How Many Of You Actually Fly Your Models?

[CedarBranchFisher]

Just curious, how many fly your models? How many use the rubber band motor compared to gas-powered motors? How well do the rubber band actually fly, distance, height, etc.?

[Steve Blanchard]

Depending on the model itself, design, weight, how well it is constructed, etc. On rubber power these can fly in upwards of several minutes. There are so many variables that determine how well these models fly that it is not a simple question to answer. The best thing to do is go to smallflyingarts.com and check out some of the videos and discussions posted there.
With the proper care in construction these kits are capable of flight. In some cases they can fly very well. The easiest type to get to fly are high wing monoplanes. Low wingers and Biplanes have a whole bunch of trimming issues that for the first time flier would cold cause a whole lot of head scratching. Just remember there are a lot people on this forum and others who do this competitively and would be very happy to help.

Steve

[supercruiser]

http://balsamodels.com/phpBB/viewtopic. ... hlight=fly

[Squishyp38]

I build them, and hope they aren't too heavy to fly!

[Phugoid]

I fly them on rubber power, but not with the Joke of a rubber band in the kits!

[SteveM]

I built a 500 series Me-109 and tried to fly it with rubber power (kit and after market rubber), but it was far too heavy to fly. I tried a Bird Dog on rubber power (after market rubber) and just couldn't get it to fly right despite being light as a feather and a high wing model which should have made it easy.

Then I built a 400 series P-51 for electric R/C and got about 5-6 minute flights with pretty darn good handling.

The F-15 I built for display only, but R/C conversions have been made.

I am drawn towards the fun of trying to make my models fly, but the expense for the hardware and the time and money involved to get out of town to fly the plane has pretty much shut down any desire I have to build for R/C so I confess to having not built any planes in the past year, though I have done a little work on one, but I've got no where to fly it when done. My next plane will probably be for display only.

[yellowlynn]

Where would one get after market rubber for the rubber powered models? What came in kits was weak and light, very easily broken. The LHS has rubber bands, not very stretchy, and the next up is too strong. They may do better in a larger plane.

Lynn

[SteveM]

Where would one get after market rubber for the rubber powered models?

http://www.pennvalleyhobbycenter.com/ru ... rubber.htm
https://www.a2zcorp.us/store/Category.asp?Cguid={73ABEC96-3B29-445A-B516-6D34175603FA}&Category=ModelSupplies%3ARubber
http://www.easybuiltmodels.com/parts.htm#rubber

Don't forget lube.