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thenated0g
Moderator
cant remember what year it was, but must have been around 2012-2013 @Hawaii Sloper came to visit and brought a 3d foamy plane. I think it had a brushed motor. And i seem to remember him saying something about electric motors finally being usable on rc planes. We found an empty lot and he let me fly around and chase some birds. But at the time i didnt think it was really possible for me to get into the hobby. Fast forward a few years and we were both looking for a new hobby (we used to play xbox online together all the time) and rigth about that time was when DJI came out with the flamewheel and flitetest was just getting started. @Hawaii Sloper sent me a battery charger and a transmitter and its been down hill since than lol
I was into photography at the time, so at first RC was just a way to get a camera into a new position. My flamewheel was just a tripod in the sky. But after flying that i wanted something "faster" so i build a multiwii board quadcopter. IE arduino programming to make it work. We have it so good now with the gui setup programs:
About that time too i really wanted to get some kind of rc plane, for fpv flying, not for line of site. Had no interest at all. So i picked up a Flite test storch and versa wing (pic below). I had no idea what CG was or how much power was needed in a motor. Almost gave up as i couldnt launch my wing. So i went to the storch and had a great time with it. Pulled that motor over to the versa wing and had just the most amazing time flying fpv out of it.
But the more i flew it the more i started to really like line of site flying. And so what began as a fpv goggle hobby turned into a line of site flying hobby. I built a ton of the flitetest kits and started to experiment with building my own designs out of foam from the dollar store.
Than flitetest started building really big stuff so of course i wanted to do that too. Found some 1/2 foam board on amazon and made some big planes:
Around that time i got my first slope kit, a Magnum Models f5. that thing went on so many family trips, but never had success. Again doing everything solo i had no idea about wind speed, wind direction, location, etc. It wasnt for a few more years that if finally got a good flight at tick:
Finally i decided to try out Andrew Newton's hot wire bow thing and cut my own wings. It didnt go great. I quickly switched to doing the pivot point method and had really good success with that.
Apparently i had found alofthobbies around that time lol. Let the sticker collection begin!
I was into photography at the time, so at first RC was just a way to get a camera into a new position. My flamewheel was just a tripod in the sky. But after flying that i wanted something "faster" so i build a multiwii board quadcopter. IE arduino programming to make it work. We have it so good now with the gui setup programs:
About that time too i really wanted to get some kind of rc plane, for fpv flying, not for line of site. Had no interest at all. So i picked up a Flite test storch and versa wing (pic below). I had no idea what CG was or how much power was needed in a motor. Almost gave up as i couldnt launch my wing. So i went to the storch and had a great time with it. Pulled that motor over to the versa wing and had just the most amazing time flying fpv out of it.
But the more i flew it the more i started to really like line of site flying. And so what began as a fpv goggle hobby turned into a line of site flying hobby. I built a ton of the flitetest kits and started to experiment with building my own designs out of foam from the dollar store.
Than flitetest started building really big stuff so of course i wanted to do that too. Found some 1/2 foam board on amazon and made some big planes:
Around that time i got my first slope kit, a Magnum Models f5. that thing went on so many family trips, but never had success. Again doing everything solo i had no idea about wind speed, wind direction, location, etc. It wasnt for a few more years that if finally got a good flight at tick:
Finally i decided to try out Andrew Newton's hot wire bow thing and cut my own wings. It didnt go great. I quickly switched to doing the pivot point method and had really good success with that.
Apparently i had found alofthobbies around that time lol. Let the sticker collection begin!
thenated0g
Moderator
And of course i still loved the big stuff!!!
This was one of the last things i cut manually. It was intended to be powered and in the end of the build i just lost interest, because i had finally got to slope with @Wayne at tick. A guy on instagram suggested i convert it to slope and i maidened it at my first sunset event.
I was also looking into cnc stuff to automate and make my wings better. I made my own drawer slide 4 axis hotwire cutter out of wood following the tutorials from RCKieth in the uk. At the time i was trying to get away with free software and for some reason i could only make a right wing so i thought to myself "a straight wing is the same on left and right" and thats why my first thing i cut on the cnc was this thing:
In time i got martins windyhillhobbies 4 axis machine and purchased some devcad software and have been going nuts scratch building ever since:
This was one of the last things i cut manually. It was intended to be powered and in the end of the build i just lost interest, because i had finally got to slope with @Wayne at tick. A guy on instagram suggested i convert it to slope and i maidened it at my first sunset event.
I was also looking into cnc stuff to automate and make my wings better. I made my own drawer slide 4 axis hotwire cutter out of wood following the tutorials from RCKieth in the uk. At the time i was trying to get away with free software and for some reason i could only make a right wing so i thought to myself "a straight wing is the same on left and right" and thats why my first thing i cut on the cnc was this thing:
In time i got martins windyhillhobbies 4 axis machine and purchased some devcad software and have been going nuts scratch building ever since:
thenated0g
Moderator
Thanks @Hank GB Z
B-24 DTFB design and build log
B-24 DTFB **update: It flies. now w/plans A couple months ago my friend had linked me to nerdnic's videos about designing foam board planes like Flitetest does them. I finally got around to watching them all (3 hours!) and started looking around for something to try out. I quickly found this...
forum.flitetest.com
thenated0g
Moderator
yeah i remember him as well. he had a lot great videos in the early days. I think thats why flitetest came to baylands, to come visit him.
Stitchbitch
New User
Started building little stick stuff 65 years ago. Down on the floor pins and testors glue. Would fly maybe 25 ft, actually just a fast taxi then run out of rubber band.
Grew from there but mostly control line, 1/2A, but then progressed to mostly combat wings, 19 up to sixty, but dictated by funds as we bought our own stuff via paper routes. But in truth liked the building as much as the flying. Hours and hours dope, Silk, silkspan ext.
I still like to build as am making a Aero-naut 2.5 now as a winter project. Back into the hobby after 20 years off and love the foam. It allows me to make mistakes, learn to fly at a level above where I was before. Crash over and over, hot glue and pot stickers, (natures carbon fiber) and don't worry. Now that said allows me the learning skills to fly higher end stuff that is for the most part balsa.
Knew a motorcycle dealer once whom was very successful. No matter what bike you brought into his lot, even the competitor, first word out of his mouth was COOL BIKE. The point is, Harley, Vespa, Lambretta, moto Guzzie, Ducati, Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, Hodaka, Greeves, KTM, Polaris, Well you get the point. They all had 2 wheels and that is what made it cool, even a tote Goat.
I am part of a club but find the biggest detractor to the hobby and this has not changed. We for whatever reason are treated like a pariah. Was even so as a kid, would fire up the combat ship at 1pm at the ball field, and some housewife would complain of the noise. Now she has drive by shootings, hows that working for you sweetie? This has never changed.
Foam, fiber glass over foam, balsa, solid foam just part of the hobby and you can learn something from all these guys that you can apply to your build, JMO. As Far as AMA, not an opinion. I like the magazine but without them you would or may still be turning in all your RC stuff along with your guns. Think I'm crazy, then pull you head out!!!
Grew from there but mostly control line, 1/2A, but then progressed to mostly combat wings, 19 up to sixty, but dictated by funds as we bought our own stuff via paper routes. But in truth liked the building as much as the flying. Hours and hours dope, Silk, silkspan ext.
I still like to build as am making a Aero-naut 2.5 now as a winter project. Back into the hobby after 20 years off and love the foam. It allows me to make mistakes, learn to fly at a level above where I was before. Crash over and over, hot glue and pot stickers, (natures carbon fiber) and don't worry. Now that said allows me the learning skills to fly higher end stuff that is for the most part balsa.
Knew a motorcycle dealer once whom was very successful. No matter what bike you brought into his lot, even the competitor, first word out of his mouth was COOL BIKE. The point is, Harley, Vespa, Lambretta, moto Guzzie, Ducati, Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, Hodaka, Greeves, KTM, Polaris, Well you get the point. They all had 2 wheels and that is what made it cool, even a tote Goat.
I am part of a club but find the biggest detractor to the hobby and this has not changed. We for whatever reason are treated like a pariah. Was even so as a kid, would fire up the combat ship at 1pm at the ball field, and some housewife would complain of the noise. Now she has drive by shootings, hows that working for you sweetie? This has never changed.
Foam, fiber glass over foam, balsa, solid foam just part of the hobby and you can learn something from all these guys that you can apply to your build, JMO. As Far as AMA, not an opinion. I like the magazine but without them you would or may still be turning in all your RC stuff along with your guns. Think I'm crazy, then pull you head out!!!
Doc J
Very Strong User
Sometimes I think I am the epitome of lucky breaks.
My careers teacher at School was related to Sir Sydney, and had told him of my passion for aviation - thats how I managed to qualify. Lucky bar-steward that I am.
It was fun (no it wasn't!) having an 'interview' at 13 years old in a hangar-sized office, lined with aircraft parts and bombs, clutching a sheaf of model aeroplane drawings under my arm. But, I soon relaxed as we were speaking the same language. All Sir Syd wanted to do was look at my drawings and tell me - in an incredibly polite and down to earth way - how to improve the design and constuction. After that we walked around the vast factory - which was making Buccaneer fighters (I later got a ride n one!) at the time. Sir Syd took care to introduce me to the heads of the various departments as though I was some kind of distinguished visitor - talk about VIP, damn! I felt like the queen!.
Telling me that I had could have the Apprentice job "when I grew up" was almost an afterthought, and even though sadly he'd passed away by the time I did apply, the HR director (Or whatever it was called then) remembered me. I guess its not often that a teenage boy got a factory tour from the head of the company.
Thinking of that time can make me quite emotional.
Cheers,
Doc.
Sir Sydney was a modelller too - look at the design - so advanced and practical.
Not many people know the influence Sir Syd had on the Harrier concept and design.
Doc J
Very Strong User
Red
Very Strong User
Modelers make the best designers lol
Larry manton
New User
Luck is where skill and preparation meet. Quote by Richard Petty I think.but
jure
Very Strong User
exactly !
Danieli
User
I don’t think my story is anything special compared to many of the respondents so far.
I think I was born with a silk scarf around my neck. My grandfather had a Piper Super Cruiser. We had our own airstrip and my father became an Ercoupe dealer. I use to sit on a cushion on the battery box in the baggage compartment behind my parents as they flew around the country.
My father was really into models when I was a small child. He loved speed models & even had a couple of control line dyna jets! I didn’t like the noise so 10” hand launched gliders became my thing starting at age 4-5. All I remember is I use to get trophies for being the youngest contestant at the contest. I flew some control line stuff (Flight streak) but never really took to it. Dad also had an obsession with control line combat. Mom would build him models during the week so he could crash them on weekends.
As I got older I started taking glider lessons so I could solo when I was 14. I had an old Kraft brick radio & designed my own models to learn to fly RC. They were basically box fuselages with straight wings. Kind of like a Windward but more streamlined. Eventually they became tapered wings with V or T tails. My 16th birthday was the most memorable. I got my private glider license & soloed a powered aircraft. On top of that, I got a Graupner Cirrus. Bob Wakerly loaned me the boards to build the wings & I used Ambriod glue. Anyone remember that orange stuff? Later I got a Soarkraft Kestrel 19. I was a very lucky kid as I built it as a semi scale model of our full sized Kestrel.
Naturally I wanted more channels so I bought a Heathkit 5 channel radio. I couldn’t believe it actually worked when I plugged it in. Don’t know anything about electronics but I guess I can read & follow directions.
By now I was in college. I had friends studying aero engineering so the models became more sophisticated. We were using a hotwire to cut foam cores & then fiberglassing the wings. This was about the time Burt Rutan was using similar techniques to build the Vari ez so it was pretty cutting edge in it’s day.
Fast forward, several decades later, I’m more of a full size recreational pilot but still fly models to relax. I really like DLG’s but I can’t build models nearly as well as ones I can buy from the Ukraine’s.
I believe you have to get kids into modeling at an early age. Although it has never been easier with ARF’s and drones, they still have to have a passion for aviation. The problem as I see it is you are competing with video games. If only I had an RC simulator when I was busting all that balsa….
I think I was born with a silk scarf around my neck. My grandfather had a Piper Super Cruiser. We had our own airstrip and my father became an Ercoupe dealer. I use to sit on a cushion on the battery box in the baggage compartment behind my parents as they flew around the country.
My father was really into models when I was a small child. He loved speed models & even had a couple of control line dyna jets! I didn’t like the noise so 10” hand launched gliders became my thing starting at age 4-5. All I remember is I use to get trophies for being the youngest contestant at the contest. I flew some control line stuff (Flight streak) but never really took to it. Dad also had an obsession with control line combat. Mom would build him models during the week so he could crash them on weekends.
As I got older I started taking glider lessons so I could solo when I was 14. I had an old Kraft brick radio & designed my own models to learn to fly RC. They were basically box fuselages with straight wings. Kind of like a Windward but more streamlined. Eventually they became tapered wings with V or T tails. My 16th birthday was the most memorable. I got my private glider license & soloed a powered aircraft. On top of that, I got a Graupner Cirrus. Bob Wakerly loaned me the boards to build the wings & I used Ambriod glue. Anyone remember that orange stuff? Later I got a Soarkraft Kestrel 19. I was a very lucky kid as I built it as a semi scale model of our full sized Kestrel.
Naturally I wanted more channels so I bought a Heathkit 5 channel radio. I couldn’t believe it actually worked when I plugged it in. Don’t know anything about electronics but I guess I can read & follow directions.
By now I was in college. I had friends studying aero engineering so the models became more sophisticated. We were using a hotwire to cut foam cores & then fiberglassing the wings. This was about the time Burt Rutan was using similar techniques to build the Vari ez so it was pretty cutting edge in it’s day.
Fast forward, several decades later, I’m more of a full size recreational pilot but still fly models to relax. I really like DLG’s but I can’t build models nearly as well as ones I can buy from the Ukraine’s.
I believe you have to get kids into modeling at an early age. Although it has never been easier with ARF’s and drones, they still have to have a passion for aviation. The problem as I see it is you are competing with video games. If only I had an RC simulator when I was busting all that balsa….
Doc J
Very Strong User
My second radio was a heathkit! First one was a McGregor single chanel.
Those were the days (thank goodness)
Doc
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