Offshoot RC Models/Drone Hobby Thread

Been waiting for this all morning, now can feck off to the Weir now it’s been delivered! :raised_hands:

Nothing fancy, but all that’s required for a “beginner” to be able to throw into any PNP/BNF Model to get it into the Air. :+1:

The receivers are about $11 if you buy a few of them :+1:

FlySky iA6B 2.4GHz 6 Channel Receiver - Buy FlySky iA6B 2.4GHz 6 Channel Receiver with free shipping on AliExpress

Perfect remote for what we do. Mines a copy of it. Had it for over a decade.

Thanks mate, yeah they seem pretty good for the price.:+1:
Coulda got the 6CH, but opted for the 10CH to allow for basically any type of RC Aircraft in the future.

Much better than the OOTB systems that come with these models, and can Bind them to several different systems to use on several different Aircraft. :ok_hand:

If yours has lasted a good few years, hopefully these modern versions should be just as reliable.

Whole RX/TX System delivered for less than $60 is pretty good value and is definitely good enough for this old rusty nail! :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye:

Comes complete with all the bind links, cords to plug into the computer for online simulator use, and can be easily updated by plugging in and downloading the latest firmware. :ok_hand:

Also love the fact that I can visually see my trim percentages and the power levels of the TX/RX and Signal Strength.

What a shit day. :face_with_diagonal_mouth:

“wait and see if I can be bothered right now, or leave it to this afternoon when everything else comes back in pieces.” :roll_eyes::joy:

The Mad Flow snapped off the prop drive shaft at the end of the cable on its 2nd run, and this time lost the outer bearing out of the drive leg on the Outboard as well. :disappointed_relieved:

Can easily get a whole new cable drive and Prop etc like I did last time… but the bearing is going to have to be found separately.

Had a break from the Boats and threw the Corsair into the Air for a beautiful run over the water … 2 minutes later the blade that I glued onto the 3 blade Prop came apart mid air! :astonished:

Luckily I was over the sandy shoreline when it came plummeting back to Earth, but no chance of finding the prop blade, and the “landing” snapped off the opposite side landing gear to the other that I glued back on this morning.!

Went back to running down the rest of the battery packs in the ARROW, just waiting for THAT to come to an abrupt halt as well… which won’t be long because it’s starting to make the same vibration noises from the worn driveshaft bushing as the TYLOSAURUS did just before it shit the Tin. :face_exhaling:

Have 3 more props and Cables arriving tomorrow anyrate, as ordered those as soon as the TYLOSAURUS lost its bits to the murky depths.

Gave the ARROW time to cool down by throwing the Corsair back into the air running the Glued 2 blade Prop, then a gust of wind threw that into a tree, aided by my blind eyeballs and lack of depth perception on such a small Airplane allowing it to get that close in the first place.

Eventually got the Corsair down using my Kayak paddle, but that prop has become a permanent fixture in that beautiful thick Paperback foliage. :joy:

Anyrate, was a beautiful “winters” day to be outdoors and did actually enjoy the day between all the drama. :ok_hand:

Yes, there’s a boat in those pics, WAY out there, and if not for the 1.5-2 metre high X 5/6 metre long Rooster Tails… I’d be battling to see the bloody thing! :rofl:

Can physically SEE the pulsations caused by the worn bushings in the Rooster Tails themselves.
Solid white spray with sporadic dark gaps inbetween.

Sounds like a rapid on/off throttle the whole time as the drive cable binds and releases constantly. :face_with_diagonal_mouth:

Was watching this today and just waiting for the inevitable end to this drive cable as well… stay tuned, it won’t be long!

1 Like

Already got the batteries charged whilst waiting for these packages to arrive.

Another standard 3mm UDIRC cable and plastic prop, alongside the upgraded 4mm cable and Stainless Prop.

Plus two Stainless TYLOSAURUS Props to replace the ARROW plastic versions.

Not trusting the old ARROW cable and plastic Prop, so have fitted the new cable and Stainless Prop for today’s run.

Have glued the landing gear back onto the Corsair and packed my spare Propellers, so hopefully being a much calmer day, hopefully will stay out of the trees this time! :smile:

If all else fails, have four Rock Crawlers to keep my spirits up if everything else turns to Custard!

EVERYTHING CAME HOME IN ONE PIECE :astonished:
4 X Rock Crawlers, one boat and one Corsair all still fully complete and operational… only damage was one slow moving Duck :duck: lurking in the shadows! :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye:

If same as mine which I think it’s similar.

A great thing with them is storing each model and it’s settings with separate receivers for each.

And the other beauty can set your expo on your flight surfaces, like set a curve on it small at start and more to the end or however you please.

Mix channels, dual rate. Mine has a timer on it handy for timing battery.

Chomping at the bit for mine to get here. Last few days have been perfect flying weather. Knowing my luck will blow it’s tits off when I get it :laughing: :roll_eyes:

Cheers mate, I haven’t gone through the Destruction Manual for it yet, so not sure what features is does and doesn’t have.

Aa long as both the sticks work… I’ll be happy!

Your not wrong about the weather, although today was gusting here and there out of nowhere, which I lost the Corsair into a Gum Tree this time on the last flight of the day, in the same circumstances, but I was breaking ALL the rules today.

Don’t fly in strong winds.
Don’t fly into the Sun.
Don’t fly behind/over your head.
Don’t fly behind obstacles.

Will be keeping the float planes over the water, whereas this little Corsair I tend to fly along the narrow shore between the water and the trees, using the airspace over the water for turns and stunts, but the wind is ALWAYS blowing onshore, which tends to guide the lightweight Corsair back in that direction all the time.

Can’t wait to see your Bush Basher arrive mate, plenty of open space out your neck of the woods.:ok_hand:

Another day out on the water and in the Sky, taking advantage of the weather change giving “calm before the storm” type conditions.

Poor old ARROW is getting a flogging, as is the only one out of 3 boats currently running, and the 4th boat that I’ve been waiting over 2 months for finally got sorted with the supplier… but is looking to be another month before arriving after getting a partial refund and a few extra goodies thrown into the deal for my troubles. :sunglasses:

Dunno why I never thought of it before, but went to the “top” Cricket Oval in town, just above and next to the “bottom Oval”, and was happy to find that it has an Astroturf Pitch instead of the currently closed off Grass Pitch where I’ve been flying. :ok_hand:

(Google Image must have been taken during our bushfire season, as there’s 4 Helicopters and a refuelling truck parked on the grass!)

Now am able to practise my takeoffs and landings successfully having a good surface to have as a runway, albeit pretty challenging being so narrow.

Rummaged through the spare parts department to see what I have and have not got spares for the upcoming Piper.

In luck have everything I need, half a dozen 11x7 props, half a dozen metal gear servos to swap in and spare receiver. I’m good to go.

Tracking says it launched by air from China today. Hope they put a big battery in it to get here :rofl:

That’s the best part about spare parts piles mate, might seem like a big stack of useless shite at the time, but everything always comes in handy eventually! :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye:

Hopefully all the shipping and tracking is on point and we get to see an Unboxing pretty soon. :raised_hands::sunglasses:

Got a confession…got this on the way as well, I simply couldn’t resist :smile:

Then THAT’S IT!
That will give me the 400mm Corsair, the 560mm P51 Mustang, 1220mm FMS Ranger and this 1500mm FMS Maule as a pretty broad range of ground and Seaplanes for various conditions to use as my flying (crashing) skills progress. :ok_hand:

Don’t have any spare parts pile for these yet, same as the Speedboats, gotta wait to get them so can measure and check specific details before building up the correct parts.

Which is where I have 6 other packages on the way with the larger 4mm driveshafts/Props/Dogs/Stuffing tubes and liners for the upgrades/repairs on the Speedboats, but waiting until I can run the Verniers over them before ordering bearings and brass sleeves to suit. :+1:

I’m crying right now. :sob:
Finally found that there’s an actual RC version available of my most loved Warbirds of all time… The Hawker TYPHOON.


It’s a 1100mm version, but every single review is showing that it’s twitchy as fck to fly and a lot of work to try and correct the CG to get it to handle in the air properly.

Kudos for making such a beautiful replica, but it seems that by staying true to Scale, the handling characteristics simply didn’t transfer down in Scale, making it extremely tail heavy and difficult to control.

I’m thinking that it’s due to the very short original nose design of an Aircraft with one of the largest, heaviest and most powerful engines ever fitted into a fighter aircraft now having ZERO frontal weight, scaled down with only a lightweight brushless motor and battery in its place, leaving no room to shift anything forward enough to correct it. :disappointed_relieved:

Will have to pass and save the money for the 2nd favourite Warbird on my wishlist instead.

Which the same as the P51 Mustangs etc, the long cowls on these replicas allow room to move the weight much further forward to change the CG to get them perfectly balanced. :ok_hand:

Save :thinking: Haven’t you already got a F4?

You getting one of these?

:sunglasses:

1 Like

Hahaha… yeah “save”, save from eating and drinking or going anywhere for a few weeks!

Got the little 400mm F4U to jog the memory on the sticks, but definitely gotta get back onto the larger scale stuff for proper flight characteristics and handling, as the 400mm is like a sheet of tin in a cyclone!:joy:

Fakuksake :face_with_symbols_over_mouth:
Spent yesterday morning running all the batteries through the 2 balance chargers, because Auspost informed me that I would be getting my flex cable’s, bearings and other parts to FINALLY get the Mad Flow back into the water. :raised_hands:

Poor old ARROW has been getting an absolute flogging since it’s new cable and Prop turned up last week, especially as it was the only boat left running out of the three!

Courier turned up after lunch yesterday, went straight to work assembling the Mad Flow drivetrain to get it into the water that afternoon. :ok_hand:

New 3.18mm flex drive cable, stainless locknut, cheap prop, Nylon thrust washer, new bearing, new bearing spacer and finally 2nd new bearing to complete the full drive assembly.

(Top cable is the 2nd heavy duty 4mm I ordered for the TYLOSAURUS project.)

The 3 blade Prop was just an included extra, so gave it a whirl (very punny :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye:) but cavitated like shit and didn’t go anywhere, so swapped it out with a proper 2 blade high speed Prop.

Went well yesterday, but was so rough, came home early and only got slow 2 runs in each boat, but the Mad Flow sounded like butter with the all new parts and bearings.:ok_hand:

HOWEVER… today’s first run in calm waters and it gave the telltale “whiiiiiirrrrrr” as the motor suddenly free revved under no load.

Rescue Kayak pulled out and boat retrieved minus all the new parts except what was left clamped to the motor…so that whole assembly I listed above, including a $22 Alloy 40mm 2 blade Prop instead of the plastic 35mm 3 blade, are all brand new at the bottom of the Weir.:face_exhaling:

Got back home and had to use pliers to pull the cable through out from the motor side, as there was some pretty gnarly bits preventing it from being pushed back towards the outboard motor end.

Have contacted the seller and will see what their response is, replacement or refund either way.

Might be time to modify the driveline on the Mad Flow to eliminate the Outboard Motor Drive and convert it to a fixed Stern drive off the back of the Hull… which is what all those psycho Indonesian/Malaysian and Phillipino madman modifiers have done when upgrading these things, for obvious reasons!

Oh well, back to the workbench alongside the stripped out TYLOSAURUS, which is also waiting for a few “Docs Mods” hardware to arrive as well, because I’m over spending money and waiting for weeks on heaps of gear that just goes straight to the bottom of the Weir constantly!:stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye:

Horsepower ain’t free, but the challenge of getting everything to hold together is a great feeling of achievement in the end!

Apologies for my ramblings here… but I honestly don’t have much else in life to tinker with since the Gelbaster Ban took away my only hobby, so I’m left with diving down the Rabbit Holes of RC Boats/Planes/Crawlers to try and keep my sanity instead… but the basics of taking hold of a hobby and applying knowledge and experience to modify the crap outta shit is still basically the same, so I hope someone out there appreciates the time and effort modifying this shit exactly the same way that I applied to the Gelbaster Hobby!:joy:

Mucking around planning out the custom build and modifications for the Mad Flow, as today was the 3rd lot of hardware lost immediately after long waiting times and expenses for a VERY short runtime in return!..so well overdue for some Docs Mods!

Step #1 : Eliminate the forces applied to the flex cable by the steerable outboard drive design.

Step #2 : Relocate the Prop directly to the Stern mount bracket on the main Hull, eliminating the flex required by the cable to operate through the rudder of the Outboard Motor, which is where EVERY single cable has failed so far due to that steering flex.:face_exhaling:

Step #3 : Micrometres say that the Stern drive strut is 8mm ID and 8mm deep, keeping in mind that the diameter of every flex cable is 4mm for the I.D. of every Bearing being used.

Step #4 : Order parts!
Have found and ordered linear roller bearings to suit the total dimensions required for all parts to fit within the Stern strut, so these linear bearings have been calculated to requiring 4mm I.D. X 8mm O.D. and 6mm in length.

So am ordering the linear roller bearing at 4mm bore, 6mm length and 8mm O.D. …then I can l fit a 4mm bore X 8mm O.D. X 2mm deep flanged thrust Bearing to the end of the Strut to hold everything in place at a total measurement of 4mm X 8mm X 8mm all up to fit the stock stern drive mount.:raised_hands:

The whole reason for the flanged thrust bearings is from the lessons learnt from the TYLOSAURUS Brushless Motor shitting itself!

With flex drive cables, you need to leave a gap between the Prop and the end of the driveshaft to allow for cable wind up and shrink in length under acceleration.

Problem is that if that gap can’t be contained, all that thrust gets applied directly to the motor bearings.

So as I found out, all that thrust can cause the motor bearings to fail and send your motor stator rearwards into your Rotor and let all the LUCAS smoke out. :face_with_diagonal_mouth:

So a thrust bearing at the end of the driveshaft is EXTREMELY important in getting everything to hold together under load!

Step #5 : now have an ugly arse hole left in the old Outboard drive Skeg that obviously requires some attention to streamline the big gaping hole!

Funnily enough, the threaded streamlined Prop nut provided with the 4mm flex cable kit is the PERFECT tool for the job… once you turn it backwards and glue into the Skeg hole!

Yeah… I reckon that’ll work. :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye:

Stay tuned for even more Shenanigans on not only this Speedboat, but also all the “Docs Mods” that are underway with the TYLOSAURUS and the long suffering ARROW!

Not to mention this 4th long awaited Speedboat that will be here Monday/Tuesday this week. ,:sunglasses:

But at least this one has the stern driven prop design from the factory, NOT the Outboard driven prop setup that has been failing on the Mad Flow since day one. :raised_hands:

Oh your up too :rofl: :+1:

Heartbreak Ridge | IMDb

Sorting the animals out/ Got 8mm of rain and lots of destruction. Fucking awesome :joy:
v

I been sending you rain for WEEKS!

Glad to hear that you have finally been getting something mate! :raised_hands:

That means having to deal with the first and second germination of those pesky weeds! :roll_eyes::face_exhaling: