RE: best for begginers
Welcome to RC!!! RCU is a great site. I realize that to get flying ASAP you will probably by an ARF (almost ready to fly) model. I personally have never bought an ARF but I realize for someone new it is probably the way to go. I just want to give you something else to consider. After you have bought your first model and are flying regularly, think about buying a kit you have to build. There are several kits of models that are easy to build and fly. The building of kits,and eventually scratch building, is a part of the hobby that is very rewarding. Some folks dont care anything at all about building there own. Some folks dont have the time. But if you have an ARF that you are flying, then maybe you can take a few hours a week to build your own while you are building your flying skills with the ARF. I personally really get a kick out of flying a model that I built. Just something for a newbie to consider for the long haul.
Posted on: 11/20/2009 11:41 AM by Author "stevenmax50" in the forum "Beginners"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9267556

RE: Out of trim trainer
I am flying a GP PT-60 with an OS 65LA. If I have my idle just a little too high I cant land it. I usually chop the throttle to half after reaching cruise altitude and only give it full throttle when I am going to pull into a loop or roll (the only 2 manuvers I know). I find that half throttle gives me plenty of power to keep my nose up when turning. And then there is the obvious fuel economy. The PT 60 just wants to climb at full throttle.
Posted on: 11/20/2009 11:27 AM by Author "stevenmax50" in the forum "Beginners"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9267527

RE: Pitts or Ultimate
I feel like you do. Bipes have a special look to them. I am considering a bipe for my next build after the Tiger I am getting in 11 days now!!! I know its a more challenging build, but I really like the Stearman. I havent looked at which MFR to go with yet. Truth is it may be a few years before I build a Stearman. My dream Stearman will have a multi-cylinder, possibly radial engine. Big bucks there. I may hafta go with one of the models you guys mentioned first, just to get my bipe groove goin. I will stay in the 60 or larger size. Just easier for me to see. Good luck with whichever model you choose.
Posted on: 11/20/2009 11:17 AM by Author "stevenmax50" in the forum "Beginners"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9267506

RE: Retract Battery
Thank you very much Mr. Graham. That diagram is just the ticket. Makes sense now.
Posted on: 11/20/2009 10:37 AM by Author "stevenmax50" in the forum "RC Radios, Transmitters, Receivers, Servos, gyros"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9267425

RE: gluing pinned hinges
At the beginning of this forum is a thread about installing Robart hinge pins. The thread has a link to a video that convinced me to use the Gorilla glue when I install the hinges on my next build. It looked easy and very secure. Vicman.....do you use gorilla glue for joining wing halves?
Posted on: 11/19/2009 7:10 PM by Author "stevenmax50" in the forum "Tips & Techniques"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9266047

Retract Battery
I was talking in another thread about reciever batteries. One of the postings recommended that I use a seperate battery for a retract setup I plan on putting in my next build, a Tiger 60. Can anyone tell me how this is done? What would I plug my retract servo into? Where would I plug in a seperate retract battery?
Posted on: 11/19/2009 6:43 PM by Author "stevenmax50" in the forum "RC Radios, Transmitters, Receivers, Servos, gyros"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9265978

RE: December Tower Talk ARF's
Sounds like I wasnt very clear when I started this thread. I only meant to observe how many ARF's were offered versus kits. This looks alot differant from my first incarnation in RC. I am 50 years old now and have an empty nest. i also own my own business and as such have all the free time I want now. I first got into this hobby in my 20's. Working for Braniff airlines dictated most of my time and so I wound up selling the 3 planes I had built over 2 years. I tried to get into the hobby again at 40 years old but I wound up working 747's 20 days on and 10 days off commuting to Korea for my 20 work days. Once again no time for a hobby. If ARF's had been available in 1986 I may have tried them. Now that I have the time to build, my impression, brought on by things like 8 pages of ARF's and 2 of kits, is that kits are a dying breed. I surf tower's site almost daily. I am still so new since I returned to RC that I do not know half the sites to surf for RC stuff. I have actually bought almost everything I have from Tower. I do have an engine coming from Hobby People. They had a great price. I see there are some of you guys who have been in this hobby for a lotta years and have seen all the changes (good and bad) and know all the behind the scene stuff. Stuff like who owns who. Unless you have been around awhile none of that is obvious when you get a catalog in the mail the looks alot differant from what you remember from many years ago. I have yet to even hear about an upcoming swap meet. I sure would like to go to one of those and see what kits I can pick up. Once again, and for the record. Nobody is bashing Tower. Just making an observation of the times we live in.
Posted on: 11/19/2009 6:36 PM by Author "stevenmax50" in the forum "Kit Building"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9265957

RE: Kit Building Cool Tools
I have seen several people comment on the GP hinge slotting tool. Can any of you expand on how you feel about them? How effective are they?
Posted on: 11/19/2009 11:29 AM by Author "stevenmax50" in the forum "Kit Building"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9265069

RE: December Tower Talk ARF's
I sure didnt start this thread to bash Tower. It was more of a commentary on how kits are becoming harder and harder to find due to the instant gratification society we have created ourselves. Whenever I am looking for something for my little hobby shop the first place I look is Tower. My wife just ordered my new Magnum 91 from Hobby People and it is the first on-line order I have ever placed with anyone other than Tower. And since it is backordered I admit I am abit anxious about the deal. I know that wouldnt be the case if it was a Tower backorder. Hobby People may be great...I just have no experiance with them. I would love to have the wisdom the NM2K has. Even tho I love to build I guess I should be happy that I have the opportunities that I do. I first picked up a copy of RC Modeler magazine back around 1986 and I remember alot of beautiful kits. Having gotten in and out of this hobby 3 times, I guess I just never expected things to change so much. I just have to set myself a goal of getting good enough to build from plans. There will be no limits then! Ed....what is the name of that hobby store there in Ringold? I have been there around 8 years ago. Is it still in business? I remember the guy I talked to there seemed very knowlegable. (spelling???) I do not remember what road you exit off I75 to get there.
Posted on: 11/19/2009 11:18 AM by Author "stevenmax50" in the forum "Kit Building"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9265055

RE: Reciever Batteries - HELP
Thanks for that battery website. Its a very good site. I coulda used it when I was looking for a laptop battery. Off the subject a little but I just had Santa ( my wife) order a new Magnum 91 4 stroke from Hobby People. It was 60 bucks cheaper than Tower. And the Airtronics 8 ch 2.4 is 40 bucks cheaper. They are both back ordered, but I talked to them by phone and the backorders should be filled before the end of November. I did not look at prices for other radios as I am kinda set on the Airtronics for this model. 12 more days till my Tiger 60 arrives!!!
Posted on: 11/19/2009 9:47 AM by Author "stevenmax50" in the forum "RC Radios, Transmitters, Receivers, Servos, gyros"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9264910

RE: December Tower Talk ARF's
I understand that sentiment. I used to think Tower was IT. But not only am I finding better prices elsewhere, but it feels like Tower is going big for the ARF market and nobody else matters. I went to a LHS in Huntsville AL and everything I asked them that had anything to do with building got me a deer in the headlights look. And they actually looked me in the eye and told me "nobody paints their own model anymore". Too bad. They have alot of stuff on the shelves. They just had no idea what it was all for. Cause the majority of what they have are ARF's. Thats kinda the feeling I get when looking at Towers catalog now.
Posted on: 11/18/2009 7:43 PM by Author "stevenmax50" in the forum "Kit Building"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9263887

December Tower Talk ARF's
Anybody else notice that there are 8 pages of ARF's compared to 2 pages of Kits in the latest Tower Talk catalog? I know I have seen threads that show other websites where you can buy kits. I guess I better start writing those sites down so I can find a kit when I am ready for my next one. Tower is Top-Flite or Great Planes and thats about it. Nice kits but for such a large online catalog, a dismally small selection. My Tiger 60 will be here in 13 days and counting.
Posted on: 11/18/2009 7:04 PM by Author "stevenmax50" in the forum "Kit Building"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9263791

RE: Club MAGNUM !
I told my wife (Santa) this morning about the 60 bucks differance between Tower and Hobby People and she wasted no time. By the time I taled to her 3 hours later she had placed the order. I am not much of a shopper. If I see something I want at a price I can afford I just buy it. I dont really look around that much as I figure any price differance will be small. It just happens that The Magnum engine and the Airtronics radio were what I told my wife to get me for xmas this year. I made that decision on those two items weeks ago so I had alot of time here in RCU to get info on the two. Finding the Magnum 60 bucks cheaper is just not my normal run of luck. I called Hobby People before I even knew my wife had placed the order and they said the backorder should be filled by the end of November. Plenty of time for xmas. And the Airtronics backorder should be filled by the end of this week. An 8 ch 2.4 radio with 1 reciever for 150 bucks is another one of those deals I just dont normally find. Now all I need batteries and a charger for the reciever.
Posted on: 11/18/2009 5:30 PM by Author "stevenmax50" in the forum "Glow Engines"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9263524

RE: Club MAGNUM !
I didnt see Magnum engines at HobbyCity. The only glow I saw was the ASP.
Posted on: 11/18/2009 2:28 PM by Author "stevenmax50" in the forum "Glow Engines"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9263062

RE: GMS 47 = garbage
Ditto Biged. I had a K&B 65 sportster back in the late 80's. Everyone at that club (near dallas Tx) told me K&B sucked but they couldnt believe how well mine ran.
Posted on: 11/18/2009 1:43 PM by Author "stevenmax50" in the forum "Beginners"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9262971

RE: Reciever Batteries - HELP
I was just reading over everyones postings again. I do that alot. And some questions popped up. Rodney....when you say "use adequate size batteries (capacity)", would you be refering to the Mah's? I recently read an ad for someone that lead me to believe that you get longer run time out of a 2400 Mah batt VS a 600 Mah. With voltage the same on both battery sets. I am sure this may be a stupid question to some of you but I cant stand making assumptions and advertisments usually are void of anything but marketing BS. Chanco..... I have done several searches and have had no luck finding the Sanyo 2700 batteries you mention. Bigedmustafa....Thanks for your info. As price is a factor I will probably go with the setup you use as well. If 4.8V, 600Mah works well for you, and has for some time, well that sounds like a good recommendation to me. I just saw where the Magnum 91 is 60 bucks cheaper at Hobby People than it is at Tower. And the Airtronics is 40 bucks less. They are backordered so I will be caling soon to see how long. Santa (my wife) needs to know. 14 days until my Tiger arrives.
Posted on: 11/18/2009 12:51 PM by Author "stevenmax50" in the forum "RC Radios, Transmitters, Receivers, Servos, gyros"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9262876

RE: Club MAGNUM !
I just saw the Magnum 91 4 stroke at the Hobby People website for 60 bucks cheaper than Tower. Its on backorder. My wife is calling now to find out how long. Its only 140 bucks!!!
Posted on: 11/18/2009 11:33 AM by Author "stevenmax50" in the forum "Glow Engines"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9262720

Prop Determination
I am getting a magnum 91 4 stroke for xmas. I know that the MFR gives a prop range for the engine but I wonder how you determine which prop is the most suitable for your particular A/C. Which prop gives more power? An 11, or 12, or 13? And what does changing the pitch from 6 to 7 or 8 do for me? My current model runs an OS 65 LA and I can run either an 11-7 up to a 12-8. I would assume that length bites more air thus giving more thrust. Am I full of dodo? And I have no idea what pitch changes add or take away. BTW, I will be putting that Magnum on a Tiger 60. My flying skills are minimal so I am still very much in a learning phase. No advanced aerobatics from me yet. A basic loop and roll give me all the thrill I can handle right now. I hope the Tiger helps me advance some in my flying skills and I believe the magnum will power me into, and out of, whatever trouble I feel squirelly enough go for. I hope ya'll can understand what I am asking. 12 more days until my Tiger shows up!!! Oh YA....I just saw both the Magnum and the Airtronics at the Hobby People website for 40 to 60 bucks LESS the Tower. Backorder but what the heck. 90 bucks between radio and engine. I can buy a reciever batt and servos for that.
Posted on: 11/18/2009 11:31 AM by Author "stevenmax50" in the forum "Glow Engines"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9262712

RE: sealing seams with koverall
13 more days until my Tiger 60 gets here (birthday). I cant wait to get to building again. I wish I had the skill to build a bipe like Waconuts from the plans only. What with the way kits are becoming extinct I dont know if I will ever be able to by a bipe kit of that quality. I have no desire to buy an ARF. If all goes well with the Tiger my next kit after that may be a bipe. Covering a Stearman absolutly requires using fabric. I will probably stick with the Koverall for my Tiger as I still have alot left over from my last build. Hey Carl, where do you fly? I have a mother and brother living in Decatur and make it over that way at least once a month. I've never been to the field in the Decatur area and would like to check it out sometime.
Posted on: 11/17/2009 8:17 PM by Author "stevenmax50" in the forum "Kit Building"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9261306

RE: Transport rack ideas sought
I have the same issue. 2 planes with 60 - 70 in spans. I was just gonna go to Lowes and buy a buncha PVC pipe with elbows, T's, and unions. I figured I would put the fuselages on the left and right of a center section and have the two out sides hold a wing on each side. I have drawn several styles on paper but so far I see no plan that reaches out and says "thats it man". Guess I will just make sure I have plenty of pipe when I start to cut. I will post a pic if I get something put together here soon. My truck has hold downs at each corner so I do plan on using them with bungy straps to keeo the whole assy in the truck.
Posted on: 11/16/2009 7:44 PM by Author "stevenmax50" in the forum "Tips & Techniques"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9258737

RE: sealing seams with koverall
Hey Carl, nice info in your posting. I used koverall and Sig Stix-it on my last model and i want to go fabric again. I much prefer the look to monokote. Could you enlighten me on a couple of things on your technique? BTW, I will spray the koverall with hair spray before cutting to make a clean cut to keep the fuzzies way down. Question 1. When do you start the shrink process? And how much at a time do you shrink? I stuck the coverall at the seams everywhere and then sharnk the coverall down to taught. I then brushed on Minwax Polycrylic. 3 coats, not thinned. After that I would sand after each coat of Poly. I then primed with an auto rattle can primer. I had the local auto parts store mix me some paint and it went on well with my Lowes compressor/sprayer. I thinned the paint by about 25%. Question 2. Will you switch to a fabric covering with the adhesive already applied? If so, which one? I think I would like to try that next time myself. But to be honest, I do not think the seams are very hard when you use Polycrylic as the sand smooth easily. The thing I found most difficult was pulling out and shrinking out the wrinkles in the curved areas. That might not be any less difficult with a pre-adhesive applied fabric. BTW I will be starting a build thread for my new Tiger 60 when I get it. My B-day is in 2 weeks and I have let it be know I can get the engine/radio for Xmas. Just get me the plane now so I can start building. Looking forward to any advice from anyone and everyone. Hey Carl..... Roll Tide Roll
Posted on: 11/16/2009 7:22 PM by Author "stevenmax50" in the forum "Kit Building"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9258680

RE: Tiger 60 Build Thread
Jon, did you find out about the torque rods for the ailerons? I do not have my kit in hand yet so I dont know what is standard for this kit. I would prefer a servo for each aileron instead of a torque rod. What do the plans call out for? Kinda want to know if that is a mod I will have to do. I've never done that mod but it seems like it would be simple enough. 26 days and counting till I have my kit. I plan on buying my wife one of those 750 dollar digital SLR cameras for Xmas so I will have her practice on pics of my build. Photography is HER hobby.
Posted on: 11/4/2009 12:41 PM by Author "stevenmax50" in the forum "Kit Building"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9227732

RE: Buildig my 1st kit (what should I get)
Ilikebipes suggested the Tiger 60 and the Great Planes PT 60 as well as a few others. I have been flying the PT 60 for awhile now and I like it alot. The build was not difficult. I have built a few Great Planes models and they have very good instructions and plans. My next model is the Tiger 60. Goldberg will send you an addendum to the plans to modify to retractable gear and that is what sold me on that kit for my next build. Some folks say never bother with retracts but I am hardheaded and I like the clean lines they give a bird in flight. Just know this....the PT60 has alot of dihedral and is not areobatic where as a low wing like the Tiger 60 while not fully aerobatic, does have alot more capabilities than a high wing trainer.
Posted on: 11/4/2009 12:11 PM by Author "stevenmax50" in the forum "Kit Building"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9227682

RE: Covering
Of course there are many opinions on what to use when covering a model. So, this is my opinion. WWI Bi-planes should only be covered with a fabric covering. It gives it a much more scale appearance than the plastics. There is definatly more work involved. But I really dont see it as work as this is my hobby. And there are several fabrics to chose from. Some require you use an adhesive to attach it to the airframe. Some come with the adhesive already applied. I do not know if Minnflyer covers fabrics. But if you want to try out the fabrics there are alot of threads here to aid you in that also. Good luck.
Posted on: 11/4/2009 11:59 AM by Author "stevenmax50" in the forum "Kit Building"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9227651

RE: os .91 fs 4-stroke.
AnAlternateEgo, Ive never tried this before but here we go.... http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_4997091/tm.htm That should be the link to the Tiger 60 build thread. Right now it is on the first page of the Kit Building forum.
Posted on: 11/3/2009 5:13 PM by Author "stevenmax50" in the forum "Beginners"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9225783

RE: Tiger 60 Build Thread
Jon, I am putting a Magnum .91 4 stroke on my Tiger. I have read many postings that claim the Tiger is tail heavy. I was going to install the .72 4s but decided on the .91 just for the added weight on the nose. As far as overpowered....who sys you have to fly at full throttle? And I just love the sound a 4 stroke puts out. I will be starting an entirely new Tiger 60 build thread in Dec. I expect to get the kit on my B'day, Nov 30th. The engine and radio will be under the xmas tree. This thread is great and has ALOT of useful tips. I will refere to it over and over when I build. But I figure its kinda long now and a new thread is due. See ya ROLL TIDE
Posted on: 11/3/2009 11:02 AM by Author "stevenmax50" in the forum "Kit Building"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9224968

RE: covering with fabric where to start?
Chip, I will be checking in with you when I am ready to cover my next model. That should be sometime in Feb or March. It will be a Tiger 60. As I said in my earlier posting I was not happy with Balsarite. My problem areas were the seams. I used Minwax Polycrylic to fill the weave and was very happy with that. My GP PT60 weighed in at 8 lbs. Exactly per Great Planes spec. I used paint from my local auto parts store and that also worked out well. Except my paint gun is a Lowes model that sprayed at 40 psi line pressure. I am thinking of buying an airbrush setup. I would like an HVLP setup but it is cost prohibitive. I have heard that you cannot use a standard compressor with one of those guns. So what I will be looking for to cover my Tiger.... Fabric covering Covering Adhesive filler for the fabric Right now I think I will go back to your site and read some more. I'm kinda dense and require multiple reads to comprehend. If you have pictures to go along with the tutorial it would be an enormous help.
Posted on: 11/2/2009 8:06 PM by Author "stevenmax50" in the forum "Tips & Techniques"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9223641

RE: BE careful w/ chinese generic servos
I guess I just assumed that pretty much everything was made in either china, mexico, or some other cheap labor third world country. Futaba, made in Japan? Spektrum, made in ????? Airtrinics, made in ????? Hitech, made in ????? If someone would fill in the question marks I would appreciate it. I plan on buying the Airtronics RD8000 regardless of where it is made primarily due to what I have read here in RCU about it. Bottom line is what we all know. You get what you pay for.
Posted on: 11/2/2009 6:37 PM by Author "stevenmax50" in the forum "Beginners"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9223388

RE: os .91 fs 4-stroke.
Ok Grey Beard, ya got me. Living proff that if you hang around long enough you will see and hear everything. That being said, I was planning on mounting my Magnum Cylinder head down. There is an old thread in the Kit Building forum on a Tiger 60. That fella built a cowl around his engine and inverted it as well. It looked so clean. Lemme see if I have this right. An inverted 4s would be mounted with the carb slightly lower than the fuel tank centerline. Correct?
Posted on: 11/2/2009 5:54 PM by Author "stevenmax50" in the forum "Beginners"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9223278

RE: BUSTED CA HINGE
I think I read 4 postings here that say,"if installed correctly". This being my first A/C with CA hinges, and this being only its 8th flight, I have to assume I did something wrong during the install. But the biggest mistake i made and the one I need to make sure everyone who reads this is aware of, is my pre-flight. I obviously missed a broken hinge during pre-flight. That is a HUGE miss. I have already replaced my rudder hinges with Robart nylon hinges. The epoxy will set tonight and tomorrow will be an ops check. But you can bet I will check my A/C out alot better from here on. As to wether or not my install was correct on the CA hingee, I can only say that the reason I installed CA's to begin with was because I read a posting here in RCU detailing how to install them. There was a gap of several weeks between the reading of the post and the actual installation. So maybe I goffed it up anyway. At any rate, I will stick with what I know. Which is nylon Robarts.
Posted on: 11/2/2009 5:37 PM by Author "stevenmax50" in the forum "Beginners"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9223227