Bruce Austin

Hi there Mark and others, I thought I might just dip my toes into this thread to see what happens. I am retired and have been developing my flying capabilities on a Phoenix 2000 and it's little brother 1600 version over the past two years. No longer the original PK2 purchase, but replacement, because for me the 2000 is a great budget thermal glider, and now I have just come back from chucking it off some of the Cornish cliffs!!! What a great cliff soarer, for me, a beginner sloper/ "cliff hanger"!!!! Yes I have sorted out a couple of stiffener mods and all is good. Reason for this post is that I am just wondering if there are any recommendations for an HK sloper that is not a "Wing", but still fits into the "budget" category. Probably electric (for rescue purposes). Could a hot liner or warm liner fit into slope soaring capability without constant motor on??? e.g. the EFX racer? I have no desire to engage in the actual extreme electric speed pursuits, but wondered about it as a slope soarer??? Other recommendations will be very welcome. Go With the Flow Bruce

I have to agree with TigerOC and his recommended location West of the old church at Tintagel and close to the Youth Hostel. I am new to slope soaring and was on holiday near Tintagel in June 2016. Passers by stopped next to the path and were amazed that it was only wind power and the updrafts that made the plane fly just like the gulls which were sharing the airspace. My motor was back up, but I only needed it when trying to land in the powerful rotor. Launching and flying off the cliffs was straight forward enough, and there is plenty space behind to land in. The bonus is that you can drive right to the launching area on the coastal path, so you don't have a long walk. I had my trusty HK Phoenix and it flew like it was on rails in 15 mph Westerlies. The slope bug has bitten. Go With the Flow Bruce

Hi there fellow Tundra guys. I have been flying my Tundra for a couple of months and really like it. It is my first undercarriage plane, being more used to foamie gliders. Landings are still a bit "hit and miss", and I am getting quite good at wire straightening!!!!, as well as the application of Gorilla glue!!!! I have been wondering about the possibility of changing the undercarriage to something like the "Great Planes" size .40 Dural arrangement to stop the "wire straightening" activities!!! Yes the best solution, of course is to improve the landings, and I'm sure that I will get there. Any thoughts and suggestions??? Any idea where i can get that dural U/C from a supplier in UK, please???? Go With the Flow Bruce

Hi Guys Lots of info and topics on your glue for EPO threads, but quite a search!!!! What is the recommended glue for crashed (crushed) EPO, that will fill in the small internal spaces. I have used the hot water trick to remove most of the distortions, but with a couple of the deeper cracks, I am worried about not getting proper surface to surface contact when tying to glue everything together. All recommendations will be welcome. Go With the Flow Bruce

Hi there MattyB you are not being mean at all, and no offense taken. The short answer to your question, is "YES" I have tried googling the sources of information myself, as you have too. However it is perfectly clear to me that some productions are better than others, and also some of the information may be less than accurate, judging by some of the responses. So..... as a newbie (me). ......my thinking was it'll be quicker (for me) asking for a link rather wading through a quagmire feeling for the stronger footholds and squishing past the mire. Kevin Lane, thank you for passing on the hint to look for Painless 360. He is obviously a tried and trusted source since you have recommended that I look there. I will add him to my researches and study list. That is exactly the sort of support that I and I am sure many others are looking for. Go With the Flow Bruce

Wow, This is all very interesting, yet another extension to my understanding of the Taranis capabilities, and......hopefully..... to my own capabilities too. Any chance, please, of a couple of links to videos from the accepted experts in the use or application of these S.Bus to PWM decoders, the XSRs and the tie in with the Taranis Plus. Something like Open TX University that I have been learning from in easy step by step stages???? Thanks Guys for the eye openers!!!! Go With the Flow Bruce

Not yet pressed the button, but I have been doing a bit of the recommended studies, and also fiddling with the Open TX Simulator. It all looks very promising and the basics seem well within my capabilities. Thank you for the links to Open TX University and Scott Pages Videos. I think I am understanding most things very well, but here is a question. Just my curiosity at this stage. Although I won't be requiring the capability in the beginning, when i get my Taranis Plus, I get the perception that the TX has the capability of driving up to 16 channels??? The RXs have pins for 8 servos. So........, If my plane needed 6 servos for the flying surfaces, another for air brakes, another for landing gear, and I need throttle as well, that makes a total of 9 controls from only 8 sets of pins. Then I might want to connect a variometer telemetry. How is all that possible with just one RX??? The reason I ask this question is that when I place my order for the Taranis, I would order some receivers and variometer at the same time. I do realise that there must be a very simple answer, but I have an old fashioned head that has only been flying for two years. The answer to this, will close the last wee gap in my basic understanding of this amazing RC Technology. Thanks guys for your patience. Go With the Flow Bruce

Ah yes Andy, but you are a bit ahead of my aspirations for switch allocation, texts.........and things. At this stage I'm really just looking at the first step past the basics to see preferences for E glider six surface control switches for mixes. Hmmmmm that almost sounds like I know what I am talking about. Actually A wee while ago I bought some of Paul Naton's Downloads for tuning and thermaling and other glider related aspects. They have given me some great insight into the mechanics of what makes them fly well. Certainly helped me understand and sort out some of the quirks with my Phoenix 2000 and 1600. That was where the realisation came from, that perhaps my T6J was a limiting factor, for my "further development", and hence my question which started this particular thread. Just by the way, I took some time, this balmy afternoon, to maiden my E Zulu Wing along with the Red Kites on the Chilterns. SUNSHINE, what a great afternoon and even had some thermals, so the Kites told me! Wing still in one piece. I see that, that also has a dedicated place in Wizard on the Taranis Plus. Go With theFlow Bruce

Well the studying of all this Taranis plus, companion, simulator, and University is all going well. Thank you to you all for the support. Now comes the next bit of decision making, or at least, the options for, which TX Plus switch for which function. I fly Mode 2 (Throttle and rudder on left, and the ailerons,elevator on the right) I fly mainly six channel gliders (with flaps plus throttle) for a bit of thermalling and will be progressing toward some slope soaring too. All I am looking for here, are the preferences that the various users have settled on, and their reasons why. Once I have looked at the more popular arrangements, I can then pick out one as my own standard configuration. I can already see some merit in the TERA programming sequence suggested by Andy. So now to the hardware switches and sliders?????? I am all ears. Go With the Flow Bruce

Yes Andrew I had been wondering about which sequence might an appropriate and consistent standard to use. My current TX is Futaba T6J set up is what I am familiar with, but I have an open mind so we'll see what decisions are made in due course. Seems to me, I am coming into my "radio upgrade" requirements at a good time, now that the Taranis TX and Companion are so well and truly established in our hobby. All very exciting, so much to learn, so many advantages, so little money. Go With the Flow Bruce

Wow thank you for raising my awareness of, and the how to, of the "Model Wizard". I had a quick scratch in there, looks great. I did follow the your detailed instructions, Andy and I am able navigate through. Thank you for all the "spoon feeding" essential for me I can assure you. Bob I did sample the naming text on companion, and of course that is all straight forward. I have been going through the Open TX University tutorial, and had been attempting the naming aspects on the Taranis TX simulator buttons as if I was using the actual TX. All is good, thank you, and I do appreciate the banter between you both. Go With the Flow Bruce

Hi Bruce here again. I am finding the naming and using the text symbols quite tedious when I make an error and wish to delete a symbol. What is the recommended / practical way of doing this, please. I'm still currently using the simulator and coping quite well on the learning curve. See previous fourth post back. By the way I have been trying to detect a post numbering arrangement on these forums for ease of referencing, but haven't observed it yet???? (e.g. RC Groups system). Go With the Flow Bruce

No Andy I have not been aware of that animal yet???? I had seen a brief mention of that somewhere, but had not allowed that distraction yet. Please enlighten me about "Model Wizard". Go With the Flow Bruce

OK Andy and Bob, Wide eyed panic attack over. I had a look at your telemetry links, and all very understandable and within budgets. Thanks guys. I'm working my way through the Open TX University on one screen and have the OpenTX simulator on another screen, pressing buttons and coming along nicely for the moment. I can see what is happening, and the prompting menus are straight forward enough for getting going with basic model operation to start with. I am quite encouraged with this, my first "hands on" read through with the simulator to play with. Go With the Flow Bruce

Thanks Bob and Andy for the lifebelt. I was feeling a wee bit out of my depth there. Yes, I'm sure that I can cope with the Smart-port stuff. Now to get back to my Taranis studies! Mmmmm, that feels better already. Go With the Flow Bruce

ps - don't confuse S(mart)-Port telemetry port with S-Bus servo output! Ohhhhh.......Kaaayyyyyy????? Ahemmmmm!!!!! Thank you Bob for those wise words of warning, gulp, gulp, gulp???? I need a little enlightenment here please, or link to where I can find it, if this thread is not appropriate. Just a basic outline as to what the difference is, please. I have not yet dabbled in the telemetry side of things, other than basic recording of altitude via an HK recording device plugged into a spare channel on a Frsky Delta 8 RX, then downloaded onto my laptop. Go With the Flow Bruce

Well, I have been "first time" reading through, and watching a variety of videos on the preliminaries of using the Taranis and following quite a few links, as one does during a wet and windy weekend! One particular video was aimed at the absolutely new Taranis user, explaining how to set up a basic RETA model with separate servos for ailerons. This I found to be the easiest to follow, step by step. It had a duration of fifty odd minutes and was made by a Czech. UNFORTUNATELY, I now cannot find it. I'm reasonably sure that it had the Open TX logo and was marked episode 1. But when I try that search,I come up with a different video by somebody else. Can somebody please give me a link back to the Czech video. His language was not perfect but the various steps were taken slowly and were easy to follow, I would definitely try to view that one again. Some of the other videos which I have watched, I, probably (because it's so new to me), I found didn't go slow enough to follow the actual menu button cycling process between the actual set up steps. So, I think what I am discovering is that there are probably two types of tutorial, or maybe tutors??? One geared toward the absolute newcomer, like me, and the other is for the guy who has used his Taranis for maybe six months and is more familiar with its operation. I am high-lighting my perceptions, because I think it may help those attempting to impart information, to a specific audience type, and also for the audience types who can then select the information type (for newbies) or for (the more experienced). I emphasise that, in my case, I am a Newbie just trying to get a "try before I buy". There is certainly a ton, no, many tons, of help out there, and in this forum and within this thread. Thanks guys, I am being convinced that the Taranis Plus is the way to go. (I didn't need much convincing) Now I must just gather together some cash and do the deed!!! The other thing that I and other newbies might benefit from is knowing which Frsky Receivers are needed for variometers, and other telemetry, as we would need to purchase a couple along with our new Taranis???? In conclusion, can you guys provide some more links to videos for absolute newbies to the Taranis, its related receivers, and telemetry, please? Thank you all for your patience with the newbies. Go With the Flow Bruce

MattyB, thank you for that amazingly fast response, and link, yet again! I have just had a very quick glance, and this is just exactly what I was looking for!!! You guys are nothing short of miraculous, with all this information that you are able to provide. This whole Open TX and the Taranis just seems so amazing for the relatively small amount of money compared with other TX offerings out there. Seems to me that the best way to show my appreciation is to roll up the sleeves and get on with the studying of HOW, and then to dig into my pockets and purchase this "magic machine", then start "rubbing" it to let the Genie loose on my planes. Thank you, thank you, thank you, for the continuing enlightenment. Go With the Flow Bruce

Oh, and thank you for those video links Go With the Flow Bruce

Hi there MattyB, Bruce here again, and the gradual dawning is in progress. What might help me speed up a bit more, would be a link to the latest available glossary for the Taranis and Open TX abbreviations???? Please. Go With the Flow Bruce

MattyB your short little explanation worked out perfectly!!! I have followed your instructions and now I have had a little play. It works, which you knew it would. Mike also, thank you for helping as well. At least now I know that I am in the right place. You guys on this forum are just genius at helping us newbies out. Have a great weekend, whatever you all are up to. Go With the Flow Bruce

Hey there guys, I am sorry for being, or seeming so thick here. Please be patient with me. I do not yet have a Taranis, so I am not trying to load anything onto a real TX. Mention was made of "try before you buy", by accessing the Companion simulator. That is what I want to access, just to get the feel of setting up basic inputs. So please can I have directions to access that simulator and the instructions on how to use it. The simulator I am looking for is the one which mimics the Taranis TX, and, if it's important, I fly Mode 2. Go With the Flow Bruce

Hi there Andy48 thank you for that last post. I need some help, please. I have downloaded the Open TX simulator, (I think). I have not yet discovered the guidance needed to get started at the start. I have a blank screen, with various orange icons along the top, and a set of blue TX images down the left side on that same screen. I have clicked on various of these to see what they do. e.g. the right hand icon gives me the Open TX Companion logo, and I can click on that to get to the home page. What have I missed???? to get to the how to "simulate"????please. Go With the Flow Bruce

Hi Mike, thank you for that extremely swift response. I will delve into your link some more. Have a great weekend,and Go With theFlow Bruce

Hi Mike and MattyB, a couple of posts back there was mention of "try before you buy" and simulator. Now, obviously I don't have a Taranis (yet). is it possible for me to see this simulator in action without the radio plugged in, or am I now stretching the realms of reality??? I don't know what this simulator does or looks like, but I suppose I had the idea of some surface graphics on my laptop screen, and going through some sort of set up tutorial, with me fiddling with some of the basic inputs??? Maybe I didn't understand the reference to the simulator, Mike???? Sorry if that sounds a bit "thick". Go With the Flow Bruce