piper_chuck

My Feedback: (12)

Nope, not overlooked, some of us will need all the hep we can git wid speeling and gramer.

bruce88123

And there I was thinking you had a REAL degree. Sheesh, a degree in comic book writing.

kiswa

My Feedback: (4)

So I see...

kiswa

My Feedback: (4)

Yeah, I know... but I hate math and it's all they had left!

theo63

lol chuck

kiswa

My Feedback: (4)

How do you remove epoxy from fingers and covering? (Seriously, I've got epoxy on my fingers and my new Sky Raider Mach II ARF.)

piper_chuck

My Feedback: (12)

Since you asked, the best way to remove epoxy is with alcohol or acetone, before it cures. After, it will eventually peel off your fingers. For the plane, use a little heat to soften it, but not so much that you melt the covering, and then you can usually peel it off.

kiswa

My Feedback: (4)

Thank you muchly!

elenasgrumpy

My Feedback: (4)

A graduate with a degree in science asks, What makes it work?

A graduate with a degree in engineering asks, How can we make it work better?

And a graduate with a degree in liberal arts asks, Would you like fries with that?[sm=lol.gif]

tadracket

My Feedback: (1)

I was just being sarcastic Mode, taking the point you made and sending it to extremes. I apologize if I ruffled your tail feathers. I 'll pipe down now and let people with something constructive speak.

kiswa

My Feedback: (4)

Please note the line not quoted that goes something like: Curent job, Quality Service Specialist with a Government Contractor. There will be no fries with that!

bruce88123

What does a "Quality Service Specialist" do? Make sure the burgers don't have too much ketchup?[

MinnFlyer

My Feedback: (4)

Ok guys, let's keep this on topic so we don't have to wade through tons of text to find a legitimate question Thanks!

elenasgrumpy

My Feedback: (4)

Anymore legitimate questions & we'll have to create a whole new Hobby. I thought this was gonna be a sticky, not a Novel.[8D]

RCKen

My Feedback: (9)

Here is the latest updated list of questions:

<<Edit-- List updated Mar 17, 2006 12:00 PM CST>>
<<Edit-- List current up to post #64>>

---NOTE: This list has been sorted into categories in order to help keep better track of the questions. These in no way represent the final format of the FAQ--

General Questions
[ul][*] Do I have to have a license to fly an RC plane?[*] Does it cost money for an instructor to teach me to fly?[*] Can I fly it anywhere?[*] How big do RC planes get?[*] Is it very expensive to get into this hobby?[*] Is a WWII Fighter plane OK to start out with?[*] Ok, Warbirds are out, what about an old-style Bi-Plane? Do they fly slow enough to learn on?[*] But Trainers are so boring and "boxy" looking. Isn't there something "cooler" that I can start with?[*] What do I need to buy to get started?[*] Which should I choose, glow or electric? [*] Should I choose a kit, ARF, or RTF? [*] There are no clubs in my area, can I just fly without help? [*] Who makes the best trainer? [*] How long does it take to learn? [*] What is a field box? [*] What is the AMA, and how do I find an AMA club?[*] What's the best way to learn to fly? [*] How do I store my aircraft when I'm not flying?[*] Should I start out flying a plane that has tricycle landing gear, or go for a taildragger? [*] What is flutter? [*] Low wing vs High wing characteristics? [*] What is dihedral? [*] What do I need for a day of flying (tools, materials, charger, fuel containers and flightbox etc)? [*] How do I know when I'm ready to move on to my second plane? [*] What's the easiest way to learn orientation when the plane is coming towards me? [*] When do I know I'm ready to move on to a second airplane?[*] How do I clean my plane after running it? [*] How should I store my plane?
[/ul]

Engines (includes fuel and propellers)
[ul][*] What kind of fuel do these planes use?[*] Who makes the best engine? [*] How do I break in my engine? [*] How do I tune my engine? [*] What percentage fuel should I use? [*] Should I use an electric fuel pump or a hand crank? [*] Do I need to balance my prop? How do I balance a prop? [*] What do the numbers on a propeller mean?[*] What's a "spinner" and why do I need one?[*] How do I refuel my plane? [*] What after run oil should I use and whats the best way to apply it to the engine? [*] If I want a three blade prop what size should I use? [*] How do I prime my engine for starting? [*] Whats the best glow plug heat range to use? [*] What's a clunk? How do I setup the clunk in the fuel tank?[*] Are Air and Fuel filters necessary/recommended?
[/ul]

Plane Building/Assembly/Setup/Repair
[ul][*] How do you cover an airplane? (video candidate)[*] How do you properly mix epoxy? [*] Why is ca so messy? And how do you get your fingers unstuck?[*] What exactly is dope? Isn't dope illegal? [*] How do I attach wheels so they spin freely without being too wobbly? [*] My plane keeps rolling even with the engine at idle, what can I do to stop it from rolling?[*] The covering is wrinkly, how do I fix this? [*] How do I apply additional graphics to my plane? [*] How do I balance my plane? [*] How do I adjust the throttle linkage/servo properly? [*] How much toe in do I need on my taildragger front wheels? [*] What's the best way to attach the wing, rubber-band or bolt on? [*] Whats the best way to attach the wing with rubber bands ie: how many do I need and what size? [*] What does adding right or down thrust do to the handling of my plane? [*] How do I fix out of round foam tyres? [*] For running on grass/pavement whats the best type and size tyre to use?
[/ul]

Radios, Batteries, and Simulators
[ul][*] How does the radio work?[*] What kind of radio should I get? [*] Are simulators worth buying? [*] Can you use the same transmitter for different planes? [*] What's a buddy box? [*] What are(is) dual rates?[*] What is expo? [*] I have an RC radio from an RC car I had, can I use that one for a plane? [*] Where can I get a cord to connect my TX to my PC for FMS? (for those of us who didn't want to spend big $$$ on a sim) [*] What do the following radio terms mean? TX, RX, FMS, PPM, PCM, AM, FM, Spread Spectrum?[*] What's a servo, receiver, linkage, etc.? [*] What is a crystal? [*] What does 4ch, 6ch etc. mean? [*] What's a "buddy box" [*] What is the difference between Nicad, Nimh and Li-po batteries? [*] Whats the best way to charge/discharge my RX/TX battery pack? [*] Where should I set my throws? [*] How do I do a range check? [*] How do I mount servo's/RX etc (can I run the cables together or do they need to be seperate etc?)? [*] What causes servo twitching? [*] How can I reduce the risk of interference? [*] How do I attach my receiver aerial to the plane?[*] How do I repair stripped servo hold down screws? [*] Should I use synthetic oil fuel? [*] How do I stop fuel tank foaming? [*] How do I start my engine? [*] What's a "chicken stick"? [*] Is an electric starter necessary? [*] Will my mobile phone interfere with my plane?
[/ul]

Tools, Equipment, and Supplies
[ul][*] What kind of tools do I need? [*] What kind of glue do I use? [*] Whar kind of glue do I use for hinges? Can I use epoxy on CA hinges? [*] How do I know when my glow driver battery is dead? [*] What should I put in my field box? (both Glow and Electric) [*] What tools do I need to build an airplane kit? (video candidate)[*] What tools do I need to assemble an ARF airplane? (video candidate)[*] What support equipment do I need?"
[/ul]

---NOTE: This list has been sorted into categories in order to help keep better track of the questions. These in no way represent the final format of the FAQ--

<<Edit-- List updated Mar 17, 2006 12:00 PM CST>>
<<Edit-- List current up to post #64>>

Ken

piper_chuck

My Feedback: (12)

Thanks for the updated list Ken. You'll have those all written up by next Friday, right?

bruce88123

Listed twice: When do I know I'm ready to move on to a second airplane?

How do I determine what temp to set on my covering irons? Won't it melt the covering?

Can I use a "Paint stripper" heat gun or a hair dryer to shrink covering?

Why shouldn't I use Home Depot plywood?

Do Lego men make good pilots? Sorry, had to do it.

What are the characteristics of a good building table/system?

piper_chuck

My Feedback: (12)

Here's a few more that I don't think are listed:

Why is it a bad idea set the ATV/EPA at 50%?
What's this "pinch test" for tuning engines?
What's a 3 line tank setup and when do I need one?
What is an easy filler valve or fuel dot?
Which radio systems can buddy box together?
Should I use 4.8v or 6.0v receiver batteries?
What should I use to fuel proof the engine and fuel tank areas?
What's the best way to thin epoxy for fuel proofing?

bruce88123

what is aileron differential?

Where is the RCU glossary?

RCKen

My Feedback: (9)

Bruce,
Is this a question for the FAQ, or are you asking where it is at??

Just in case it is here, [link=http://www.rcuniverse.com/community/glossary.cfm]RCU Glossary[/link]

Ken

bruce88123

It was for the FAQ.

kiswa

My Feedback: (4)

I just had an idea... it may not be a good one though, so let me know.

I'm seeing this beginner's FAQ as a very useful resource, but one that could get a bit cumbersome. What about setting up a site just for the FAQ? I would be happy to host it (and create it if necessary) on a subdomain of my site (maybe something like http://rcufaq.kiswa.com/) That way, you'd be able to link each question to its answer without having them all listed as Q: A: which would be hard to read through I think. If there's some legal reason I couldn't create or host such a mirror of the official FAQ that would still be on this site as a sticky, please let me know.

To clarify, I was thinking of having a site that would simplify navigation of this FAQ while still referring to the sticky that would be here as the primary source (and to compare versions to make sure the site isn't an outdated version of the FAQ). Would that be feasible?

piper_chuck

My Feedback: (12)

I don't know if the others have thought about where it should be hosted yet, but my first thought would be somewhere on RCU. It definitely won't just be a long post in a thread, that would be unreadable. But anyway, I think that's a discussion for much later, right now we're just brainstorming what topics people would like to see.

kiswa

My Feedback: (4)

My first thought was also somewhere on RCU, but if that's not an option, I'm always available to help!

And I'll leave any further thoughts along those lines until much later (and leave things for the brainstorming now).

bubbagates

My Feedback: (32)

Dang,

I missed all of the hammering on me and did not even get to defend myself.

As far as hosting it goes, both Ken and I can take of that easily so that is covered. Maybe Plane Insane or RCAdmin can create a seperate directory structure for it and like Minn said, we can ten lay it out in the standard RCU format directory structure. Since we are doing it for RCU why not let them host it if they are willing

As Chuck said we have the checklists completed. I think they were ready a year ago. The are right here in both doc and pdf format

http://www.krcs748.com/checklist

The question list is getting pretty good