Mad_Mechanic
Well-known member
Hello everyone!
Guess I'm the new guy around here (for the moment).
A little background. I live in central California and I'm actually a degreed mechanical engineer.
Off and on for years I've had an interest in RC. Growing up I had cheap RC cars (the good ole 49 and 72 MHz days). Around 2010 I started dabbling with RC planes. I bought a Ready To Fly high wing foam 3-channel from a local hobby store and proceeded to crack the wing and fuselage more times than I can help. I finally abandoned the plane when no amount of CA glue was going to fix it and I was tired of sinking money into replacement parts. I also realized I had issues judging distance and when to turn with RC planes.
A couple years later I decided I would try my hand at helicopters, I figured it was worth the learning curve because I could keep the craft in a smaller area. I bought a RTF Blade CX2 and had some fun, got decent with hovering and then decided to mod the heck out of it. After considerable research I decided to try and make the jump to a full collective pitch 450 size heli. I bought a Hobbyking 450GT kit and parts and bought a brand new Futaba T7C (helicopter configured) radio. 2.4 GHz edition.
I had some success flying the 450 until a set screw came loose on the tail rotor and the head rotor was utterly destroyed on impact. I decided this was a decent time to convert it to flybarless. Then my senior year of engineering school hit me and I shelfed all RC activities.
Somewhere in there I bought a FlySky TH9x radio, a programming companion board, loaded custom firmware on it and installed a Futaba compatible transmitter pack (since all I had at that point was Futaba receivers). After that, the radio sat. This was before the FrSky Taranis was a product.
I've tried to get back into the hobby a couple times but have found myself overwhelmed because I can't recall where I left off on my projects. I also get discouraged by the prospect of sinking money into brand name models and cracking them up.
Recently I discovered the FliteTest YouTube channel and have really enjoyed the DIY builds, in particular the cardboard planes. I have LOTS of cardboard and I could even get dollar store foam board if needed. I have some brushless outrunner motors leftover from my helicopter projects and some ESCs.
So I'm hoping to find a nice SLOW flying park flyer plane I can build with readily available materials that I won't be afraid to hit the ground with.
I'm also curious if I should consider buying a new transmitter or if I should stick with the Futaba T7C.
In any case, that's my long story. Anyone have some quick thoughts on the transmitter front? Keep or sell?
-Mad Mechanic
Guess I'm the new guy around here (for the moment).
A little background. I live in central California and I'm actually a degreed mechanical engineer.
Off and on for years I've had an interest in RC. Growing up I had cheap RC cars (the good ole 49 and 72 MHz days). Around 2010 I started dabbling with RC planes. I bought a Ready To Fly high wing foam 3-channel from a local hobby store and proceeded to crack the wing and fuselage more times than I can help. I finally abandoned the plane when no amount of CA glue was going to fix it and I was tired of sinking money into replacement parts. I also realized I had issues judging distance and when to turn with RC planes.
A couple years later I decided I would try my hand at helicopters, I figured it was worth the learning curve because I could keep the craft in a smaller area. I bought a RTF Blade CX2 and had some fun, got decent with hovering and then decided to mod the heck out of it. After considerable research I decided to try and make the jump to a full collective pitch 450 size heli. I bought a Hobbyking 450GT kit and parts and bought a brand new Futaba T7C (helicopter configured) radio. 2.4 GHz edition.
I had some success flying the 450 until a set screw came loose on the tail rotor and the head rotor was utterly destroyed on impact. I decided this was a decent time to convert it to flybarless. Then my senior year of engineering school hit me and I shelfed all RC activities.
Somewhere in there I bought a FlySky TH9x radio, a programming companion board, loaded custom firmware on it and installed a Futaba compatible transmitter pack (since all I had at that point was Futaba receivers). After that, the radio sat. This was before the FrSky Taranis was a product.
I've tried to get back into the hobby a couple times but have found myself overwhelmed because I can't recall where I left off on my projects. I also get discouraged by the prospect of sinking money into brand name models and cracking them up.
Recently I discovered the FliteTest YouTube channel and have really enjoyed the DIY builds, in particular the cardboard planes. I have LOTS of cardboard and I could even get dollar store foam board if needed. I have some brushless outrunner motors leftover from my helicopter projects and some ESCs.
So I'm hoping to find a nice SLOW flying park flyer plane I can build with readily available materials that I won't be afraid to hit the ground with.
I'm also curious if I should consider buying a new transmitter or if I should stick with the Futaba T7C.
In any case, that's my long story. Anyone have some quick thoughts on the transmitter front? Keep or sell?
-Mad Mechanic