I've been messing around with rc stuff for about 12 years or so then backed away from the hobby when I got into highschool/college/work etc. Most of the stuff I've built was nitro powered with the exception of a few big 1/4 scale "weed whacker" powered planes. I went to the old hobby store today where I used to always buy all my toys, man has the hobby changed. I'm looking to get back into it and I'm especially interested in finding out about brushless motors with Li-Po's and the new 2.4ghz transmitters. I'm so taken back by how much everything has progressed, my nice futaba radio which i thought was the shit is obsolete 

If you have anything cool post it up or just shoot the shit. If this thread gets any attention I'll see if I can dig up some pictures of my old toys.

Quote from: HobokenHooligan on September 14, 2008, 09:08:31 PM
I've been messing around with rc stuff for about 12 years or so then backed away from the hobby when I got into highschool/college/work etc. Most of the stuff I've built was nitro powered with the exception of a few big 1/4 scale "weed whacker" powered planes. I went to the old hobby store today where I used to always buy all my toys, man has the hobby changed. I'm looking to get back into it and I'm especially interested in finding out about brushless motors with Li-Po's and the new 2.4ghz transmitters. I'm so taken back by how much everything has progressed, my nice futaba radio which i thought was the shit is obsolete 

If you have anything cool post it up or just shoot the shit. If this thread gets any attention I'll see if I can dig up some pictures of my old toys.

I used to race 1/10 offroad and 1/12 onroad when I lived in Dallas.  Mike's Hobby Shop there is the shit!  Since then I've goofed around with planes and boats, but am not nearly as active with it.

I use to be

My first full time job was at a Hobby store.

I use to sell RC10s and novak speed controls and Futaba Controllers and 10 Turn Motors etc 

i used to race 1/10 scale touring cars and 1/10 offroad buggies.  my first touring car was a tamiya ta02 and my first buggy was a RC10

Loved my rc10 but it used to eat spur gears like crazy. I eventually just ordered them by the dozen. That was my first nitro truck, I must have been like 8 years old. When I got on the gas the tires would spin up like a top fuel dragster.
Also have a clodbuster, t-maxx, nitro stampede, never got the hpi rs4 but always wanted one.

Had a Tmaxx a few years ago. With some hop up's ot pushed 50 mph easily. My newer (still old) is a HPI Savage. I took out the stock motor and put in an OS .30. It screams.





Haven't run it in a while now as I'm busy. I also have a RC plane called the IFO. I have a brushless motor with LIPO batteries. It has completely unlimited vertical power as well as about a 1.5 hour run time. . It's made out of stressed carbon rods and a rip stop polyester covering. It's designed like a flying wing and is about as indestructible as a RC plane gets.It will perform just about any manuever. No pic's but look them up on Wild RC. They are pretty cheap and easy to build.

I've got a 1/125 scale Fletcher class destroyer that I would like to finish.  It's got twin engines, but I don't have any radios, servos etc to run it with ~

JM

we do some drunken RC sailing in our canal.  2 boats for racing.   Nothing complicated...just two channel:   rudder and sails.  The main and gib are connected through one sheet so it sheets in and sheets out both sails simultaneously.

I've got a Traaxxas Revo that I don't really use since I got the monster.  I used to have some electric cars a while back.  Had a speed boat and a sail boat now that I think about it.  Fun toys to have.

Quote from: Rufus120 on September 15, 2008, 08:30:47 AM
I've got a Traaxxas Revo that I don't really use since I got the monster.  I used to have some electric cars a while back.  Had a speed boat and a sail boat now that I think about it.  Fun toys to have.

Have myself a revo as well. as well as an lst.  Have not touched both of them in 3 years.  I guess it is the natural progressing when you get bigger boy toys (monster)

Also, from the last i remember, dont know much about the brushless (was into nitro than electric), the li-po runs a hell a lot longer and "stronger" (could be from the weight saved over nicad and the other nickle based battery and i think it has better voltage output/more stable).  Also, i think the li-po run closer to peak longer than nicad. 

You also need special battery chargers for li-po.   

the 2.4 transmitters are nice because you dont have to use crystals.  some have moduals that you can add telemetry, download the data to a comp or have real time info such as engine heat.

I have a sailplane that I used to play with in college...throw it up in the air and catch a few thermals. they flew slow enough that I wouldn't bin one every time I went out. Also have a glow engined spitfire that I've never flown because I was too scared  .

Had a plane (looked kinda like a cessna) that flew a couple times before it ate dirt. That was when I decided sailplanes flew more my speed 


They are both in my parents attic right now. I think I should pull them out next time I visit and bring them home. I love the sail plane.


I'm sure my Futaba radio looks like an antique now.


I stop by the local R/C field every so often and watch them fly the 3D helis....pretty bad ass 

This thread takes me back 17 years when I got my first r/c plane made by Tiger.  An ARF with a .15 motor.  Then my next plane, an Aircore trainer with a .46 motor.  Last year I browsed through the local hobby shop and was also shocked at all the new toys that kids these days have access to.  Those "micro" planes used to cost so much, but now you can get one for 40 bux!

I have a Blade CX (chopper) that I spend more time fixing than flying 

I was thinking about picking up one of the cheap choppers from Wal-Mart the hassle my cats with :lol

JM