adam abbott

Cheers, Dave, great advise here, I didn’t find this forum until after I had done soe initial research, seems it wasn’t enough! I plan to build the Spit as I learn other skills, as well as learning to fly. It will defo be the last plane I take up after I have learnt what needs to be learned. I run an iMac so Ill check out the Appstore for that sim, all the one I have seen so far have been PC based. ‘Crashing pixels’ that’s my new go to phrase! Seriously, thanks for pointing me in this direction and providing some great info! As with everyone else on here that I’ve chatted to so far, the openness and freely given advise is a pleasant surprise to most of what’s on the web. Thanks! Ad

Posted by kc on 28/01/2021 18:29:19: Frankly Adam I don't think many people would have advised buying that radio for use with the Spitfire or other models but would have suggested a more versatile Tx that had many memories, expo, buddy system, etc, etc. Probably most would say use what your instructor uses which would probably be Spektrum, or Futaba etc. Cost more I expect but cheaper in the long run. Whilst the Microzone would no doubt work OK and fly the Riot it does not seem ideal. If it doesn't have a buddy lead it's not really waht you need. My advice would be to look up what features that TX has and decide whether that's going to be right for you with your Spitfire etc. in the long run. If you bought online there is a period ( 14 days maybe) when you could reject the goods. If you are able to do so my advice would be to do that and maybe ask the dealer to do a deal to supply a Riot with Spektrum or Futuaba whatever your club uses ( with memories- very important!) Sorry to have give you this advice! Edited By kc on 28/01/2021 18:32:10 Hi mate, I bought the riot kit as a whole unit just to learn to fly, any future models I was planning to get a better transmitter and receiver that then fits the bill. No need to apologize for your knowledge! That’s what I’m here for! I’ll be dropping down on some other threads and asking questions to find and pinch knowledge! 😂😂 thanks mate!

Posted by David Davis on 28/01/2021 17:47:57: Posted by adam abbott on 28/01/2021 17:45:17: Posted by kc on 28/01/2021 17:37:00: Adam, what radio did you buy with the Max Thrust Riot? That plane sometimes comes bundled with a Microzone Tx. Its a Microzone PC 1024 It's a rare make Adam. When you get to join a club check what the instructors are using and buy the same make as theirs. Cheers, will do. I take it this controller does have a buddy like feature?

Posted by kc on 28/01/2021 17:37:00: Adam, what radio did you buy with the Max Thrust Riot? That plane sometimes comes bundled with a Microzone Tx. Its a Microzone PC 1024

Posted by kc on 28/01/2021 11:21:53: Adam, if you are on the waiting list then a vacancy should come up in February or March but improve your chances by phoning the secretary and show them how keen you are. Ask them what Mode the club uses normally. You want to start on the same Mode as then any member can take over your model if needed, but more importantly another member might offer you the chance to fly his model when he thinks you are good enough. I know what I am talking about because I am one of the few Mode 1 pilots in a Mode 2 club! ( you learn on one Mode and never change ) Mode 1 is throttle right and elevator left. Mode 2 is throttle left and elevator right. Rudder & ailerons are same in both Modes. The action of flying is very different as Mode 2 has both ailerons and elevator on the same stick. It's no better or worse just very different and its what you get used to, so make sure your simulator is the mode you will fly. Mode 2 is much more common and much equip is sold that way but can normally be changed. Most clubs train with a 'buddy lead' so check whether your Max Thrust Riot with Tx that you have bought already can take a buddy lead. Cheers, Im off to check the Riot Tx now!

Posted by ken anderson. on 28/01/2021 10:38:51: welcome from me Adam.. ken anderson...ne..1..welcome dept. Cheers Ken!

Posted by David Davis on 28/01/2021 06:31:26: Hello again Adam. In your post of 27th January you asked for suggestions of models you can build which would help you "hone your skills." Before starting, a bit of background. Prior to about 1990 if you wanted a model aeroplane you had to build it. My first model aircraft was a Keil Kraft Ajax, a 30" (76 cms) rubber powered free flight model.This was in 1959, it was not a great success and I could not have built it without the guidance of my Uncle Geoff who was a superb builder of model aeroplanes. Despite the lack of success with that model, the skills I learned in building it were transferable to building more complicated radio controlled models afterwards. I built my first radio controlled model in 1988. Secondly it would be easier for me to give advice if I knew how old you were. Generally speaking the younger you are, the easier it is for you to learn how to fly. This has nothing to do with learning how to build of course but if it takes you months to build a model and you crash it on your first flight, your disappointment will be greater! Nowadays most people understandably start with an ARTF and your choice of the Riot is a good one provided you fly with an instructor on a "buddy box" to begin with. A buddy box is a way of linking the instructor's transmitter with the trainee's so that when you make a horlicks of things the instructor can take control. Transmitters may be linked by a cable or increasingly these days by a wireless system. You will need to buy the same make of transmitter as your instructor. Spektrum and Futaba seem to be the most popular makes at the moment, Futaba being the industry standard like Volkswagen cars. Thirdly if you want to build a model you will need a building board, a scalpel for cutting balsa and a balsa saw as well as glues, a covering iron and covering material. I prefer slow setting aliphatic glue to cyano (Super Glue) but each to their own. You will also need something transparent to protect the plan. Having got all of that out of the way I'm going to start with suggestions ranging from the most involved builds to the simplest and I'm going to start by suggesting a vintage model.These involve a lengthy traditional build and produce a pleasant flying model with limited aerobatic ability. I can here the howls of protest from assorted modellers that these are nothing but guided free flight models and that they don't teach you how to fly proper r/c models. That's probably true but you will end up with nice relaxing model which will be a delight to fly on calm days even when you are the Scottish aerobatic champion! The model I am going to suggest is the Super 60, which is available from Ben Buckle kits. **LINK**This model was introduced in the late 1950s and was the most popular trainer throught the 1960s and early Seventies. While not difficult to build it would be better if you had an experienced builder to help you. I have built two and bought another. It is the Issigonis Mini of the aeromodelling world! Getting a bit more up to date you may consider the Seagull Boomerang which is available as an ARTF or builder's kit. I use an ARTF Boomerang as an advanced trainer with my pupils. It's a strange reflection on the modern age that the kit is more expensive than the ARTF! **LINK** Finally I'd like to suggest the Chris Foss Unowot. This model is going to be a bit more slippery than those suggested above but it is a simpler build. The wings are made out of expanded polystyrene foam and are just joined together in the middle, the fuselage and tail surfaces are made from sheet and the instructions are pretty comprehensive. **LINK** Finally, all of these models were originally designed for i/c engines but they are all convertible to electric power and of course you could always start with a Keil Kraft Ajax and find some old greybeard to show you how to trim it. You'd learn a lot about aerodynamics if you did! **LINK** Cheaper too! Edited By David Davis on 28/01/2021 06:36:04 Thanks, David, Im 50, which pains my to write!!! Ill check the transmitter now for the Rio, not sure at the moment! I have most of the new tools arrived now, just waiting on the clear plastic. Lots to take in, I can feel some online shopping coming on! I am going to take the whole process steady and enjoy the experience! Thanks, Ad

Posted by GrumpyGnome on 28/01/2021 05:02:44: Welcome Adam. Hope your modelling career is long and fruitful! All good advice above. Only thing I would add is not to be put off by the negative opinions/doom mongers you may encounter on social media; when you manage to visit a club, you will undoubtedly find some great, like-minded individuals sharing a common passion, and make some great friends. GG Thanks! I try to stay off social media stuff, bad for the health!

Posted by Cuban8 on 27/01/2021 21:38:55: Yes, a really nice looking kit. **LINK** However please, please, please take the wise advice given and don't even think about flying this model until you have several other types of increasing complexity under your belt and you can take off, fly and land accurately every time. The Spit you have is not an impossibly difficult model to operate but will not tolerate mishandling, inadvertantly or otherwise and repairs will not be so straightforward as with a simple sports design or foamy. WW2 trainees didn't go from a basic trainer to a Spit in one go and the same holds for us in model form in 2021! Look into the electronic aids that are available now at low cost and can get you out of trouble where a broken model would have been the result back in the day. Build light and don't be tempted to beef anything up - correct weight and wing loading are paramount on these small warbirds so go easy on the finishing as well - the wrong technique can add a lot of unwanted weight. Get really proficient with a well performing tail wheeled low wing sports aerobatic model and fly the pants off that until it becomes boring.....when you can do four or five circuits with touch-and-goes one after the other without ripping the undercarriage out or putting the model on its nose or on its back, you'd be ready to give the Spit a go without risking breaking it too soon. Very best of luck and welcome to a great (if sometimes frustrating) hobby/sport. Edited By Cuban8 on 27/01/2021 21:49:15 Thanks, gaining lots of knowledge here! What are the electronic aids? I plan to just take my time and enjoy the whole process. Im good at working through frustrations, Ive been a chef for 30 years! Cheers, Ad

Posted by kevin b on 27/01/2021 20:15:09: Hi Adam. If you are on a club's waiting list, why not ask them if one of the members can spend a short time advising you locally on the basics. Even a phone call could be useful to you. Regarding learning, most will say to start with a "40 size" trainer, or electric equivalent, but these days there are many options. An electric powered foamie like the Bixler, Easy Star, or one of a similar size will give you experience with handling an aeroplane. Because they are light and can be flown (very) slowly you can build up your reflexes with them and they are easy to mend ! If you go down this route you will then learn that a "proper" trainer handles rather differently at first, but the experience I found extremely helpful. A lot of people have success with flight simulators. Unfortunately they didn't work for me (I like working in real space). You would need CAA registration even to fly a small aeroplane at the local park, so my advice is to join the BMFA and start reading up on the requirements. BMFA membership runs from the beginning of January, so if you join now or in 4 months time it will be the same price. P.S. The Spitfire won't even be your 3rd model, so don't be disheartened if you feel you are not getting there quickly. A lot will depend on how much "stick time" you are able to get in. Edited By kevin b on 27/01/2021 20:16:14 Hi Kevin, thanks for the advise, if I ever manage to get off the computer for work Ill go read BMFA site! Long day! Lots to think about! My girl is worried she's going to be a model widow! Thanks Ad

KC, thanks for the help, I am on a waiting list with club in Stirling. mill have another look at the BMFA & the SAA sites again. I was going to wait till I was in a lib before registering with the CAA, is that a good move? what kit would you recommend to hone my skills? I know the Spitfire is a lot of work but I do like a challenge! cheers, ad

Dwain, Hi and thanks for the welcome! My girls is from your neck of the woods, Brownhills! John, thanks for the information. Ive been trying to find a club up here that's open or has spaces for new members but no luck yet. Ill keep checking! Thanks for the advise, greatly appreciated. David, thanks for the advise, I bought a max thrust riot, it was £250 with power, transmitter and receiver etc. I read its easy to repair as I know I'm with out going to crash a few times! Where do you get flight sims from, what controller do you use? Thanks again, for your help and advise! Cheers, Ad

Cheers, John! J D 8, thanks! Its a Spitfire mk1, 1500 mm span I bought a trainer to learn to fly, whilst I'm building this kit. Trying to find a club with space, that open, up here is hard (I am just outside Stirling)

Hi all, new to aero modelling, thought that I would give myself a challenge! Ive purchased a short kit fro RCB and I'm waiting on some tools to arrive before I can start my build. I apologise now for bending your eyes with questions! Looking forward to the challenges and the sharp upwards curve of knowledge gain! Cheers, Ad