Getting started in electric flight

[19john36]

First of all thankyou for showing me that white glue is much better then dope. My Build worked out well.
I want to get started with electric flight but haven't got a clue where to learn or even what to buy or how to start.
Any Suggestions?
Thanks John

[supercruiser]

Have a look at BMJR hobbies. They have electric packages. The best place to start may be the book Rubber Power models that is sold at Guillow.com. The second edition contains information about electrics for balsa models.

[supercruiser]

Flying Models by Don Ross. Look under Building Supplies. Guillow no. RB2

[glenn]

First of all thankyou for showing me that white glue is much better then dope. My Build worked out well.
I want to get started with electric flight but haven't got a clue where to learn or even what to buy or how to start.
Any Suggestions?
Thanks John

ive been into rc gas planes for years then wanted to get into electric but didnt understand anything about electric.I bought a small electric glider(+radio,batteries,charger,servo`s,motor,speed controler) which lasted about a year untill i crashed it.I then had all the stuff needed to put it into another plane.My point being is-get a plane(a glider is a good start-nice and easy to fly)learn all the how`s and whys about elestric flight, from your plane, magazines and the web.You can buy a complete good set up(as above) in the uk for about $180.Im still useing some stuff from the original set up from 12 years ago.In the last 5yrs great leaps forward have been made in electric flight especially in the very small stuff,perfect for guillows.All my guillows from now on will be electric.

[Xanadu]

Is the glider and Guillows you are intending to install it in, a similar weight?

[19john36]

GENTLEMEN;
THANKYOU FOR THE INPUT ON ELECTRIC POWER. I HAVE ORDERED THE BOOK RB2 FROM GUILLOW AND THAT SHOULD BE A GOOD START. I'VE BEEN BUILDING SINCE 1946 BUT IT'S TIME FOR ME TO GET INTO THE TWENTY FIRST CENTRY. THANKS AGAIN TO ALL OF YOU. JOHN

[jamesgood72]

I have to say, having electrified 2 Guillow kits now, that I wouldn't start electric r/c flying with Guillow kits. They are quite a challenge to get right, not being built with electric r/c in mind.

I would recommend starting with a GWS almost-ready-to-fly aircraft. If it's your first time r/c, you will probably destroy it after a few crashes, but at least you don't have a months worth of balsa building down the drain, just a few hours of setting up. If it's not your first time flying, but is your first time with electric r/c, you can learn some of the basics about micro servos, motors, etc.

I think I had built 5 or 6 purpose built balsa r/c aircraft before I converted my first Guillows (the Fairchild 24), and it was still a challenge.

That's my 2 cents worth!

-James.

[jamesgood72]

Here are a couple of my Guillow Fokker Dr.1 on it's first flight on Monday :





-James.

[Xanadu]

Looks great.......I am jealous.

[John G. Jedinak]

James, photography is a great as the the plane!!!!!!!!!!

[kittyfritters]

James,

The pictures are so good that it brings up an interesting point. Who was flying and who was shooting? With a free-flight model you can whip out your camera and take pictures after it's launched, but with R/C?

Howard

[cdwheatley]

There is a link to a short video of James's Triplane in flight over at the Virtual Aerodrome. I presume the same friend who shot the video of James and his model before take-off and in the air also took the photos?

[jamesgood72]

Thanks guys. I was very lucky to have my friend Marc come down with me to the flying field before work. I was going to go alone, and there would have been almost no record of the event if that was so. He did exactly the best thing when shooting something like this - take tons of shots, which allowed me to pick the best for posting. I owe him big time for capturing it all!

Here's the video I posted at VirtualAerodrome :

http://www.marcfest.com/videos/070723jamesgood_0.html

Marc has a website of his own, http://www.aftersunrise.com/?p=89 . He does little features on the sunrise here in Miami, check it out!

-James.

[Saxophoneking]

Wow! It really looks great in the air. Is that just a stock Guillows Triplane or did you use different wood?

[jamesgood72]

Sax,

It's standard kit wood, the only thing not stock are the lightweight wheels, prop and installed electronics.

-James.