RC flying and building for beginners- from a noob! [Banter Allowed]

Quorneng wrote: A bit disappointed that the nice chap from the BMFA pointed out that a LiPo can burst into flames and explode without saying that IC engine fuel can do exactly the same thing.
"No smoking in the pits" is not there because of LiPos!

ahh noooo sorry, he didnt actually say that, thats not a direct quote - we were talking about the dangers and he just kindly pointed out that lipos can be as much a danger as other RC power methods because I had said that it was safer to fly electric in public places than IC in my article thus insinuating you didnt need to join a club if you flew electric. That was my observation in regarding the blowing up of them. Saw a video of someone on youtube deliberately blowing one up to show you the dangers, was a tad scary!

To be fair the second crash is a gas turbine powered plane.
Very expensive indeed as each turbine is £1k plus and it had two!

Very impressed the way you research thimg s Sarah before putting your posts on.Of course its your thread,and I stated it in the best possible taste.Shame that in the middle you didnt dot an I.Very interesting observations.I first flew electric because I started on mt own in a field behind my place of work.As the electric models were so quiet I didnt disturb anyone.

There is still one issue with electric that I do not understand.Where IC is concerned if your model needs a 46 2 stroke it says it on the box.I f you want to get the same power by Electric there is only one measurement 1lb weight=100watts.BUT there is no standard between motors to know what each does.You more or less have to rely on the seller to supply the motor for your needs.I see 4 max quotes watts in each motor which helps,and I believe OS range qotes equivalent IC size but its still a complex field.

oh strewth , no idea Beardie and too tired to look into that one right now but if anyone else can answer you brill, if not gimmie the weekend will see if can find an answer to that one.

I didnt expect an anwer Sarah it was more of an observation really.The answer is to find a supplier you can trust.Similarlt with the size of ESC you use with any given motor.They are measured in amps.So when the model is set up you should teat the power train with a watt meter.This reads ,the wattage a motor is pulling and this can be altered with different prop sizes.It also gives you amps being used,ensuring the ESC is the correct one.The first time I did this the motor smoked and burnt itself out.I was supplied a new one FOC.

If you contact a good elec supplier, with the model you are thinking of buying, he will advise which components would be sutable, ie motor ESC and lipo, and normally you will be safe with that information. Its his job!!! Manufaturers have not standerdised much in the electric field, and it IS a minefield. The reason we use a watt meter is to experiment, with different setups, but it is a very necessay piece of equipment. I must admit that I now tend to add 20% to the value of the ESC suggested, as a level of insurance.

Garry

Thats one of the things I miss with Galaxy having closed.I always wanted to visit and meet them.I was pleased for Pete who was there ,he was a top ten helocopter flyer and was offered a job with a film company flying camera helicopters.He always advised me on electric set ups,quickly returning to topic before anyone noticed.My son is now at Uni 30 miles from where they were,shucks.

Just a quicky - poser pictures as was doing some work on her tonight, will explain about her, her make up etc etc in more detail (and why I picked her for a first plane) over the weekend

Dotty is my first plane build and half finished at the moment but getting there. Dotty is a Multiplex Funcub- a 55" high wingspan airplane made of molded ELAPOR. She is a plane of many talents capable of taking off in small spaces,from high grass, gravel or an airstrip, Great for a beginner as she is nice and slow but capable of doing aerobatics for the more experienced, towing gliders and with an additional purchase of floats, can be used on water or snow.

I suppose we knitted the pilot ourself did we,that why its taking so long.I expect the next step is a leather helmet and goggles and of course mustnt forget the obligatory scarf Tally ho.

Why does the pilot look as though he is playing with something else other than the joystick?

Where do you get hp of the engine from though,I tend to find the enginr no.a guide but did get it wrong buying my 1st engine.My expert said buy an OS 46 LA but biught a Thunder Tiger 46 pro at the recomendation of my LMS,and was given a ticking off for buying to powerful an engine.

The OS46 LA couldn't pull the skin off a rice pudding, I think you made the better choice.