Some Advice Please?

[julinick]

Hello Everyone,

Let me start by saying Hello to everyone and that Motion RC rocks the house!! I would love to get started in this great hobby, and I need some help in deciding which beginner aircraft to go with. I have decided on either the Hobbyzone Sport Cub S with SAFE, or the Hobbyzone Super Cub S with SAFE. The only difference I can see is the Sport Cub is half the size and has Ailerons. Reading all the reviews, videos etc..., they both seem to be the best starters. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!

[retiredflyer]

RE: Some Advice Please?

Welcome julinick.
Always good to have a new member. You are correct in Motion RC rocks. I discover them a year ago and I will not shop anywhere else anymore.
I started with the Super Cub without SAFE. They did not have that when I got mine. You are correct, it's only three channel, but after a while I added ailerons and flaps to mine as a winter project. There are complete videos on You Tube showing how to do it, if you are so inclined and are adventurous. I kind of think the larger wingspan when you are learning is a bit of an advantage. A little less twitchy and gives you a more stable flight in slightly breezy conditions. You might even want to look at the Pandora from Motion. I see a LOT of positive forum traffic about that plane, and again a larger wingspan.
Back to the Super Cub, a great trainer, easy to fly, takes a beating, easy to fix. Just my two cents worth. Good luck.

[Hippie 64]

RE: Some Advice Please?

Welcome Julinick . The hard part about getting into this hobby is the up front cost .
My advice , from experience , is if you can go ahead and buy a six channel radio . It will give you future space to do things with ex. flaps , retracts or such .
You also need to take into consideration the charger . 99% of chargers need a power supply to make them work .
Now you look at your plane . The Pandora is a GREAT first plane .It is a rock solid built plane and can take some hard nicks , its going to get them we have all been there. You have four different setups you can use and all are good . You start with it in a high wing then change from there .
Also remember what ever radio you pick you need the receiver to go with it .
Hope I didn't discourage you in any way just want you to be ready .
You may think about a Flight Simulator they really make a huge difference in learning .
Some things I got off EBay because of cost . You can search to find what you may need . If you buy a used radio , DO NOT buy a FM channel . This is very old technology , only look at 2.4ghz. You cant buy new FM so that will tell you to avoid it . If you find a multi storage , which most are , that's better . It means you can have more than one plane on a single radio . Most start at 20 and go up .

GOOD LUCK !!! No question is ever a dumb or stupid one just ask .  

Any questions or help , just ask we here are always glad to help .

Bryan

[Grossman56]

RE: Some Advice Please?

Welcome and yes, I too started with the Hobbyzone Super Cub, better know in my house as "Ol' Weedwacker"
Named because of her tendency to drift off to the side of the road and onto the weeds.  This was before I knew about the torque factor of a tail dragger prop.
This little plane got me into the air and down many a time, sometimes not so nicely as well, she's still in great shape because first and foremost, this plane is tough!!!
Now she graces a place of honor on my work bench.  It's not long before you want a bigger plane and you can't go wrong with the Freewing Pandora (Well, actually you can, but the plane can't, as I found out).  Both mine have been pranged and are still completely flyable.
The big difference, aside from price, is that you get into a plane with ailerons and the stick layout is what the big planes have.  That was the one thing that was, well, interesting at times.  Remembering that you steer with the left stick with the bigger planes and the right stick with the Cub.  But other than that, its an easy transition aside from the pucker factor.

Good luck and welcome to the forum, lots of guys here and we've all been down that same path!
Check out some of the early entries I made in "All us Newbies, lets share" as I did a lot of chronicling my flights with the Cub


Grossman56

[julinick]

RE: Some Advice Please?

Thanks for the help. I really did look at the Pandora, but not having an instructor, I was leaning towards the Super Cub S first. I think the Pandora for first time flyer and not having an instructor might be too much airplane to handle at first. I would try to fly and master this plane first( Super Cub S), later add some ailerons to it, then eventually move up to the Pandora. Eventually I would love to get into the warbirds. As for the simulator, I need to find one that is compatible with mac. Will a RC Flight Simulator from a few years past work, or does it need to be the one mentioned here on the sight?

Thanks again for your great advice, love to learn from you guys whenever possible, so stay tuned for more questions!!

[ryramZ]

RE: Some Advice Please?

Thanks for the help.  I really did look at the Pandora, but not having an instructor, I was leaning towards the Super Cub S first.  I think the Pandora for first time flyer and not having an instructor might be too much airplane to handle at first.  I would try to fly and master this plane first( Super Cub S), later add some ailerons to it, then eventually move up to the Pandora.  Eventually I would love to get into the warbirds.  As for the simulator, I need to find one that is compatible with mac.  Will a RC Flight Simulator from a few years past work, or does it need to be the one mentioned here on the sight?  

Thanks again for your great advice, love to learn from you guys whenever possible, so stay tuned for more questions!!

Are you looking at getting the radio and plane all at once? The Apprentice has everything you are after if that's the case. It's great size like the Pandora but has the technological assistance your after. It's like a Super Cub on roids and Tricycle landing gear, ailerons, I think flaps too. For the RTF it's 299 and the BNF is 269. For 30 dollar difference the DX5 is worth it. If your planning on getting a DX6i anyway save the 30 bucks. 

[Hippie 64]

RE: Some Advice Please?

Yes on the Simulator! They should all be updatable . I have the Real Flight and got it on EBay at a very good price. You just have to look . May even take a week or two . I still practice on mine some here n there it's a great tool . 

Bryan 

[ryramZ]

RE: Some Advice Please?

I also have a Mac. There are ways to allow a Mac to work with some Windows sims. BOOTCAMP. I decided to go windows though myself as I didn't want to mess with my Mac's configuration at all. Now I have Pheonix and RF7 on a dedicated windows platform.

[Rocketeer]

RE: Some Advice Please?

Greetings julinick,

Welcome to the forum and to the awesome hobby of RC flying. 

Head the words of the many experienced pilots here on the forum. They are more than willing to share there victories and their defeats all in the name of learning and improving their skill sets. 

Stay patient, be coachable and spend as many hours on an RC simulator as you can, especially in the early stages. 
In many cases the simulator will include the plane your interested and you can fly it there first. 

Clear skies

Bill L.
In Okla.

[julinick]

RE: Some Advice Please?

Ryan, Hippie 64 and Rocketeer, thanks guys. Everyone has been really helpful. I have a few months to seriously think it over before the weather turns nice. I will take everyones advice and move forward. I will post my decision later, and learn more by reading up on some threads.

Thanks again!!

[Grossman56]

RE: Some Advice Please?

The one thing I would like to say is that, if I had to do it over again, I think I would have got the BNF version of the the Cub because I ended up using the DX6i to fly it and used the DX5 for my Sim radio.  Now, I use the DX8 on everything except the Waco and The Cub.  So it boils down to the radio.  The DX6i is a great radio, but if you are going for flaps and retracts then want to out a gyro in, get a DX8 at the minimum.  Would you guys agree with me?  Doesn't have to be a Spectrum, but an 8 channel I mean

Grossman56

[Loneflier]

RE: Some Advice Please?

I would agree with Grossman56 on the radio. I also started with a DX6i, and it is a great radio, but seemed like in no time, I had outgrown the 10 model memory, and went with the DX8, which has the 30 model memory. Still use both a good bit, but have since upgraded yet again to the DX9 with the 250 model memory! All great radios. I am sure Futaba and others are good too, but since I was set up for Spektrum stuff, and know how to program (mostly..) them, it was a logical choice for me.

anyway, point is, make sure you get enough radio for your ambitions, or you will be getting multiple radios in the not too distant future.

[retiredflyer]

RE: Some Advice Please?

I too agree with you all. The radio is the thing. Just starting I could only afford the Dx6i, which was a great radio, but like Loneflier, I didn't realize how much I would LOVE this sport and quickly had way over the 10 model limit. I bought the Dx9 so I should be all set.......for a while!  You might think 10 models is a lot......it's not!  You'll get the bug and your fleet will grow, and you will be on a first name basis with the UPS guy.
  I was able to sell my Dx6i on Craig's List so I didn't take to big a hit, but it's something to think about. I too was set up for Spektrum so I stuck with it, but I'm sure they are other great radios you can look at.

[Capt. Crunch]

RE: Some Advice Please?

Ditto on the radio deal. Its amazing how fast a guy can accumulate 10 planes!

My UPS guys name is Bruce. Lol

Jeff

[doctormike]

RE: Some Advice Please?

I just bought a DX6 (not to be confused with the DX6i) and love it! If 6 channels is all you need, this is the best radio for the price. It is full of really nice features. Check it out!!! The Doctor

[retiredflyer]

RE: Some Advice Please?

Ditto on the radio deal. Its amazing how fast a guy can accumulate 10 planes!

My UPS guys name is Bruce.  Lol

Jeff

That's great Jeff...LOL.  I REALLY don't know my UPS guys name, however, he does have a special spot always shoveled out for his truck in my driveway!!!!

[Rocketeer]

RE: Some Advice Please?

Greetings Guys,

I hate to say it but, I've been almost solely responsible for two UPS drivers taking early retirement!!
That's a good thing, right?? 

Bill L.
in Okla.

[Grossman56]

RE: Some Advice Please?

Hell, my UPS guys waves to me if I pass him on the street!
I'm going by the rule of thumb that two radios are better than one!  The DX8 also has the sd memory card slot, three position switches and a speed control for the flap deployment, too cool!  It also has a knob but for the life of me, I don't know what to use it for?  Has anyone used it?

Grossman56

[Hippie 64]

RE: Some Advice Please?

Hang your bottle opener or air freshener from it 

Bryan 

[OV10]

RE: Some Advice Please?

Hell, my UPS guys waves to me if I pass him on the street!
I'm going by the rule of thumb that two radios are better than one!  The DX8 also has the sd memory card slot, three position switches and a speed control for the flap deployment, too cool!  It also has a knob but for the life of me, I don't know what to use it for?  Has anyone used it?

Grossman56

Hello Gman,
When I got my DX8 that was almost the same thought I had about the knob. But then came the daydream, put a video camera on a rotary base that is controlled with a 5g servo. So I got a second complete cockpit for "Marie" (1450 FMS P-51) and installed the "rotary camera assembly" where the pilots head would have been. Plugged that 5g servo into the aux3 channel(default for the rotary knob on Tx) on the AR8000. The knob will pan the video cam the way I have it set up a good 60 degrees port or starboard. Works awesome.