Help with Park Flyer details.

[Nitroaddict]

Uh-oh, a new toy has intrigued me. Got a chance to fly a friends park flyer, and now i want one. says i can get into it for less than 250.00

help me with some details.

Most of the kits already come with a motor, but is a speed control, on board batts, ect needed? which type works best?

single stick controller okay? or would i be better off with a std 4 channel.

Chrisitian - i know u fly the zagi's - any help would be appreciated

 

[Candyman]

NA, I just caught the bug, too. I bought a Hitec Sky Scooter Pro II. It's pretty cool. The whole deal cost me about $160. It comes with the plane, motor, ESC, and Hitec Focus III SS 3-channel radio w/2 HS-55 micro servos. It's made of a foam that's like EPP so it's quite flexible. And if it breaks, you just stick it back together with 5-minute epoxy or high temp hot glue. I will tell you that I have put this plane through hell in the last 2 months. It's my first plane and I have no instructor to teach me how to fly. Nor do I have a computer sim to practice on. So needless to say, the nose of the plane is mostly epoxy right now. But it still flys. And I'm getting pretty good at it. It has enough power to tug you around the sky for a while. You can do some basic aerobatics. I just did my first loop yesterday. And I even did an Immelman. I'm not sure I meant to, but it looked good.
Anyway, there are a lot of park flyers out there. I'm thinking of a flying wing for my next one. They're a bit faster than the Scooter which scares me a bit right now. My skills aren't that good right now.

Here's a pic of it. It's the one on the right:

 

[Nitroaddict]

candyman - that looks a lil bigger than the ones i was looking at. what size motor does it use. do u have any links to it? I used to fly in high school, so i have some experience. cost is the problem. dont want to really spend any money, since it will basically be just a toy

here is the one that my LHS is recommending. this is also the kit that i got to fly. it has about a foot and a half wingspan.

http://www.modelflight.com.au/rc_model_electric_planes/gws_tiger_moth.htm

 

[Candyman]

If you want info, go to Hitec and click on Funtec Models. Then click on Pro 2 and you'll see it. It's considered a speed 400 model and may be a bit faster than you want if you're going to be flying in a small space. If you want some good slow flyers, look at a company called GWS. They make some great ones. The Tiger Moth and the Slow Stick are very popular and shouldn't be too expensive...

 

[Nitroaddict]

thanks for the heads up. lolo - GWS Tiger moth, thats the one in the pic that i flew. loved it. so u agree with my LHS, its a good product?

 

[Error401]

About what skill level are ya NA? Past the trainer stage I'd assume. If you've gone past the low wing trainer stage and have done some areobatics, I'd suggest the global Crazy Max. It's a fully areobatic electric. I have one, and it's built, but I pulled the micro radio and put it in the MS Composit hornet heli I got in Va Beach when I went bashing with EP and Sky. So, I essentially never flew the Crazy Max, but from what I've read it's unbelievable for a fun fly park flyer.

I wouldn't suggest it if you've never done a balls out arebatic plane before.

 

[Candyman]

I think it's a good model. I've been reading Backyard Flyer for about the last 6 months and GWS products seem to be all over the place. I was seriously considering the Tiger Moth at first. But I liked the idea of a foamie to start since I knew I'd be trashing the hell out of it. I still like a lot of the GWS planes . They seem to have a plane for just about anyone. From real slow, indoor planes to replicas of WWII fighters (hope to get a P-51 someday).
Now, as far as the electronics go. There are many options. I have a 3 channel with my Funtec. Because it came with it. But I also own a Hitec Flash 4 4-channel computer radio that I had been using in a few sailplanes which I never learned to fly. I have been thinking about putting it in the other one because of the programming and flexibility. GWS offers flight packs that have the rx, esc and servos. You just need the tx. And if you look you may find 4-channel systems with micro gear which will help. For a lot of the starter planes, you may only use 3 channels. But if you ever take the next step, you'll probably be going to a full-house 4-channel. It may cost more up front but it gives you a lot of flexibility.
For batteries, I'm just using AA NiCds. But I am going to make my own pack from some AA NiMH's to triple my run times. A lot of the light flyers are using LiPoly batteries. They're ligher and have higher capacity per weight than the others. But then you need to find a charger that can handle LiPoly. I think just for some good weekend screwing around, you're fine with NiCd or NiMH.

 

[Çh®i§tiªñ]

LiPoly is the way to go - still new so the price will be coming down soon. I still prefer NiCd over Nimh's when flying. I did them both and found while the NiMh's do give you better run times, the NiCd's deliver more power longer. Granted, you can't fly as long but you can fly harder longer!!!

I think all the planes mentioned are just fine. Same with the controllers. If you plan on doing a LOT of flying and intend on getting a couple more planes down the road then just pickup a decent 4 channel now. If you plan on getting real crazy then get a 6 channel.

Futaba makes a great radio for a decent price. So does HiTec.

Try to always keep all your servos the same brand in planes. Bad stories if you do otherwise. Different throw variables etc...

Let us know what you finally decide to get.

I personally love flying combat wings. The new XE2 is absolutely KICKASS!!!!! Every chance I get I'm flying this thing!

 

[kwong2001]

Well i'd get a 4-channel now. It can give you a lot of potential if you ever want to get into nitro planes.

goto http://www.hobby-lobby.com/ they sell almost strictly park flyers.

Try to find one that's a foam plane since they're indestrucible. Also, you could get a nice trainer type park flyer with 4-channels (aileron, rudder, elevator, throttle). It'd teach you all the basics. Make sure it's got some dihedral in it...when you get bored of it, just take the dihedral out, and it'll perform incredible maneuvers easier and better.

And then when that gets boring, make the control surfaces bigger! Then when that gets boring, get a 40 size pattern plane with a ys63fz...lol..just like me

 

[Hunter]

The tigermoth is a great little plane to fly. But there are some things to change right off the bat.
1) the wheels are way to thin. You can get foam wheels that work much better on a soft ball field take off or landing.

2) Switch to the 3 blade prop from GWS P51. This will make for shorter takeoffs.

3( Add the wiring to the wings like the real plane had. This can be done very easy by adding 4 small pieces of plastic ( 2 under each side of the wings ) under the wings drilling holes through the wing struts and the wing where you added the small pieces of plactic.

then if you want to have some real fun with it add the twin motor setup from GWS this will make for a real fun flier

 

[GilBeQuick]

Originally posted by Çh®i§tiªñ
LiPoly is the way to go -

What are different about the LiPoly cells? Last longer? Discharge faster?

 

[Çh®i§tiªñ]

Check this out:

http://www.robotcombat.com/marketplace_lipoly.html

an article here:
http://www.bktsi.com/documents/Article-LiPoly-All.pdf

neat chart report:
http://aircraft-world.com/prod_datasheets/lipoly.htm

 

[BlueRidge1]

OK. I'm a savage addict who now has been bitten by the parkflier thing. I did some serious research on parkfliers the last 2 days. Appears to be a lot of them out there. Many of the ones you guys already mentioned are great. The deal is, I wanted something very low priced (blew my wad on the savage) with a reliable flying reputation - even if I will outgrow it soon. Seems like the Firebird (Hobbyzone) line was the cheapest I could find that would actually fly decent. They actually have several rave reviews. They are by no means a bragging rights airplane, but they seem to get the job done very nicely and cheaply for newbies. Anyway, best deal I could find outside of ebay was 109 bucks (hobbytron). Then I checked ebay and ordered a Firebird Commander today for 69 (wow) plus 15 shipping.

If I find myself hooked and want to get a real plane, I am eyeing one of those Hobbico Superstars.

Also, check out the T-52. It is getting absolute rave reviews. If I was to get a real parkflier that's the one I would get. It is a foamy that can be outfitted with a nitro or electric option. I think the plane with the nitro option is only around 119 or so.


http://www.jkaerotech.com

 

[FastEddy]

I have the Firebird and don't care that much for it. I flew, or should I say crashed my share of gas planes in my youth and didn't get much enjoyment from the Firebird.

Yes it flies, it climes it goes in circles and crashes ever so lightly but thats about it.

I'm not saying you wont like it but it isn't any kind of an aerobatic unit whatsoever.

-Ed

 

[Error401]

huhhuh, you said unit.

Yeah, I've flown the firebird, and at best it does stay in the air. And it can be a challenge to keep in a ball field.

I have heard good things about the hi-tech plane, though I can't remember the name of it.

 

[Çh®i§tiªñ]

Combat wings = Fast, Fully 3D, EPP kickass indestructable foam construction and fun as all hell!

 

[Candyman]

I'm still sticking to th Hitec Sky Scooter. I have one and it's my first. I have learned a fair amount on it. I'm no pro, but I can do loops and have done a roll or two. It's mildly fast. But slow enough to control for a beginner. 3 channel (throttle, aileron, elevator) so it gives you more control than the Aerobirds. It's foam so when you break it (you will) it goes back together with 5-mintue epoxy. And let me tell you, my plane probably weighs 4-5 oz more now because of the amount of epoxy on it. But it's a nice starter plane. And the radio system can be stripped and used in the next plane you choose...

 

[Error401]

Yeah, that's the one I was thinking about Candyman.

Wings are way cool too, but they're hard to learn on because of the sight profile, easy to get disoriented. Kick ass, but not for a beginner. Maybe the Zagi Fixx because it flys so slow, but not a 400X.

 

[Çh®i§tiªñ]

The 400x was the first plane I ever flew. Did GREAT with it. However, I must add, I spent COUNTLESS hours on RealFlight G2 before I ever lifted the real stick.

The new XE2 Combat wing I have is the BOMB! Fast as all hell. Stronger than the Zagi 400x and better in so many ways. From being able to mono-kote it to no canopy to fall off, this thing is just better.

You are probably right though when it comes to the complete New'B that has never flown or logged sim time.

 

[Throttle]

Hey Nitro, I would look at getting Real Flight G2. I spent about 40 hours flying the BLT stick to the P-51 and it's great because you can change the wind speed. Big help especially starting out and just knowing what to do and when to do it. The best thing G2 teaches you are the stick movements, I've been using it so much, it's become second nature on what I have to do. I'm going to fly my PT-40 at the end of this month. Right now I'm flying the Slow Stick three nights a week and I'm ready for the next step. Good Luck and Happy flying.