mayan
Legendary member
Thanks!
Tips for a newbie (experience talking)
- Thread starter mayan
- Start date
basslord1124
Master member
Something I want to add...
As a new person, do not pay attention to how your model looks in comparison to the build videos. It's so easy to watch how effortlessly and almost perfect Josh (or whoever it is) can build their models and make em look. Dents, wrinkles, bevel cuts that go through to the paper, happen to us all in the beginning. It still happens now for me sometimes. So ignore looks and focus to make sure everything else is good...everything is squared as best as you can, control surfaces move well in both directions, etc. Besides, nobody's gonna notice that big wrinkle when you are 100 feet in the air...AND....it's only foamboard.
As a new person, do not pay attention to how your model looks in comparison to the build videos. It's so easy to watch how effortlessly and almost perfect Josh (or whoever it is) can build their models and make em look. Dents, wrinkles, bevel cuts that go through to the paper, happen to us all in the beginning. It still happens now for me sometimes. So ignore looks and focus to make sure everything else is good...everything is squared as best as you can, control surfaces move well in both directions, etc. Besides, nobody's gonna notice that big wrinkle when you are 100 feet in the air...AND....it's only foamboard.
I'm going to mention this: BEFORE takeoff, DO A RUN-UP, AND check that the prop is in tight, even if it's electric. This basically means, check ailerons, rudder, elevator, AND thrust. The proper way to test thrust is either on a bench that has restraints, or on the ground with restraints, or with someone holding the plane's tail, as you throttle up.
That way, you KNOW you put the prop on and it's spinning in the right direction. I almost had a very bad day with my Sea Duck's maiden flight because I had the wrong prop on one of the motors; it started pushing the plane into a spin when we powered it up. I've also had drone issues at takeoff because I had the props spinning in the wrong direction on two of the motors.
Hai-Lee
Old and Bold RC PILOT
An old tip, DO your control check and your take off standing behind your plane. It avoids confusion in which way the controls are connected and confusion about control input direction required if the plane maneuvers rapidly and unexpectedly.
It takes a large degree of experience to do a take off towards yourself!
have fun!
It takes a large degree of experience to do a take off towards yourself!
have fun!
mayan
Legendary member
Just a funny way I check the motor and prop are setup correct, and that I have enough thrust. Here where I live it gets pretty darn hot so to check my motor and prop I hold the plane from the fuselage placing it in front of me and throttle up. If I get cooled down everything is setup correctly .
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Arcfyre
Elite member
Not much more to add from me, if I'm honest. You've got some great folks with a whole lot of knowledge to chime in already.
If you need any help with stabilized LemonRXes or want some hints or tips for flying floatplanes/flying boats, I could share those, but as they aren't in the spirit of this post, I'll keep them to myself for now.
If you need any help with stabilized LemonRXes or want some hints or tips for flying floatplanes/flying boats, I could share those, but as they aren't in the spirit of this post, I'll keep them to myself for now.
mayan
Legendary member
How about tips of flying in populated areas? you probably have much to share about thatNot much more to add from me, if I'm honest. You've got some great folks with a whole lot of knowledge to chime in already.
If you need any help with stabilized LemonRXes or want some hints or tips for flying floatplanes/flying boats, I could share those, but as they aren't in the spirit of this post, I'll keep them to myself for now.
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FastCrash45
Elite member
I'm waiting for my change back.😁😎
Arcfyre
Elite member
How about tips of flying in populated areas? you probably have much to share about that
Short answer: don't
Longer answer: don't until you know what you're doing.
mayan
Legendary member
Arcfyre
Elite member
I guess I should clarify here.
If you've seen any of my videos, you can see that I live in a large neighborhood that has several ponds/lakes scattered throughout it. The largest lake is basically in my backyard and it has a common area that is a grassy field the leads right down to the water. The field is probably 100 square meters or so, and is ringed by young trees with houses (including my own) beyond that.
In general, I do not advocate flying near other people or their property. It is very easy to become "that guy" that gives all us hobbyists a bad name by causing some sort of injury or damaging someone's property.
That being said, I have chosen to accept the risks of flying in my neighborhood as long as I am willing to stick to a few self-imposed rules:
1. No flying in extremely windy weather. I need to be confident that I have control of the airplane at all times.
2. No overly large or noisy aircraft. Larger aircraft cause more damage when they hit things, and loud ones are sure to attract the wrong kind of attention.
3. As much as possible, try to fly over the water, and limit flight vectors that aim towards people or property.
4. No flying and specifically no takeoffs or landings when the common area is being used by other people.
Even with that being said, I need to reiterate that I do not advocate anyone else flying in their neighborhood. It only takes a second to get yourself into some pretty serious trouble, not to mention it would be hard to live with yourself if you hurt someone with one of your planes.
If you've seen any of my videos, you can see that I live in a large neighborhood that has several ponds/lakes scattered throughout it. The largest lake is basically in my backyard and it has a common area that is a grassy field the leads right down to the water. The field is probably 100 square meters or so, and is ringed by young trees with houses (including my own) beyond that.
In general, I do not advocate flying near other people or their property. It is very easy to become "that guy" that gives all us hobbyists a bad name by causing some sort of injury or damaging someone's property.
That being said, I have chosen to accept the risks of flying in my neighborhood as long as I am willing to stick to a few self-imposed rules:
1. No flying in extremely windy weather. I need to be confident that I have control of the airplane at all times.
2. No overly large or noisy aircraft. Larger aircraft cause more damage when they hit things, and loud ones are sure to attract the wrong kind of attention.
3. As much as possible, try to fly over the water, and limit flight vectors that aim towards people or property.
4. No flying and specifically no takeoffs or landings when the common area is being used by other people.
Even with that being said, I need to reiterate that I do not advocate anyone else flying in their neighborhood. It only takes a second to get yourself into some pretty serious trouble, not to mention it would be hard to live with yourself if you hurt someone with one of your planes.
mayan
Legendary member
Word!
Agreed. There are only 2 times I've flown in my neighborhood:
1) I was flying my Inductrix outside, in front of me, going around the tree in my parents' front yard, and bringing it back around. I wasn't getting crazy with it, because it was starting to get windy, and the tree has lots of little branches that hang down and like to grab small things like drones out of the air and "eat" them.
2) I was flying my Inductrix drone indoors, in my home. If I crash into anything, it's damaging my home, my stuff, and I'm generally not flying in a crazy fast, out of control manner.
It's just not wise to fly in neighborhoods if you can help it. Having to explain to your neighbors why you need to get on the roof of their house, or into their backyard because your plane went down on the other side of the fence? I kinda gave that up when they said they were going to keep the ball that ended up in their yard. LOL
mayan
Legendary member
Recently had the fear that my Mini Might Mini TT flew into someones house, someone I don't and probably wouldn't have had the courage to go ask for it. Luckily I managed to crash it into a tree in a abanded properity.
Paracodespoder
Elite member
Not much of a flight tip, but learn how electronics sizing works and which electronics do what. Also learn to calculate what electronics you need for any plane you scratch build.
I have gotten a lot of tips and help from many of the guys here
- I recommend that if you are just starting, listen to their input, it is so valuable.
- They can help you a lot if you put up videos of your flight on this forum.
- One thing I can think of right now is calm down for your first flight, slow down - I was flying at full throttle at first and things go wrong very fast.
- Calm down, I over corrected several times and crashed.
- I watched the videos series on Flite Test - some more then once.
- Getting a computer simulator helped me to get my motor skills down better and calmed me way down when I do get out and fly. I didn't fly for a couple of months and went out a few weeks ago and had a 1 minute flight and busted my firewall and that ended my day. I believe I panicked and over correct like crazy. I don't think it was anything else. I then spent a couple of hours on the sim before I went again last week and drained 2 batteries. I still had some hard landings but they are soft ones compared to the full throttle hard landings that would tear my plane apart.
- Spare parts as many have said here. I keep adding to my storage box.
- Having tape with me has kept me flying even if it needed glued, which I would do when I got back home - glue and tape.
- If I think of more I will add later.
- Build, Fly, Crash, Repeat again and again.
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mayan
Legendary member
Here is an outsource tip! If you are building FT planes you'll need knifes each one has his own favorite set of knifes. So here is a link to a thread dedicated to helping you find your favorite set of sharp things they call knifes .
https://forum.flitetest.com/index.php?threads/best-knives-to-use.57249/
.https://forum.flitetest.com/index.php?threads/best-knives-to-use.57249/
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