Does it get boring?

[EricN]

Many years ago I built a couple rc airplanes. I really enjoyed building them. I finally bought some radio equipment, went to the local field when no one was around, did a few taxi runs to get a feel for it, then took off, flew around, did some loops and whatever stunts I could think of, landed, realized it was too easy and boring. Tried flying a few more times and just didn't find it interesting at all and sold the lot.
I started kicking around the idea of a heli but didnt want to fork out all the $$$ and find it boring too. I have been kicking around the thought of building my own since I can work with carbon fibre and have a full machine shop at my disposal but would probably just buy a swashplate/rotor assy and tail assy first to build off of first.
1:
So, I know it is a dumb question to ask a bunch of obsessive enthusiasts, but do you get bored of it? My passion is mountain biking but after so many 15' drops and crashes, my back has taken a beating and I find myself with more time on my hands than I am used to.
2:
Anyone ever done a scratch build on a heli before? I think I am more interested in building than flying.
3:
If I do just buy one is something like this http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?...MEWA%3AIT&rd=1 or this http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?...MEWA%3AIT&rd=1 worth looking at?
I was thinking on buying a gas one to convert to electric just for something to do and the lack of noise, not sure what would be worth looking at but used .30 sized nitro's seem to be cheap enough to risk modifying but appear to better quality than some of the new chinese electric ones that go so cheap.
4:
If I remember right, back then gyro's were optional, it was something extra you could buy to make things easier if you wanted, do I remember correctly? and if so, is it still possible to not to use a gyro with modern rc radios?

Thanks for any thoughts and replies to my mindless question.

[Aztek1701]

Hey Eric,

Welcome to the forums.

Interesting questions do we ever get bored of it... I think I'll come back to that and try to answer the others first, lol.

Can you scratch build a heli. I guess some of the longer standing folks would be able to answer this question better but I guess it would be possible to scratch build some of a model heli. I think scratch building the whole thing would be very difficult and probably require many failed designs before you finally get the thing to work. The problem with this is that to go through all the evolutionary stages before getting a good flying heli will probably cost considerably more than just going out and getting a kit (which will very likely perform better anyway). So my opinion.. Can it be done? Yes if youve got the money and patience to do it. Will the result be worth it?.. Probably not. Its worth also remembering the thought that whereas a model plane basically wants to fly, a model helicopter basically wants to crash. (try flying a heli hands off for 30 seconds and youll see what I mean lol).

The Hirobo Sceadu Shuttle and Shuttle evo are fine models and fly well both for the beginner and the more experienced clubman competition flyer. You can buy electric conversions however bear in mind that the batteries for big electrics cost a fortune and you also need an expensive charger. Also, although the flight time is similar to a nitro, the time between flights is much greater >1 hour if your only using one battery as opposed to about 5 minutes.

Gyros... Modern helis are designed for gyros, and although it would be theoretically possible to fly a sceadu or the like without one, I wouldnt want to try. To me they are hard enough to fly without having to constantly manage the tail.

Do we get bored.... Well no not really, there is always something else to learn with them. First, its hovering, by what you have posted, I guess youd do that very quickly. Then theres forward flight. Then aerobatics, then inverted, then 3D which is (as far as Im told) 2 or more aerobatic moves executed at the same time e.g. a pirouetting flip. If you add to that the complexity of setting them up to fly properly. Sure you'll no doubt learn all of this but it will take you a while (especially if you dont fancy busting your heli every week). I do find that I am staying in my "safe zone" at the moment and that is a bit boring in some ways but its my own choice and I am still enjoying just being able to fly the thing.

Hope this helps you a bit.... Azzy

[sportygreg]

I would venture to say that few people find helicopter flying boring!A well trimmed plane will practically fly itself but not so with a helicopter.Helis require constant input from the pilot and I think most of us experience sh*ts and giggles every time we fly!

[EricN]

Thanks for the insight guys. I'm really torn whether or not to dive in. I have tried the simulators but they are kind of boring and I find it impossible to look at a screen and get a bearing reference for where I am. It is way easier to fly a real rc plane than it is to try it on that thing.
I never really thought of the helo trying to crash versus plane trying to fly which makes sense, get in trouble with the plane, just let go, regroup and start flying.
As for building my own, I think the hardest part would be not knowing how to fly it before building one. When it is built, I wouldnt know if the reason it flies crappy is me or the model.
Maybe if I fall in to a wicked cheap deal that is too good to pass up, I will make the plunge.

[New-heli-pilot]

If you want a .30 sized electric, maybe check out the Century Swift I have one right now and am just waiting on time to charge the controller's battery and mount the servos. As far as getting bored I am stil new and the only time I've been bored is right now when neither of my heli's will fly.

[karbl058]

Originally Posted by EricN

I have tried the simulators but they are kind of boring and I find it impossible to look at a screen and get a bearing reference for where I am.

A big problem with simulators is that you get no sense of the distance to the model, which makes it quite difficult. Then the flying is a bit more perfect than the real thing (I think, I've only got a Walkera DF4 and the simulator model I fly is far from the real thing). You can make it harder with wind and such, but the helis are mostly flawless and you don't have the mental pressure (since crashing doesn't cost you anything). Simulators are good for practising the moves, but you need to fly IRL to get the full training. Don't underestimate the need for grinding in the simulator to get the muscle memory you need when you fly outdoors.

Originally Posted by EricN

As for building my own, I think the hardest part would be not knowing how to fly it before building one. When it is built, I wouldnt know if the reason it flies crappy is me or the model.
Maybe if I fall in to a wicked cheap deal that is too good to pass up, I will make the plunge.

I'd recommend you to buy a fairly good one, and once you've learned to fly it start making your own upgrade parts to enhance it. When you can't upgrade any more you might consider making alterations to see if your design makes sense. By then you'll probably be skilled enough to check if your ideas work.

Also, since you seem to like the build process you might be interested in building scale models.

About the boringness I can't tell you yet, I've only been flying (well, trying to fly) for about two months, so I'm still in the hovering phase. But it is incredibly fun so I'm planning to get a better heli before next summer.

[hawkman]

There are those people who take great pleasure in building models...rather than fly them....and thats no bad thing.....I fly fixed wing and find it great fun....flying helis is a bit different...and more of a challenge too....once the basics are mastered then its stunts and tricks....which never gets boring.

But....each to thier own....scratch built scale models are a labour of love....its a very interesting part of the model world....something I would like to try once I get some machinery sorted out...like a lathe....oh...and a workshop to build the model.....My Girlfriend might object to me building in the kitchen

Rob