Where can i buy cheap rc plane parts for a beginner
- Thread starter mpatel99
- Start date
That's a bit of an open question....
What do you want to fly?
What do you want to spend?
Do you want to build from scratch...or get something "ready to fly"(RTF)...with a minimum of construction.
And what is your "approximate" location...US, Canada, Europe...etc. etc.
I'm in the US, and other than HobbyKing(with their remote warehouses), I'd have a hard time making recommendations for sources in other parts of the world.
There are members here from all over the Planet who may be able to weigh in...but you need to get more specific in your questions.
What do you want to fly?
What do you want to spend?
Do you want to build from scratch...or get something "ready to fly"(RTF)...with a minimum of construction.
And what is your "approximate" location...US, Canada, Europe...etc. etc.
I'm in the US, and other than HobbyKing(with their remote warehouses), I'd have a hard time making recommendations for sources in other parts of the world.
There are members here from all over the Planet who may be able to weigh in...but you need to get more specific in your questions.
HK has some great stuff, but you have to put in the time to find our if the product you're looking at is worth it or not.
ex: Hobby King carries the same motor (and I mean exactly the same) as the E-flite park 450, for about 1/2 the price.
They also carry a bunch of balsa kits which I wouldn't touch with a 39 1/2 ft pole.
Do your research before you buy anything from HK. More often than not, it'll be an at least halfway decent product, and sometimes they're excellent.
ex: Hobby King carries the same motor (and I mean exactly the same) as the E-flite park 450, for about 1/2 the price.
They also carry a bunch of balsa kits which I wouldn't touch with a 39 1/2 ft pole.
Do your research before you buy anything from HK. More often than not, it'll be an at least halfway decent product, and sometimes they're excellent.
SpaceWalker1992
Member
I got 3 stores to reccomend if ou are in USA/Canada: Motionrc.com Valuehobby.com and Hobbyking.com (order from theirs US warehouses)
BeezerFish
Member
Grayson hobby out of Atlanta is another good one
First, don't buy a cheap crap hobby king 6-channel $26 radio. What is the shipping cost? Shipping is probably adding another $5.00.
Instead, buy the Spectrum DEX5e for $63.00 with shipping...see below. OK it's another $30 more expensive. Well what if the HobbyKing Radio is DOA, or it breaks...just try to get support. They'll run you through hoops. You might as well throw it in the trash. I wish I could put the Spectrum and HobbyKing side by side so you could see the obvious cheapness of the Hobby King.
Read the below post before you start ordering stuff.
First go in with a budget.
Buy pieces where they make the most sense.
Don't order from dozens of different places...the shipping will kill you...
Here's my take for a beginners $200 shopping list.
From HorizonHobby.com.
Radio: Spectrum DX5e(no receiver) from Horizon Hobby. $59.99 + $2.99 shipping = $62.98
If you have any problems with the Radio...Horizon stands behind it...especially if you buy it directly from them. Save the receipt that you can copy if you have issues. Their service is unparalleled. You won't get this type of support from HobbyKing. Use HobbyKing for smaller items that won't burn you too badly if they are "dead on arrival". This Spektrum radio has DSMX which will support a whole boatload of Bind and Fly Planes.
From HobbyKing.com International Warehouse:
Receiver: OrangeRx R410X DSMX Compatible 4Ch/6CH PWM/CPPM 2.4Ghz Receiver. $10.89.
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/...atible_4Ch_6CH_PWM_CPPM_2_4Ghz_Receiver_.html
Speed Controller: TURNIGY Plush 25amp Speed Controller. $13.45
25 Amps should give you enough headroom to run from 35gm-70gm motors.
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewitem.asp?idproduct=2163&aff=247441
Servos: Get five(this will give you a spare or two)...HXT900 9g / 1.6kg / .12sec Micro Servo $2.69*5 = $13.45.
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__662__HXT900_9g_1_6kg_12sec_Micro_Servo.html
Lipo Battery: ZIPPY Flightmax 1500mAh 3S1P 20C (AR Warehouse). $8.20.
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/...d-kit/?page_context=category&faceted_search=0
So there's $200 and change, depending on shipping costs.
I guess the one thing I'm a bit hesitant on is the charger. It plugs into the wall, and I don't like cheap Hobby King quality things that plug into the wall.
Here is a excellent Charger from HobbyParts as well as an EMax motor.
Orders over $50 ship free in the US.
Charger:Thunder AC6 Smart LiPo Balance Charger/Discharger w/ AC Adapter for 1-6 Lipo/ 1-15 Nimh + USB to PC Software
http://www.hobbypartz.com/thac6smbachw.html
Motor; EMAX XA2212 Brushless Motor+Accessories 1400KV suitable for pusher prop FPV planes, high-speed wings
http://www.hobbypartz.com/66p-113-xa2212-kv1400-accessories.html
Entirely on the other end of the Spectrum is a "Ready To Fly"(aka RTF) Kit.
For $209 Motionrc.com has a ParkZone Radian with free shipping. It has the identical DX5e Radio as well as a long range receiver. I don't know how many Channels the Receiver has. Unfortunately this item is currently out of stock. The radian is a large 3-channel plane (throttle, rudder and elevators) that I believe is suitable for beginners. It doesn't have ailerons. But even intermediate and advanced pilots rave about it. The guys in the Flite Test podcasts can't say enough good about it. It's a very relaxing change of pace for them, and at $209 with free shipping. that is really an awesome price. Take out the price of the radio and receiver, and you're getting the rest of this substantial plane plus charger for around $140 bucks...a real steal.
http://www.motionrc.com/parkzone-radian-2000mm-79-wingspan-rtf/?gclid=CPy0n678-cUCFY2RHwoduLcApg
If you do go the RTF route, be sure the radio transmitter is decent. 95% of all RTF kits contain toy radios.
Instead, buy the Spectrum DEX5e for $63.00 with shipping...see below. OK it's another $30 more expensive. Well what if the HobbyKing Radio is DOA, or it breaks...just try to get support. They'll run you through hoops. You might as well throw it in the trash. I wish I could put the Spectrum and HobbyKing side by side so you could see the obvious cheapness of the Hobby King.
Read the below post before you start ordering stuff.
First go in with a budget.
Buy pieces where they make the most sense.
Don't order from dozens of different places...the shipping will kill you...
Here's my take for a beginners $200 shopping list.
From HorizonHobby.com.
Radio: Spectrum DX5e(no receiver) from Horizon Hobby. $59.99 + $2.99 shipping = $62.98
If you have any problems with the Radio...Horizon stands behind it...especially if you buy it directly from them. Save the receipt that you can copy if you have issues. Their service is unparalleled. You won't get this type of support from HobbyKing. Use HobbyKing for smaller items that won't burn you too badly if they are "dead on arrival". This Spektrum radio has DSMX which will support a whole boatload of Bind and Fly Planes.
From HobbyKing.com International Warehouse:
Receiver: OrangeRx R410X DSMX Compatible 4Ch/6CH PWM/CPPM 2.4Ghz Receiver. $10.89.
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/...atible_4Ch_6CH_PWM_CPPM_2_4Ghz_Receiver_.html
Speed Controller: TURNIGY Plush 25amp Speed Controller. $13.45
25 Amps should give you enough headroom to run from 35gm-70gm motors.
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewitem.asp?idproduct=2163&aff=247441
Servos: Get five(this will give you a spare or two)...HXT900 9g / 1.6kg / .12sec Micro Servo $2.69*5 = $13.45.
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__662__HXT900_9g_1_6kg_12sec_Micro_Servo.html
Lipo Battery: ZIPPY Flightmax 1500mAh 3S1P 20C (AR Warehouse). $8.20.
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/...d-kit/?page_context=category&faceted_search=0
So there's $200 and change, depending on shipping costs.
I guess the one thing I'm a bit hesitant on is the charger. It plugs into the wall, and I don't like cheap Hobby King quality things that plug into the wall.
Here is a excellent Charger from HobbyParts as well as an EMax motor.
Orders over $50 ship free in the US.
Charger:Thunder AC6 Smart LiPo Balance Charger/Discharger w/ AC Adapter for 1-6 Lipo/ 1-15 Nimh + USB to PC Software
http://www.hobbypartz.com/thac6smbachw.html
Motor; EMAX XA2212 Brushless Motor+Accessories 1400KV suitable for pusher prop FPV planes, high-speed wings
http://www.hobbypartz.com/66p-113-xa2212-kv1400-accessories.html
Entirely on the other end of the Spectrum is a "Ready To Fly"(aka RTF) Kit.
For $209 Motionrc.com has a ParkZone Radian with free shipping. It has the identical DX5e Radio as well as a long range receiver. I don't know how many Channels the Receiver has. Unfortunately this item is currently out of stock. The radian is a large 3-channel plane (throttle, rudder and elevators) that I believe is suitable for beginners. It doesn't have ailerons. But even intermediate and advanced pilots rave about it. The guys in the Flite Test podcasts can't say enough good about it. It's a very relaxing change of pace for them, and at $209 with free shipping. that is really an awesome price. Take out the price of the radio and receiver, and you're getting the rest of this substantial plane plus charger for around $140 bucks...a real steal.
http://www.motionrc.com/parkzone-radian-2000mm-79-wingspan-rtf/?gclid=CPy0n678-cUCFY2RHwoduLcApg
If you do go the RTF route, be sure the radio transmitter is decent. 95% of all RTF kits contain toy radios.
Last edited:
Oh ok, well thanks for the advice, im not in a hurry to get parts, still doing research before actually buying stuff, already bough foam to build the body, but i will get parts first before i start build, and how hard is it to solder the esc and battery connectors, i have no experience in soldering.
Soldering is not a big deal.
Watch some YouTube Videos.
Soldering iron at least 40 watts...60 watts is probably better since you're soldering big wires.
http://www.amazon.com/60-Watts-Sold...pebp=1433561437941&perid=1YS1R2TXPEAA31989CPT
Solder: 60/40 rosin core solder is for electrical uses. No flux is necessary. The rosin flux is in the solder wire.
You don't need a whole pound of solder. A 0.5 to 1.0 oz. coil is plenty.
http://www.amazon.com/Kester-Rosin-...sim_469_4?ie=UTF8&refRID=1PCD6QXGH0VW6NJJ8RBB
Acid core solder is for soldering copper pipes...not electronics.
Lead free solder is hard to use.
Oatey solder and fluxes as well as Benzomatic fluxes are for joining copper pipe in plumbing...not electronics.
Solder for electronics contains lead.
Don't put it in your mouth.
The smoke created by soldering does not contain lead...it is the flux that is burning.
That said...wash your hands after soldering.
If you spend your life soldering...yeah...you can probably get lead poisoning.
At the hobby level...just wash your hands.
Watch some YouTube Videos.
Soldering iron at least 40 watts...60 watts is probably better since you're soldering big wires.
http://www.amazon.com/60-Watts-Sold...pebp=1433561437941&perid=1YS1R2TXPEAA31989CPT
Solder: 60/40 rosin core solder is for electrical uses. No flux is necessary. The rosin flux is in the solder wire.
You don't need a whole pound of solder. A 0.5 to 1.0 oz. coil is plenty.
http://www.amazon.com/Kester-Rosin-...sim_469_4?ie=UTF8&refRID=1PCD6QXGH0VW6NJJ8RBB
Acid core solder is for soldering copper pipes...not electronics.
Lead free solder is hard to use.
Oatey solder and fluxes as well as Benzomatic fluxes are for joining copper pipe in plumbing...not electronics.
Solder for electronics contains lead.
Don't put it in your mouth.
The smoke created by soldering does not contain lead...it is the flux that is burning.
That said...wash your hands after soldering.
If you spend your life soldering...yeah...you can probably get lead poisoning.
At the hobby level...just wash your hands.
Last edited:
Gryf
Active member
Hi, and welcome to the forum! If you want to learn how to solder, here's an excellent tutorial by Bruce Simpson of Xjet/RCModelReviews -
http://youtu.be/nS0bEuYPJoA
Have fun!
Gryf
http://youtu.be/nS0bEuYPJoA
Have fun!
Gryf
buzzkillg230rc
Junior Member
I agree with burly on the transmitter, Get a spektrum DX5e. I purchased mine via craigslist for 25bux. it did not come with a receiver, for that I went with a lemon rx 6 channel and paid 13bux for that.
my power pod stuff was all purchased from hobbyking US shipping center and spent around 50 bux, which included the ESC, 4 servos, battery, and motor.
Good Luck with your build. and don't be afraid to crash!
my power pod stuff was all purchased from hobbyking US shipping center and spent around 50 bux, which included the ESC, 4 servos, battery, and motor.
Good Luck with your build. and don't be afraid to crash!
PeterGregory
CrossThread Industries
Building a Mighty Mini Scout and Speedster.
Lost money on an HK Park250 that came apart when I was setting it up for a prop adapter (collet connector for prop, versus prop-saver).
Took a look at Altitude Hobby for their FT Mini Scout package - for aobut $36 shipped, you get a great deal with a better Suppo motor.
That's just an example. HK is great for dirt cheap and gets you flying, especially $ Tree Foam Board foamies you find on FT. You want to go up in quality for more expensive planes.
My 2 cents / 6 drachmas
Lost money on an HK Park250 that came apart when I was setting it up for a prop adapter (collet connector for prop, versus prop-saver).
Took a look at Altitude Hobby for their FT Mini Scout package - for aobut $36 shipped, you get a great deal with a better Suppo motor.
That's just an example. HK is great for dirt cheap and gets you flying, especially $ Tree Foam Board foamies you find on FT. You want to go up in quality for more expensive planes.
My 2 cents / 6 drachmas
