RC Plane for a beginner - WOT4/Max Thrust?

[Stupeo]

My son is turning 10 in a few weeks and is really interested in an RC Plane. Anyone got any recommendations on a good starter kit, ideally RTF?

At the moment, after speaking to the local club and online research I've narrowed it down to a WOT4 Mini and Max Thrust Riot (about £350 and £240 respectively).

Any recommendations on here to help me decide?

[Dan_The_Man]

Just been teaching my 12 year old, he's learning on a Twinstar - no undercarriage to rip off. He can hand launch, belly launch and land like a pro so he's looking at his next model up. For you the Wot4 is brilliant but there are so many beginner models that any would be fine, the foam ones are easy to fix - something you need to consider.

[300bhp/ton]

Stupeo said:

My son is turning 10 in a few weeks and is really interested in an RC Plane. Anyone got any recommendations on a good starter kit, ideally RTF?

At the moment, after speaking to the local club and online research I've narrowed it down to a WOT4 Mini and Max Thrust Riot (about £350 and £240 respectively).

Any recommendations on here to help me decide?

They seem hugely expensive options to start on and likely crash.

Can you fly yourself? Do you have somewhere to fly? Or are you member of a local club?

Personally I think the UM (Ultra Micros) are a great way to start, cheap to buy, easy to repair. Often quite crash proof. Can be flown in lots of places.


I really like the Hobbyzone Champ:
https://wheelspinmodels.co.uk/i/303346/?gclid=CjwK...

3 channel and no electronics. Flies really well, although as with all UM's, they prefer calmer weather and low winds.



HorizonHobby also offer lots of planes with their fancy SAFE technology on which limit bank and pitch angles. Personally I think this only works if you can fly already or are with someone who can fly already. The theory is sound, limiting how much you can bank a plane means it is much harder to crash. But my issues with this tech are:

a) a novice will end up relying on the assistance
b) you need a huge space for a small plane, as you simply can't get it to turn very well with limited bank angles. One of my planes with SAFE is almost impossible to land with SAFE on, full down on the elevator and almost no throttle and it'll still climb going into the wind. I can see and have heard of people having runaways because of SAFE or crashing into trees because they couldn't turn to avoid them.

[Stupeo]

Thanks both. The UM looks good, but I don't mind investing (or risking!) more money for something that will last him a little longer and give him more choices for upgrades etc in the future.

I don't fly, no - but we plan on joining our local club and we've been down to see them in action many times over summer.

[Far Cough]

I learned using a foam kit that was specially designed for beginners but could also be converted ( with a bigger engine ) on the front to be a very acrobatic fun model. Due to be foam , it could withstand all sorts of cack handed landings , crashes and dead stick landings !!!

It was designed by the guy that used to run AVICRAFT but I have been out of that loop for a long time. The shop is still there maybe give them a ring. His name was ROB

https://www.avicraft.co.uk/

[300bhp/ton]

Stupeo said:

Thanks both. The UM looks good, but I don't mind investing (or risking!) more money for something that will last him a little longer and give him more choices for upgrades etc in the future.

I don't fly, no - but we plan on joining our local club and we've been down to see them in action many times over summer.

There is less of an upgrade process these days. The best upgrade is normally to buy something new with different performance characteristics.

You can mess about with different props, batteries, motors and ECU's. Or even scratch builts. Depends how much the building side interests you over the flying side.

Really the biggest 'upgrade' is deciding on the radio gear you want to use. The RTF transmitters are ok, but sooner or later you'll want a proper programmable one.

I personally like Spektrum, not the cheapest. But I like what they offer and how they work. They also allow you buy PNF (Plug N Fly) models from HorizonHobby. And all of their models always fly well IMO. But there are other radio choices if you prefer.


You might also want to consider getting a flight sim for practice at home. You don't need to spend sill money on one. I have aerofly RC 7 on my Mac and a £15 USB transmitter. It works great.

[Foliage]

A flitetest foamboard scratchbuild, like the nutball

https://www.flitetest.com/articles/nutball-scratch...


When he crashes it you can just build another or replace parts.

[300bhp/ton]

Foliage said:

A flitetest foamboard scratchbuild, like the nutball

https://www.flitetest.com/articles/nutball-scratch...


When he crashes it you can just build another or replace parts.

While this is a cool idea, I think as a first plane for a 10 year old and starting flying with no experience and a parent with no experience. This would likely end up being a frustrating approach. So much that could go wrong. And someone totally new to all of this likely wouldn't know where to look.

[cati]

i would support the earlier suggestions go with either horizon hobby champ, apprentice or sports cub

Champ is cheap, light and wont get to damaged in a crash, but needs a calm summers day really. the apprentice will be take him to the next step

get something with safe, sims are really worth while investment really accelerates learning. I learned to fly helis twenty years ago all on the sim.

i would also join a local club, if there is one near you. If he is interested he will find lots of people willing to help and a good supply of second hand gear and planes to crash as well

[clockworks]

I taught myself to fly using an ultra micro - actually a Kyosho Minium.

Much easier on a calm day, but it could handle a bit of wind. I used to nip out to the field for a quick session before going to work.
Best thing about ultra micros is it's very hard to damage them, and they are so light you won't damage whatever you hit with it.

If you have a local club, they probably have a trainer and a buddy box, and someone willing to give your son a few lessons. Much safer than trying to go solo with a bigger plane. Cheaper too, if he decides he doesn't like model flying.

[Stupeo]

Thanks all - some really good info in this thread.

After sitting down last night and doing some research, I ordered the HobbyZone Sport Cub S V2 with SAFE - I think it will be good for him to learn on and it's not an overly huge investment if he doesn't stick with it.

Also registered him with our local club and BMFA.

I'll try and record his maiden flight, thanks all.

[300bhp/ton]

Might also be worth getting some glue too. Foamy planes are generally easy to fix if not too badly damaged. Normal CA (superglue) will eat the foam. You'll need a foam safe version. I also use something called FoamTac which is a flexible glue. And works well for some repairs.

[Stupeo]

300bhp/ton said:

Might also be worth getting some glue too. Foamy planes are generally easy to fix if not too badly damaged. Normal CA (superglue) will eat the foam. You'll need a foam safe version. I also use something called FoamTac which is a flexible glue. And works well for some repairs.

OK, cool tip - thanks. Will get some FoamTac on order.

[AndrewGP]

Some great info on this thread and I’d say that a Wot 4 is an excellent second model rather than a first trainer. I’ve had at least 3 of them and they’ll take a 32 glow engine for docile handling right up to a 90 four stroke for something a bit more mental

My best Wot 4 was a kit built model with a built up wing (rather than the normal foam core version) with wide chord ailerons made by a fellow club member. I fitted a Saito 82 four stroke in the front and it was a riot to fly and would do pretty anything I asked of it. Unfortunately it got smashed up in a mid air collision with another model but it’s fondly remembered!

[cati]

I had a wot 4 that progressively got smaller and smaller due to various mishaps and the engine at the front got bigger and bigger.

In the end it was a pylon racer

[mph999]

ST Discovery an excellent trainer.
Coulple that with a Kopilot from BangGood for an extra layer of safety.

If you don’t fly yourself, you will really need a model flying club for access to an instructor. You also need to be registered with the CAA as they are classed as drones.

Edited by mph999 on Thursday 24th September 00:59

Edited by mph999 on Thursday 24th September 01:01