Hello from Bend, Oregon

[pipercubman]

Hi all,

I am new to the rc planes. My 12 year old son got a new HZ MSC for Christmas, and after spending time with him, I have taken a liking to it.

After some QC issues with his plane, they authorized a new replacement and it is flying great. I was told by the LHS that HH had outstanding customer service, and they were right...
My son has taken to it very quickly and it still amazes me what he can do with his plane. I got some good education when he first started, just keeping his plane in one piece....

I bought a used PZ J-3 Cub a couple weeks ago and have been working on it. It needed a new prop shaft, and I added a steerable tailwheel and taller front tires as well as an APC 8X6 SF prop. I'm getting closer to flying it for the first time, but am actually thinking I will get a SC, and get some experience with it first. I just have a feeling the J-3 is not going to be as forgiving or durable as the SC or MSC... I just couldn't resist buying the J-3 though because it looks so cool .

I look forward to spending some time here learning and seeing pics of others planes.

Mike

[skivit48]

Welcome Pipercubman. I also am pretty new to RC flight. I have become hooked. I have spent the last 2 months reading through a lot of the posts on here. I have found that most of the questions I have were asked before so it helps to spend some time looking around here. Everyone here has been very willing to answer questions and help clear up confusion. I have had my share of confusion I assure you.

As for you question about the j-3 and if you should fly that first or buy your own Super Cub. I would suggest maybe "commandeering" your son's MSC, maybe even getting him to show you a thing or two and flying his first. Maybe someone more experienced than me can add some input. Also in my opinion I wouldn't mind having both. ;D

Anyway welcome, don't give up and keep reading and learning. I think I have found a hobby to last a lifetime. I hope you will too.

Skivit

[pipercubman]

Hi Skivit,

I have tried to fly my sons MSC a couple times, but it was with the first one and it was having serious problems. Needless to say, I managed to hit the only tree in the field where we fly.
It hit hard, straight on. I thought I had ruined his plane, but the only thing it did was pop off the battery door and the landing gear flew off.
I hate to try his, because his new one works perfectly, and I'd hate to crash it and bust it up. Its different if he does it.

It is very overwhelming when just getting started, but its starting to make a little sense now.

Its great to find a hobby you enjoy. I'm really enjoying spending time flying with my son. He is almost 13, and it won't be long before he discovers girls, so after that he will probably be preoccupied.

[killioughtta]

Apr 11, 2010 19:54:34 GMT 1 pipercubman said:

I managed to hit the only tree in the field where we fly.

lol. At least what you took from that is a valuable lesson: ALL RC planes are naturally attracted to trees, buildings, cables, light posts, cars, asphalt, walls, and really anything that can do any kind of damage to them; it's our job as pilots to keep them away the best we can ;D

That said, WELCOME! To our little forum and to the hobby.

Breaking your own stuff is, as you know, much better than breaking your son's. That J-3 sure is a lot of fun but a little hard to fly, so getting a SC or another trainer (like a glider) is definitely a great idea.

Good, inexpensive trainers include:

• The Super Cub
  
• The Multiplex EasyStar
  
• The Eflite Apprentice
  

Those are available at most hobby shops. The following are only available from online shops:

• AXN CloudSky - you need a radio and battery
  
• Dynam HawkSky - 100% Ready to Fly
  
• Hobby-Lobby Decathlon - Ready to Fly but I'd put a LiPo battery in it.
  

Practice for a few months before you take that Cub for a spin.

[pipercubman]

Thanks for the links on the trainers. I really like the looks of the Decathalon. Looks to be a decent package and priced reasonably too.

Do you know of anyone thats had this model? If so, any positive or negative feedback on it?

Thanks Mike

[killioughtta]

I have not flown the HL decathlon and it IS very nice. It should fly like the PZ J-3 but might be a bit more forgiving.

Again: the BEST choice will be the Super Cub; it's VERY easy to keep straight-and-level flight and the Z-foam is the best and easiest to repair if you crash. These new Super Cub LPs have plenty of power and you can add floats later on. They are easy to modify and make it much more fun to fly in the future. Plus: you'll have a bigger plane than your son

I'm planning on making the Art-Tech Decathlon my next model but that one is not very good as a first plane since it has ailerons and a much better motor.
www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idproduct=10323&aff=125585

[parrothead]

Welcome Mike.
Read up as much as you can. I did. Saved a lot of time and money. Seemed liked the SC was the bird for me since I had absolutely no rc experience.
Looking back now after so many crashes, I made the best decision.

[pipercubman]

To be quite honest, when my son first got his HZ MSC, I thought it might be a little cheezy, but it was highly recommended on the rc forum and by the guys at the lhs.
Once again I was proven wrong.... I couldn't believe the amount of punishment this little plane would take, and how easy it was to repair.
His first one was just a bad plane and it started getting frustrating for him. But when he got the new replacement plane, we were both amazed. He is young and has no fear, and does things with his plane that I would never think about trying...

As much as I really like the looks of my J-3, I look at it differently than I do with the HZ Cubs. I really like the foam.
You are right that if I buy the SC I will have a bigger plane than my son, but I have a feeling it wouldn't be for long because he already wants an SC

As long as he stays really interested in it, I will buy him an SC a little later on, because he is only going to be young once, and
he is already growing up to fast