What’s a better course of action here?

[JPriami]

Okay so far I have been having bad luck. Last week I bought my first plane from reading some stuff about a Parkflyers Cessna 182 4ch. I got it but haven’t flown it because of finding out after reading more that it might not be wise to start with this plane. SO I called up my local hobby shop and asked them about a good starter plane. The recommend the ParkZone Super Decathlon. So I went and picked it up form them yesterday after work. Put it together charged the battery read the directions yada, yada tossed it like the manual said and boom she dose a nose dive breaks the prop & creases the wing a bit & slightly rips the stud through the top of the fusologe a bit. I bring it in put the spare prop I bought on and fixed the damage. Now it sits on the floor next to the Cessna that hasn’t seen air yet. I am not in a position to be able to go find a local club. So I will have to go at this alone (just like everything in my life it seems). I have the will & desire to keep at it. But I don’t want to make another mistake on another purchase. So today I was looking and I keep hearing mostly good things about the Multiplex easystar. So I was thinking maybe I should get one of those as an ARF and use the electronics from one of the other planes & try getting in the air with one of those planes & try learning from there? I have FMS 2 8.5 and tons of models for it. I can fly most of them very easily with no problems landing or flying around. Or should I try sticking with the super decathlon as the trainer & maybe buy another prop & motor to give it some extra power or maybe a lipo battery to make it lighter. I’m just not sure anymore lol. Also I was just thinking of going ahead and buying a nicer radio system instead. I was looking at the Futaba, HiTec, & Airtronics systems that come with the transmitter, receiver & servos. One even comes with a speed controller. I figure if I get a better radio system here that if I want I can use it in another model later or maybe if later I decide the decathlon isn’t doing it for me I can buy a different ARF & already have the system to put in it. As you can see if you have read this I am not sure what would be a better course of action to take. Also if I were to get a new radio system it opens up more possibilities to using it even on my small electric heli if anything else.

[Foamiesrfun]

was the plane balanced right ? it is it nose heavy would would do a nose dive like you said.the CG is VERY VERY important.if thats right maybe you had some down trim on the plane? if everything is correct maybe it was a bad toss? it happens to us all at times.I would think of of the 2 planes you have would be good for a 1st.other then spending more money on another plane.

Also a nicer radio wont help you to fly,Im guessing both planes have a 3 or maybe cheap 4 channel radio? I have a 3 channel Am radio that I got in thids cheap park flyer a few years back I still use it in my home made planes that only need 3 channels

[Foamiesrfun]

By the way unless you go to servocity.com and get a radio system custom built most radios are going to come with a larger receiver and servos that you wont be able to use in most of the electrics.

[debhicks]

Jr has a new 4 channel sports radio that you can order with the ultra light servo's. It's under $100.00 for the transmitter, 2 sero's and the receiver.

[JPriami]

Yeah I know a new radio system wont make me fly better. I just thought maybe if I go ahead and get one that if I decide to later get another plane like an ARF I will at least already have a decent radio system to put in it. Or if I decide to I could use it on my heli or something else etc. The main thing I have noticed is that ARF's are alot better priced than the RTF's and I'd actually have a radio system I liked instead of one I dont much care for for what extra I had to pay to get it in an RTF.

Do you have a link to that JR radio you speak of? I'd like to take a look.

Thank you for the replies :)

[Foamiesrfun]

Yeah I know a new radio system wont make me fly better. I just thought maybe if I go ahead and get one that if I decide to later get another plane like an ARF I will at least already have a decent radio system to put in it. Or if I decide to I could use it on my heli or something else etc. The main thing I have noticed is that ARF's are alot better priced than the RTF's and I'd actually have a radio system I liked instead of one I dont much care for for what extra I had to pay to get it in an RTF.

Do you have a link to that JR radio you speak of? I'd like to take a look.

Thank you for the replies :)

Oh Sorry,I understand now,you would rather buy a ARF rather then a RTF I understand that.well there are many many nice radios out there.

Atlanta Hobbies carry driffrent radios
http://www.atlantahobby.com/shopdisplaycategories.asp?id=16&cat=Radios
They have a 6 channel for around $155

Tower hobbies is a great place to get Radios and anything else from also.
http://towerhobbies.com/listings/cat-cat-j.html

JR'S Wesbite
http://jrradios.com/

[JPriami]

Thank you

[Steve]

I think I can tell you what happend...maybe....you have the elevator servo reversed so if you pull down on the elevator stick to make the plane go up, it goes down instead! Ask me how I know this..

Check your servos. Elevator should go up when you pull the stick back. Down when you push the stick forward.

Looking from behind the plane, Ailerons should go up on left when you move the stick to the left, up on the right when you move the stick to the right.

Rudder should go to the left when you push the stick to the left, right when you push the stick to the right.

Center of Gravity is critical and it's something you can't estimate or "be close". In some planes it needs to be right on or they won't fly well.

You have two nice planes there, but they are not really beginner planes as you're discovering.

You thoughts about going with an EasyStar are a pretty good idea. It will give you a chance to experience flying with minimal risk. Nice and slow is what you need at this point.

Go with the Easy Star. Walk before you run.

[Foamiesrfun]

Thank you

No problem,I hope you find something you want.Theres a guy on here who is about to be selling a really really nice Radio for $150 I think he said.its a $220.00 radio its a Hitec Eclipse.

[smurf]

If you can't get to a local club then see if you can find someone in your area that has experience to help you on your next try. It makes all the difference in the world if you have someone that can check your plane out that knows what's going on.
I haven't found a person yet in this hobby that isn't more than willing to give a helping hand.
Good luck and keep trying, you'll get there

[debhicks]

Don't forget to find you local hobby dealer and see what they have. Based on the information you have compiled here you should be able to tell if the dealer wants to help or sell. There is a distict difference. Go with the one who wants to help. It will cost you less money in the long run. :)

[WThesing]

Maybe take the plane to the LHS where you purchased it for some help.
My theory on equipment - buy the best you can afford for longevity, and something you won't grow out of. The radio I bought last year has far more than any of the planes I currently fly use. Later I may want to build an electric that does it all, and I have enough channels to handle it. Buy the transmitter seperately from the Rx and servos. These will change according to the model. Over time you will accumulate "spares" that can be re-used in different models.

[stafphoto]

The idea of buying the transmitter seperate from the other parts is a very good idea. I did this myself actually I posted a wanted ad for the transmitter and ended up getting a really really nice Futaba 6ch trans with a 6 model memory for $55 with shipping. Then myself also being a beginner posted another add looking for either micro equipment like the receiver, servos and speed controller or a plane that already had the parts in it. Well I got myself a brand new GWS slow stick with a brushless motor, servos, receiver, and esc for $75.

So in the end you may to think about going it this way. I went through two planes already myself the first a RTF then tried the Easy Star arf through the stuff in it from my first wreck and ended up trashing this one as well. Like everyone says the CG needs to be on or the plane eats dirt. Busted it in half on one nose dive gave up tore my electrics out and picthed the plane. Still have the electrics but like I said just bought all new stuff.

I got help from somone at a local club and they recommended the GWS slow stick to me which is what I bought. I saw one fly and you can get them going slow enough to just about walk with it. This gives you alot of time to react when you are first learning.

And finally trust me I have spent alot of money myself just trying to get into this and have yet to get one good flight as my recent plane hasn't been out yet but I am already hooked. Also I sent a PM to your box check it quickly.