with anything RC. You'll want to check those out with current facts.

Oh, and RE amazon, support your LHS. You'll almost always get better service from the Local Hobby Store. If it's anything like around here, there's a community of enthusiasts built up around it. In RC more than anything else, the store owners are usually enthusiasts instead of someone trying to make money and will sell you anything. Our local store will actually tell you NOT to buy something if they don't think its what you need. Or they'll recommned you something cheaper. They want to build a long term buyer by keeping customers happy.