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| Fixed Wing Discuss fixed wing aircraft. |
Topic Review (Newest First)
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| 01-17-2017 02:46 PM | ||
| Geebeeflyer |
Re: Foamies and the future...... Foamies have their place I like them for indoors and on very calm nights , it can be very relaxing velcro a battery on and going and can been flown just about any where |
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| 10-31-2016 08:56 PM | ||
| Harvard 387 |
Re: Foamies and the future...... I have been building and flying RC for 40+ years, balsa and glue. Bought a couple of foamies, didn't like the way they fly, especially in the wind (which we got lots of on the prairies). Got a couple of electric balsa planes, flew better but were discontinued by the manufacturer. I decided to go back to what I enjoy......building AND flying nitro planes and gassers. I started with white glue and epoxy, still enjoy it. As a friend of mine said once, "I built a purple plane 'cause I like purple and I got to look at it when I fly." White glue and epoxy it is. What I don't like is the chirping about "old fashioned " or "dinosaurs". Hopefully there is enough room and passion enough in this hobby for all of us. I don't encourage anyone to build OR to buy.....it's your hobby, enjoy it your way! I will spend Winter building my nitro "slimers" 'cause....last I looked.....they were all mine and I like 'em. |
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| 10-31-2016 12:18 PM | ||
| scochrane |
Re: Foamies and the future...... I got back into flying 5 years ago, after a 35 year absence from flying, upped from C/L to a radio kit and balsa AFT. Joined a club but never got my wings, quit the club a couple years ago. Fast forward to a couple months ago. Bought an Apprentice RTF, electric. Went out with a buddy that flys and was off to the races on the first flight. Now, truth but told, the transmitter was set to 'beginner' but I feel confident that I can fly on the intermediate and advanced settings, might have to switch to beginner for the first couple landings in the advanced settings. I built from kits in my c/l days, enjoyed it. If I could find a kit to build I wouldn't say no although I see and appreciate the appeal of an ARF. I miss the c/l days too, but where do you buy the supplies to build? Even eBay falls short. |
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| 10-30-2016 09:29 PM | ||
| OLD PRAIRIE RED NECK |
Re: Foamies and the future...... I can accept that, quite a reasonable stance. I guess what bugs me is statements to the effect that planes can't be hand built to the foamy and ARF standards. No you didn't put it quite like that but it was leaning that direction and it is in my nature to reach over and straighten the statement up a bit. Yes I have a foamy Beaver too(by default, bought for someone else and he changed his mind)and I have flown it. It flies fine and looks reasonably scale in the air. I am happy with that part but on the ground it shouts "Foamy" from any angle you look at it. Definitely not contest material. It is what it is, a reasonably priced plane to go and fly, nothing more and certainly nothing I would invest any pride of ownership in. There are thousands just exactly like it out there and as long as you have the money you to can have one too. As for not having time to build there is some merit to that too, the present workplace culture is demanding more of us all the time. However if you really love building you will find the time - period. If you don't there is ARFs a foamies galore out there. |
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| 10-30-2016 08:20 AM | ||
| Scale Freak |
Re: Foamies and the future...... Quote:
I built a Top Flight Gold edition C182 kit. and it came out pretty darn nice if I may say so. But, the time to add and mod the kit to achieve the little details that made it so nice, take a huge amount of time. I would not spend that on every model as if I did, id never fly. The Beaver has all sorts of little details that are just there and would take time, or would be left off just because of the time to add them. The Seawind, would I build it out of balsa? No, I would not, the internal required structure would be heavy and covering nothing but compound curves is a PITA. So for this one, the foamy wins. Making it out of fiberglass? sure, if you want to make a pattern, then a plug and then lay it up. Don't have that space or luxury of time, or cash on hand. I am currently working on drawing up plans for a deHavilland Buffalo that one day I will begin building, and it will have all the features of the full size, including the split rudder and rear cargo doors. Can I build a museum quality model? yes. Do I want to? Yes. Will I? probably only one or two...maybe.. The new foamies give me a model that I can enjoy flying as it has pretty decent look, and honestly, I don't have the desire to spend 50 hours or more building every plane. Is building important? yes, I do think it is and has given me the ability to work out problems and modify to achieve what I want and its given me a deeper appreciation for modeling overall. Is it mandatory? no, and I don't think we need to look down on those who don't want to build, but encourage them and just maybe, they will take an interest and want to build a design of their at some point. |
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| 10-30-2016 01:00 AM | ||
| crmattson |
Re: Foamies and the future...... You got to be kidding me... We are all flying toys from the perspective of a licensed pilot, flying real aircraft. This is about the enjoyment we all get either in the creation of a model and/or the flying of a model, that is why we all do take part in this hobby. There is no need for anyone to look down their nose or take a shot at someone because of their choice in what they are flying is made from. There is more young people getting into this hobby now than ever before. Why? Because of electric foam aircraft. It is not a bad thing at all! |
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| 10-29-2016 08:17 PM | ||
| OLD PRAIRIE RED NECK |
Re: Foamies and the future...... Yes I get it that some people just don't want to or don't have the ability to build things and it is a real bonus for them but... to say that you can't build one as nice as a foamy... Hoo Boy! They aren't that special! |
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| 10-29-2016 04:32 PM | ||
| DO335 |
Re: Foamies and the future...... Quote:
Those who are interested in aeromodeling may continue as they have done in the past. Those who are just playing with toys, will do that. |
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| 10-29-2016 10:58 AM | ||
| Scale Freak |
Re: Foamies and the future...... Ill add my 2 cents worth, I love building, make no mistake about it, and 5 years ago I would have not even looked at a 'foamy'. they were cheap, looked like they were cheap, and as scale guy, they just turned me off. Fast forward to today... I have three foamies now, A flyzone Beaver, Seawind, and a Windrider B737. I am super impressed with the scale detail, installed lighting, flight characteristics, and to be honest, I could not have built these planes as nicely or as lightly out of wood. To say that if you don't build your cheating, is not true as this hobby has hundreds of facets to it. Those who build, still can, and those who want to just fly something decent can as well now too. Look at full scale, not many true pilots build their own plane. I am a builder at heart, and my Windrider B737 foamy, has taken 40 hours so far to ...put together... and will be another 15 at least, because I have made a lot of mods to it. But there's no way I could have built this plane as nicely as it came to the door. Are foamies cheating? Not in my opinion. They are a progression of the hobby, just as Im sure the pioneers would say that if your not using a reed type control system, your cheating. Lets embrace the new as well as have the utmost respect for the past. Dan |
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| 09-21-2016 02:56 PM | ||
| crmattson |
Re: Foamies and the future...... I want to add some to this discussion. To get to my point and avoid the history, go to the last paragraph. I first held the sticks and actually flew RC about 30 years ago. I fella I worked with and a good friend at the time both were active in the hobby. I learned quite a bit from them but never built my own plane as the time and expense was too much for me with a young family. I do remember though, how sad it was when they crashed and demolished planes they had spent so much time building. About 4 years ago I received a Parrot Drone as a gift. This was controlled by a tablet and had a camera you could see as you fly. Now this thing was pretty neat but just didn’t do what all I wanted. I looked around and saw that you could get a foam plane (Horizon Super Cub), radio and all you need to fly for fewer than 200 bucks. I bought one and since I live in the country with a lot of land to practice on, I took it home and taught myself how to fly. It wasn’t pretty. I spent more time crashing and fixing than actually flying but eventually I learned how and trained my thumbs to use the sticks. I flew every day I could and really learned the limitations of a 3 channel airplane. I still have that banged up Cub and still fly it on occasion. Of course you know where it goes from there… I bought another plane and learned 4 channel radio control. Then I started buying ARF and kits. I built them with my own choice of motors and batteries. I constructed a runway in the pasture so I could have smooth landings. I upgraded radios and receivers. I started into basic FPV. A few friends started coming over and we started to fly / build / repair together. Neighbors and their kids come over if they hear the planes flying to watch and learn and have fun. The kids love it and I have a selection of little foam chuck gliders for them to play with as we “adults” fly and chat. Also everyone loves a ride in a FPV plane on a spare set of goggles. My estimate is about 500 hours a year on the sticks for the last three years, almost all flying done 20 steps from my door. I also estimate I have not spent what a two week vacation in Hawaii for you and your better half would cost. I have introduced and taught basic radio control to many friends and family and helped them fly for their first time. I am currently honing my skills for flying patterns and also learning how to fly 3D. I built my very first racing quad and am learning how to program and fly it. Like everyone does, I do research online. Found websites like Flitetest and RC Model Reviews and started scratch building aircraft from foam board and pink foam. I went and took my ham radio license so I could use different frequencies for FPV. I became a MAAC member. Recently built a hotwire foam cutter and am experimenting with building different types of wings using variations of airfoils, twist, sweep etc. What is my point? I have one balsa airplane with a nitro motor and I don’t fly it. I fly all foam. I fully appreciate the time, effort and craftsmanship that it takes to construct and fly a stick built model. Some are purely works of art and there is no end to the admiration I have for the people who build them and fly them well. That being said, foam planes with electric motors are here to stay and you cannot overlook how many new people it has brought into this hobby. It is fun, affordable and crashes don’t mean the end of your day at the field. If you are not encouraging people to come to your club and fly but looking down your nose at them for flying foam, really it is a damn shame. You are missing out and so is your club. Look at the younger generation of fliers that can now dream then build and then fly an RC aircraft. FliteFest is a great example. |
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