Jump to content

Mitchell Howard

Members
  • Posts

    144
  • Joined

Everything posted by Mitchell Howard

  1. That's me (!) - Touchscreens on sytems like Spektrum are common sense and mostly plain English with full length words, coded by English-speakers so that contractions are recognisable. Radiolink (can't speak for OpenTX Radiomaster) is the opposite end of the spectrum for useability. Sure there's a screen, sure it's computerised - but it's a pig for quick and predictable adjustments.
  2. I can't find my old post on this, but I had the AT10ii as my first Tx. It is lightweight, cost effective and I never had reliability issues, great for simple models. But... I started to get the urge for simple additional functions like flaps, and the menu and programming system is horrible. Broken English, menu titles that don't make sense, no userbase to get support from, manuals in Chinglish. I had a hard time setting rates and expo, my memory fails me, but it was difficult to separate out control surfaces onto different switches. I had to set pos and neg trav/expo independently, there was no mirroring. I also had issues where setting flaps and ailerons interfered with one another and I had to go into completely abstract menus to get it to separate. Not fun. Tens of hours I won't get back. They've also got telemetry which I specifically wanted, but the paperwork said it could call out voltage - it can't, it can only beep.
  3. Hi Bill - the forumites helped me above in this thread somewhere but the best thing to do is get a long thin knife, the snap-off blade hobby type and slice out the weights. I put a block of balsa back in to stiffen the area up again without adding the weight.
  4. Sorry to resurrect an old thread - did you ever find anywhere locally?
  5. Is the NX8's WiFi 2.4GHz only or does it also include 5GHz - our home router (nothing special, 6yr old Virgin Media item) sends out two networks, a 2.4GHz one and a 5GHz one. I name my networks by the frequency, so I can see, but if you've never done that, they could look very similar. If the NX8 can only see one or the other, or you're used to connecting to a particular one with one password, then perhaps you're indeed giving it the wrong password. Take a look at the back of the router.
  6. Such a shame I've nowhere local to fly indoors, really want to have a go. Got a Funnycub ready to go that's had some outdoors flights. East midlands, Coalville, if anybody's got any suggestions.
  7. My charger is an Etronix model, but it has a dedicated balance mode on top of your usual charge, store, discharge settings. Good for running quickly to storage or to full charge, then using the low current balance mode to set it right when generally at the overall voltage you want it at.
  8. If you choose to go tail dragger, be careful because the instructions just take you straight into trike and don't give you any options. If you were to build it in ignorance you'd have the rudder glued in before you could fit the tail wheel wire.
  9. It's important to remember there are bricks and mortar UK-based shops trading on eBay. They aren't selling knock-off goods on eBay whilst simultaneously selling official stuff in store or on their own website. Always check the seller, eBay isn't a big bad wild place, it's highly convenient when used properly.
  10. Can't recommend anything personally, but the US-based importer/distributor Twisted Hobbies has a very good selection all of which are available in the UK. The brands that are popular seem to be Czech, RC Factory and Hacker. Multiplex must have something.
  11. From what I read, there's supposed to be something 'special' about the Multiplex Elapor foam. Look and feel, anecdotal evidence that it's just nicer stuff, the premium end of foamies. Added to that, the Multiplex models are given a lot of credit for flying characteristics.
  12. Sounds like you've got a business idea, just cut out those sheets of Depron and you're sorted Tosh!
  13. Hi Frank - did you use the recommended adhesives? Instructions call for MPX852727 and MPX852728. I can only buy MPX852727 at a reasonable price in the UK.
  14. Has anybody ever built or flown one of these before? What did you think?
  15. I've got nothing but 4S 3700s. Always charge at 1C, 3.7A. From storage 3.85V/cell, we're talking 30mins to get up to 4.2V/cell. Always charged on a balance lead.
  16. another forum member recommended modelfixings.co.uk. Nottingham based and whilst the website is clunky, you can expect reasonable shipping costs and quick dispatch.
  17. A clubmate raves about his Spektrum smart chargers. Says he just connects them and it "knows what to do". A brief Google shows they support LiFe, but you'd have to check how it operates as to whether it's simple enough.
  18. I've seen a ~£53 lump, the AR6610T - it has a port on called 'Volt' which I gather is designed to take a direct connection to the flight-pack. I've also seen what looks like a remove voltage 'PCB' that looks like it might plug in to the 'volt' port and act as an intermediary, but I can't tell really. I think I might have to pick a receiver manual and see what it expects to be connected and how. I was hoping a balance connector could go on the LiPo and wire the two outer wires straight to the 'Volt' port.
  19. Hi RW - I wonder what software version the NX6 is on, and I wonder what the volume setting is? I'm sure I've read on the RCG forum that the NX speaker is improved over DX, a post by the lead developer no less. To me at least, the UI is clumsy and unintuitive - I've had 3 instances I can readily recall that have left me feeling like something's wrong/broken/missing; Alarms are not settable/distinguishable from one another - I can't tell if there's a timer gone off, the Tx voltage low, RSSI warning, flight pack voltage low. It's frustrating, particularly as the manual says customisable alarms are settable. I've actually contacted the factory in China and they've ignored that part of the message. I'm looking for audible alerts for things like flaps too which it really can't do. I understand that Futaba only give you audible alerts on the much more expensive sets. When setting up flaperons, I could setup and trim the ailerons without flaps engaged (as you would), but upon turning flaperons on, both the end point and neutral position of both ailerons changes. There was also a buried setting that needed to be activated (which I still don't understand) that asks you to choose ch5+6 or ch6+7. I chose 5+6, but I use 1 and 5 for two-servo wing. Very odd. There are phrases in the manual like, "it is easier to use differential for flaperons, instead of the flaperon setting" (I paraphrase). When I did reach a passable solution, the flaps couldn't be brought up to 0deg to start applying travel in the field. They were stuck at ~10% travel. There's nowhere that lets you change the deployment speed of the flaps. I recall but can't explain clearly a submenu that allowed me to adjust aileron endpoints, but wouldn't let me adjust both servos, it was like only one was there. Even thought it's now clumsily implemented, I don't fancy undoing the hours of work it took to get it into this usable condition, just to try again. I guess I could start a new model, but why bother when there's easier solutions out there with added benefits. When setting DR/expo, you have to set values for each side of the surface manually, and for each of the rates. An example, say I've got a new model and I have a triple rate switch. I have 100%, 75% and 50% rates. To set those, I have to wind the scroll wheel to 75%, then nudge the stick left or right to have the other side selected, then roll to 75% on that. Then repeat for the 50%. Then repeat again for neg expo. I'm going to go Spektrum, I want that userbase both at the club and online, the 2nd and 3rd party support, the BNF models from 1st and 3rd parties, plus the used market for DSMX receivers and seemingly high quality Orange, Lemon and FrSky receivers. A minor point, but one that affects my enjoyment is the feeling of holding something more substantial/well-made.
  20. Thanks Jeff - I see your photo is of the aileron linkage - my splitting clevis was on the elevator - the studding would need to be over 500mm and it looks like this supplier only does 300mm lengths. Do you know of alternatives? I've not looked yet myself but a recommendation is always good.
  21. Hi Kim - we lost our LMS this Christmas, was a shame as I was just getting into the hobby. I've ordered an APC 11*5.5 and a JP spinner with ally backplate. It's the spinner with metal adapter bushes so hopefully straight on and job's a good'un. You're not wrong about the spinner - I thought the cheap one that came with my Seagull Boomerang was iffy, this is worse. The Radiolink set is a good start, but there's no userbase for support and the written manual whilst looking thorough on the surface never quite explains how you're supposed to do what you need to.
  22. I'm in the market for a move away from my user unfriendly Radiolink AT10ii, and what seems like perhaps 65-75% of members at my club are flying Spektrum. I see the NX series, announced late last year and shipping from March this year are the replacements for the DX line (apart from DX6e and DX8e, I think also DX18?). Obviously, those currently being used aren't going to fall over or stop being supported repair-wise, but I do read elsewhere that feature developments will stop and only proceed on NX. It seems there's a new processor in the NX that allows Spektrum to continue developing features that the gen 2 radios don't have the grunt to support. Has anyone bought one of these yet? I'm struggling with the necessity of the 10-channel NX10 vs 8-channel NX8, the myriad Spektrum marketing terms (AS3X, SAFE, SMART) and how to determine compatibility on the Telemetry side of things. The smart stuff looks like it's an expensive way to do things that are often already available, and sometimes just plain pointless. Receivers are another minefield. I think the AR6610T is the most economical way to fly standard club models, but I can't be certain. The comparison sheets make my brain hurt! Rx compare.pdf Telemetry compat.pdf Tx compare.pdf
  23. Maidened yesterday! Within about 30s of being up with it in 10mph wind, I had a big smile on my face. First low winger for me, having only flown trainer and a larger STOL model - this feels connected and direct in a way the others don't. The CG was spot on as per the manual with the weights removed (filled with balsa) and the 3700 4S putting some weight back in. It comes in quickly (for me) but I got the hang of after the high lift models I've been flying. It induced enough confidence to do my first stall turns, and got some loops and rolls in for good measure! Now to set about making some minor mods; The clevises are crap and actually arrived with some split that I had to replace. Are these threads standard? How and what should I replace them with? There is a raspy noise occasionally under high throttle - I notice the Gemfan prop is softer than the usual APC, could it be this running on the edge of its rev limit? The prop spinner is out of balance, I think I'll lay my hands on one of those vented ones or just one with an ally backplate with interchangeable bushes. Get flaperons set up to cut takeoff/landing speed. I already attempted this on my Radiolink AT10ii set. Setting trims was fine, but turning flaperons on and trying to set limits for travel messes up the trim and sometimes the direction of normal aileron operation. I daren't attempt to mix-in elevator. I think the end of the road for this radio is nigh.
  24. I know these PlayStation comparisons are popular, but I have to say as a relatively young starter (mid-30s) the pull of this hobby isn't in an alternative to the PlayStation. I've never dreamt of 'my own spitfire' because that's an unlikely prospect and as the war fades even further into the distance I think people will become less interested in them. I also can't ascribe to the collective illusion that we all own our own warbirds. What I can get onboard with however, is the enjoyment of flight, which I think transcends generations. With H&S spoiling the practical demonstrations of physical theories from school through university, hobbies like this provide an avenue for parents to show how things learnt at school apply in the real world (battling the 'I'm never going to use this' mentality). Someone else mentioned landing vertically in wind. A few weeks ago I bought and flew my first model with flaps. Watching something with such a size and weight move through the air at slower than walking pace gave me a satisfaction that comes along rarely. Mustn't forget the social aspect too - for those of us still working, and I imagine we're the minority, the hobby is a reason to leave the house. When your existence consists of work/shop/cook/sleep/TV, the hobby can gain members if it can reach those frustrated minds.
×
×
  • Create New...