What Type of Radio Control Hobby for You?

(A typical inexpensive set of ready built plane model using high capacity battery for a beginners)

( A typical small and inexpensive complete RC Helicopter set for you to try out)

Radio control airplanes are probably the most difficult project to undertake. Since an airplane requires very detailed calculations and measurements in order to stay afloat, you will have to be attentive every step of the way. Modeler of radio controlled airplanes will usually take one of two routes. The first is to buy kits that include cutout pieces of some sort of light wood (light plywood and balsa wood) that can be assembled using super glue. After that is done, the radio and motor equipment (or an miniature engine or glo engine) are purchased and added in. The second method is to skip the kit, and find (or even make your own) plans for a model plane. After you have plans, you buy all of the necessary wood to make the plane from scratch.

Airplanes aren’t the only radio controlled devices that take to the skies. Remote control helicopters are becoming more and more popular. (There is a variety model of helicopter from the smallest to the biggest size and vary in prices too)They require around the same (perhaps a little less) detail as planes, and allow for a more interesting flying experience since they can hover in midair, and go backwards / forwards on command. The novelty of flying a toy helicopter is what attracts many people to building one, while planes usually attract those who enjoy the technical and mathematical aspects of getting the plane to leave the ground. Both are extremely rewarding, especially after hours and hours of labor.

These are some the many different ways that you can apply the intricacies of radio electronics to regular toys. While these make up the main areas that are focused on in this hobby, they certainly don’t confine you. If you have an idea for a radio controlled toy that is not a car, a boat, a plane, or a helicopter then by all means pursue it. By starting with the more basic toys, you can learn about the radio systems and the motors that power whatever it is that propels the vehicle forward. All it takes is this basic knowledge, and the hobby of radio controlled toys can span a vast number of possibilities.

Radio Controlled Hobbies, For You?

(A typical inexpensive RC Car Setup)

Radio controlled toys and projects have a huge follower span across the globe. The fun concept in controlling a miniature model of some real-life vehicle, fully functional and ready to get around. There are so many types of radio controlled hobbies that can be enjoyed. Whats required is for you to enjoy it is a basic knowledge of the radio equipment and the motors.

The most basic type of radio controlled hobby is the remote control car. Small model cars can be rigged in a way that will allow you to accelerate, steer, and brake them at will. There are numerous ways that you can accomplish this. The first is to just buy a remote controlled car and some good batteries. However, if you are interested in the technical aspect of it then this may seem uninteresting. Another option is to build a model or a kit from scratch, putting together all of the components of the car and installing the radio control system. Still another option is to take a pre-existing toy, and mount all of the radio components inside.

Beside toy cars aren’t remote controlled boats are also very popular. It is fairly easy to convert a boat toy to be radio controlled. The biggest challenge faced by those trying to make a radio controlled boat is the issue of having a waterproof area for the engine and electrical equipment. Usually this is solved by placing the motor in the hull of the boat, and having the propeller emerge underwater through some sort of rubber, watertight seal. It is a good idea to buy this part of the boat pre-made, since a do-it-yourself, trial and error approach could lead to quite a few ruined engines before you get it right.

Joining Radio Control Club

(A typical example of Radio Control Flying Club where all Modeler gathering for the sake of their hobby)

Here I can't emphasis more on how important it is for you to join any modeling club near you, moreover if you choose flying radio control model. Here at the club you can try to find a 'Guru' that can teach you and properly check and trim your model, he probably can save you from destroying your first precious model that you bought from your own hard earn cash on your first flight.

I have read in a flying radio control magazine of how one guy a columnist blame on the internet on why less and less youth interested in flying radio control model. They are more interested in playing online computer games and hours of surfing on the internet.

There is no doubt he might be right about it. But nowadays internet it self is a medium for modeler to interact with each other. In earlier times when internet was non-existent, face to face meeting was the only way the enthusiasts could contact each other. Even phone or snail mail was too clumsy to interact effectively. But the enthusiasts have always traveled long distances for the sake of their hobby just to meet one another. This is the indulgence in the hobby. But, the advent of internet has virtually reduced the world, your “arm’s length away” being just “a-click-of-your-mouse-away”. Real life meeting is not at all required, but still one can connect to another radio control hobby enthusiast from another end of the world.

Online groups can be of help to connect and to organize more extensive events, and to know about the various hobby related activities taking place. Nowadays you can buy any hobby related thing just through you computer!.

Time is the most important factor when considering any hobby. A hobby is an activity that has grown more than just a “wish to try” activity, and you yearn to do it day in and day out. One might not always find the time, but the passion for the activity is what makes it worthwhile. If the thought of playing with remote controlled toys piques your interest, then it means you possibly have a flair for radio control models and you should give a try.

Radio Control Affair-Maximized it

Above is very nice demo
Radio controlled hobbies can be pretty costly. Toy grade models might be good for kids, but today model is quite robust and if your budget really tight then there is no harm to try this toy grade models first to see whether radio control model is really up to your expectation. For mere $39 bucks you can get a complete setup for you to try first. But someone who is pursuing a radio controlled model hobby should invest in a hobby grade model. But its shouldn't burden you too much as its all depend how much your budget and what kind off model and radio control brand you want. You can start with complete setup for mere $149 bucks or probably less than that.

There are dedicated hobby grade RC model makers who have hundreds of different models, and they will almost surely have one that suits your pocketbook and preference. It is a good idea to shop around at a few hobby grade RC model shops before investing in a model. This is because you might find a better model for your preferences, the cost might vary a little, and you will hopefully get to know more hobbyists that you can connect to by visiting these places.

The only limit to the amount that you can invest is solely based on your own capability. If you wish, you can invest in a low end model or you can go for the latest high end models with sophisticated circuits and controls. This is especially true with respect to the airborne models. But, wise investment is required and investment is NOT recommended if you are not a real radio controlled device enthusiast, since these hobby grade RC toys are costlier than the toy grade models available in retail shops. If you are questioning whether you can find time to play with the RC model, then the hobby grade toy is probably not for you.

One more thing in my opinion its better to learn assembling your own model than buying ready to fly model because from there you can do your own repair and get know-how on modeling itself where this knowledge is valuable to maximized
you hobbying life in future.

Getting Started With A Radio Controlled Model Hobby

(Above a Basic Futaba 4 channel Skysport system)

The beginnner to any sophisticated hobby is faced with two main problems-understanding the technical jargon that drops so effortlessly from the experts'lips, and deciding what sort of equipment he or she should buy. Beginners to the hobby of radio controlled flying have these problems in full measure. The technical terms seem to be endless and the magazines contain advertisements for such an incredible range of model kits, engines and radio control equipment that there seems to be little hope of making a rational choice.

Those early modeller was fortunate in that they started radio controlled flying long before these problems really existed – the technical jargon was minimal, there were few, if any, 'expert', and a sample of every single item of commercial equipment (kits, engine and radios) available to radio control flyers in that era could have been put on top of the everage model shop's counter. Today they would probably fill the entire shop and stockroom four times over.

In the early days commercial radio control equipment was technically very simple , yet often unreliable,and gave nothing more than a three-position control of the model's rudder. It could be set left, straight ahead or right, but nowhere in between. It was called 'single-channel' and the people who bought it were invariably aeromodellers of some experience who wanted to be able to steer their models in the sky so that they would land somewhere near the point of launch or take-off.

Radio Controls

Welcome to Radio Controls blog. This Blog will open you to world of Radio Controls,
with articles, tips and techniques by my experience in tight budget hobby. There will
be a lot of information updated on regular basis so we can share all the information
on Radio Controls. I'll will try focus more on flying Radio Controls other than focus
on water or land, because I love something that fly. I'll try to focus in tight budget modelling situation other than than focus on that out of reach for low income
modeller like me.