Greg Watkiss

Can anyone give me some advice as to where I can buy Scale helicopters for leasure flying. I already have a collection of off-the-shelf standard helicopters ranging from micro indoor to large outdoor but I want to purchase a helicopter for outdoor use in a scale or near scale that is modelled on the original helicopter. They can be military or civil and any style of rotor setup ie coaxial or fixed pitch etc. I have searched the internet but unless I am doing something wrong I can't find any retailer who seems to want to sell this type of RC helcopter. I look forward to your replies. Regards, Greg

Hello, Thank you everyone who responded to my quest to find a slow flying trainer. I have had lots of good sound advice about many aircraft that might be good for me and I am actively looking online at those mentioned aircraft. I would like to ask the same question again as my original posting but this time ask you for recommendations on Foam Aircraft that would be slow flying, take a few knocks and suitable for the beginner. I look forward to all your helpful replies as always. By the way, no flying today. It's blowing a gale out there! Regards, Greg

Hello, I have just come back from a mornings flying and as a beginner I have had my fair share of crashes and breakages. What I think may be some of my trouble is that at 64 years my reactions may not be as sharp as they used to be. When I first decided to take up the hobby took some retailer's advice and read online what manufacturers consider to be the best aircraft they sell for beginners I have come to the conclusion that most of what they say, although I am sure is well meant, is all hype in selling their wares. I said earlier that I suffered some breakages while fly this morning. Fortunately there is nothing that can't be fixed but I was disappointed that out of the two aircraft I purchased (with adivce) to learn on I found them difficult to control. I won't mention the models I purchased as I do not want to look a fool!!! Now I have had a taste of flying and crashing I want to go back for more and more and more so once and for all I would like to know what model I really should have purchased in the beginning rather than waste my hard earned money on what a retailer wants to sell me. Enough is enough. I want to purchase somethng that really is for the beginner. If you have any recommendations please could you post the details stating model name, manufacturer and perhaps an online retailer selling the model. I look forward to your replies. Best regards, Greg

'Reading between the lines' for some of the replies to my posting about limited space flying it seems that perhaps I have irritated some people. Well just let me say that the comments in my postings, although are a genuine requests for advice and I am genuinely grateful for the replies, are aimed at being 'Tongue-in-cheek' and humorous. Some people have suggested that I join a fly club. I think the above is another reason why I don't want to! I'll won't be asking any more silly questions i'll just go and see how I get on. (as suggested) Thanks again. Greg

Thank you all for your words of wisdom. I am now completely terrified. I think I will stick to paper dart flying!!! Greg

Thank you for your replies. I think I have mislead you all, easily done when trying to get across details in written form. I live 1/2 mile outside a very small village where the recreation ground is situated. Apart from when the ground is used for football, cricket, archery and the local summer fete the ground is unoccupied. The playground I mentioned rarely sees any children because of it's location and anyway I would not fly if children were present. I am fortunate to be able to see the playground from my home so I can check before I leave. I know I can fly there because I have spoken to one of our local councillors who said that it is okay to fly there and that the council would welcome the use of the ground. What I really wanted to knowif it was feasible to fly from the football field. Being a novice I did not want to try until I had some sound advice. Thanks again. Greg

Hello, It's the silly question person again. Firstly, thank you for your replies concerning taking off and landing with the wind. Very helpful. Up to now I have travelled to large open spaces to practise my flying but I would like to use the facilities on my own doorstep. I have a recreation ground nearby which amounts to a cricket pitch and football pitch side-by-side and a separate football pitch at one end separated by a very small strip of parkland come children' playground. The whole recreation ground is boardered by medium sized trees and surounded by open fields. The grass is well maintained and kept very short by the groundsman so it looks good for rolling take-offs. My 4CH Cessna trainer has a wingspan of 980mm so it's not an over-large aircraft, would I have problems flying from this size of recreation ground? Greg

Another silly question from a beginner! Must you always take off into the wind. Say for example that the field you are using is growing crops and you can't get to the other side of the field to face into the wind can you take off with the wind. Just out of interest, I am using this field which is sown with Wheat because it makes for softer landings when I don't get it right! And the reason I don't walk through the crops unless absolutely necessary like collect my crashed aircraft is because I am trying to keep the Farmer happy. Fors and againsts on a postcard please!! Greg

Can anybody recommend a good online site that sells RC aircraft kits. I have had a hunt through lots of online retailers but most just sell the RTF, BNF, etc models. I am look for a good kit that comes in a box with all/most materials for the build but without the electrics. Any ideas! Regards, Greg

Firstly, Let me thank everybody who have replied to my postings. I mentioned in one that it seemed impossible to have my first flight as the wind speed was above what was recommended for the novice. Well, I can't go now, I'm too busy read all your replies! Looking at some of the model aircraft recommended to fly in windy conditions can any one recommend the Skyartec 4Ch Cessna 182 RC Plane Brushless version RTF 2.4GHz. (Here). I purchased the aircraft along with two cheaper foamies with a view to "breaking" them first but I have not yet assembled the airplane. If someone would like to give me their views I will assemble the aircraft today and take out next week and report back. The problem with being a newbie is knowing what to do for the best. Also if there is someone who could recommend a good boxed of the shelf kit for the novice flyer I would be grateful. I have modelling skills, so that's not a problem. By the way. I retire this December. At the speed I am progressing in the hobby I will have retired before I even get off the ground!!! Greg

Pix-E Major Complete Set by Tim Hooper - See Link Thanks for the help so far. Would anyone like to comment on the aircraft I am interested in building. Please see the link above. Greg

Although I am a complete beginner who, once the wind stops, will be leaning to fly on a foam trainer. I would like some advice on building an aircraft. I have model building skills particularly in model wooden ships and was looking towards the satisfaction of building my own. I would like to know the follow. A good source of plans. 1) Do the plans give details of the materials and electronics needed. 2) Where online is the best place to buy the materials and electronics. Once again any help would be gratefully received. Greg

Hello everybody who responded to my posting concerning too windy to fly. the replies made very interesting reading with lots of very good advice with the exception of Garry who I must have caught on a bad day. Well never mind, you can't win em all!! Once again thanks everybody. Kind regards, Greg.

Firstly, Let me say thank you to all those who have responded to my first posting about the wind conditions. As a beginner I am beginning to wonder whether I have made a mistake in taking up the hobby of RC flying. here I am already to take my first flight and all there is wind, wind, wind. I have been ready for nearly two weeks but every day the wind speed is above what is recommended for a novice. I have checked the extended forcast for my area here in Devon and it seems that every day for the rest of May and into June is going to be too windy for me! How does anyone get started in this hobby? I can feel the depression setting in - I better go and take some more pills! Greg

I am a beginner and would like to know if the HobbyZone Super Cub LP is a good aircraft to learn to fly on. Any advice would be gratefully received. Greg

Being a complete beginner and I am keen to make my first flight but I am concerned about what is a suitable wind speed for a novice. I am looking to fly my Skyartec 4ch Cessna 182 brushless version. Could anyone give me some advice. Greg

I have yet to fly this model but before I do I would like to know how the 3G3X system works and how do I know it is active when all is powered up and ready to fly. I powered up and tested the control surfaces etc but did not notice anything that would indicate that the 3G3X system was activated. Do I have to switch it on? I have ready Skyartec's instructions which are in badly translated English and can not find any information. Also I see from the instructions that a training mode can be selected on the transmitter but once again I do not understand the procedure to make the change. Please can anyone with this model give me some advice before I go to the park and try to bend the aircraft. Greg

Hello, Could someone recommened a good Cyano adhesive for EPO foam. Thanks, Greg

Thank you everybody for all the help and advice. Greg

Hello Pete, Thanks for the information. I not sure about the bind plug. What is it? Do I have to buy one? Also, the servo I want to slacken off the rod grip. As you suggested I first tried a small bladed screwdriver but that do not work. You also suggested a 1.5mm Alen key, which I will have to buy, but looking closely at the opening in the top of the grip it looks more round than a/key shaped. The problem I was having with the ailerons I have overcome. On closer inspection I could see that the hinges were partly coated in adhesive. Having now removed the adhesive and coated the hinges with silicone lub everything moves okay. Having said that, I have also strengthened the ailerons with carbon fibre strips as you recommended. Anyway, please let me know about the bind plug. Greg

As a beginner I am completely lost and confused on how I bind my DX5e to my Parkzone Spitfire. I purchased the Spitfire for future use when I become better at flying but would like to bind the two now. I was told by the retailer the process was easy and that all would become clear when I opened the box and ready the enclosed instructions. I think not! The aircraft's instructions just tell me to ready the transmitter's instructions which as a novice do not help. Please is there anyone out there who can give me step-by-step instructions on how to complete the binding procedure for the transmitter and aircraft mentioned above. Any help will be gratefully received. Greg

I have to centre the eli servo arm on my Skyartec Mini Cessna. As a beginner I do not know what tool will undo the small chrome device that grips the servo rod. Please can anyone tell me what tool I need to slacken off the grip on the servo rod or can anyone give me a tip on how to do the job.

I am a beginner and am learning to fly on trainers at the moment. In the future I would like to collect and fly WWII scale aircraft. I think to start with I would prefer RTF or BNF rather than kits. I'll look at kits when I know what I am doing! Please can anyone recommend any nicely detailed WWII scale aircraft. Particularly for the novice. They can be parkflyers. Regards, Greg

Can anyone tell me how to overcome the flexing of the rod attached to the rudder on my aircraft. The rod is external and runs down the side of the fuselage. When I operate the rudder the rudder moves okay but but the rod bows. I am sure that if I reduce the flexing of the rod I will get more travel on the rudder. Any ideas? Regards, Greg

Hello Toni, Thank you for the information. It all makes sense when when someone explains!! Regards, Greg