Davethebluessinger

Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 1

Plans and components for simple cheap indoor flyer
Hi,
I'm thinking of forming a new club at my local sports club. I suspect there will be quite a lot of interest but that a lot of people (particularly youngsters) may be on a very tight budget. The obvious thing to do is tell them to buy a Vapor but at £100 + in the UK that's not too cheap. I was wondering if anyone has any plans for a cheap simple indoor foam plane that could be built quickly? Ideally with a list of components required to get it flying My plan would be to build one and prove the plane then demo it. If enough people were interested we could buy enough materials to say build 6 and then have a building session one afternoon and hopefully everyone would leave with a completed plane. I appreciate that the radio gear is going to be the most expensive item so any suggestions in that direction would be really appreciated too.

Rabbitcreekok

Did you say that a Vapor is 100 pounds over there. That would be around $225 plus American, right? That seems really expensive. I will do some research on something that might work over there.

Davethebluessinger

Hi Jim,
Yes a RTF Vapor is around £110 ($169) to £120 ( some guy is selling them on Ebay at £119 with a Spektrum DX5e TX. I'm almost tempted as I may look at a PZ T28 BNF next year and the DX5e would come in there. Any suggestions you may have would be gratefully received. It's been a terribly blustery day here but this evening it all fell still and I managed to get an hours flying in at a local beauty spot. Just me, my PZ P51 micro and a beautiful sunset. that little bird looks so real sillouhetted against the sky! flew 6 batteries straight, fingers crossed it might be the same tomorrow! I've also found a local supermarket carpark that's really well lit so I'm going to take my Ember out there one still night and fly around the lamp posts!

Cheers
Dave

Rabbitcreekok

Dave, here are a couple of links to some sites where plans are available. I will let you check them out because you know what is available equipment wise over there.

Foam Fly

Gym Dandy Free Plans

Hope this helps.

Oh, here is a source here in the us for all things micro. I don't know if Bob ships overseas, but you could email him and find out.

BSD Micro RC

Davethebluessinger

Thanks Jim, I'll take a good look at thes links when I get home tonight!

Dave

Rockin Robbins

Dave, the Vapor with DX5e is a religious experience! It does fly well on its supplied radio, but the DX5e is a tremendous enhancement.

That being said, I'm looking forward to what comes out of your SimpleCheap Micro project. I'll be monitoring this thread and wish you great success!

edygert

There are some good plans here for indoor at this site. Just fill in the form and the plans will be immediately downloadable. I like the Gym Swallow and the Tiny.

http://www.tdmsoftware.com/majewski/...anrequest.html

kenchiroalpha

Hi Dave
Heres some people out your way you should contact
http://www.aeronutz.flyer.co.uk/
Take care
Hank

Davethebluessinger

Thanks to both Edygert and Kenchiroalpha!
Hank, how is that you know about Leicester (thats pronounced "Lester" but I'm pretty sure you knew that!) Aeronutz living thousands of miles away across the pond, when I, living a mere thirty miles away in Staffordshire, have never heard of them or come across them onthe net?!!!
It's certainly a much smaller world these days!

I'll be taking a look at both sites in the morning!

thanks again guys!

kenchiroalpha

Hi Dave
Ive been there a few times in the past during my naval career
You have quite a lovely country
Hope to get back that way soon again
Take care
Hank

philipa_240sx

Another suggestion:

The BlazyBee

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=828620

It's a great indoor flyer. Lots of wing and very light weight (5oz)... plus it's got looks to spare! I flew mine in a 75x50ft gym. Cheap components from HobbyCity:

- HXT500 5g servos
- 1811-2000 10g motor
- GWS 6x3 prop
- 350mAh 2S Flightmax Lipo

slipstick

Dave, the one critical thing you haven't said is how much space you'll have to fly in.

We fly in a very small school hall so most things are a bit too fast for it but many of the guys have loads of fun with the cheapy RTF Silverlit models, about £30 but sometimes as cheap as 10 quid in Toys R Us sales . Perhaps not "proper" planes but inexpensive and get kids flying. Worth trying if you haven't already.

Several of us build our own foam models too but the Spektrum AR6400 brick (Rx and two servos) is just so good for about 40 quid that no-one uses anything else. So by the time you have a Tx like a Spektrum DX5e your first model at least is no cheaper than buying a Vapor or an Ember2 (a bit cheaper but flies a bit faster). Of course you can then move the bits over to a new model so subsequent planes need not cost more than a few pence worth of foam and a bit of paint.

Steve

Team_Oz

Here is another link for your research
http://e-foamy.com/
All of the mechanical parts can be bought from Hobby City

My .02, good luck

kenchiroalpha

Hi Dave
Heres a few more
http://aerofred.com/
http://smallflyingarts.com/
http://www.indoorflyingmodel.com/
http://www.cloud9rc.com/indoorflying.asp
Take care
Hank

Davethebluessinger

Thanks to all who keep on giving!

Steve, I have 2 options with regard to a hall.
1. a working mans club with a concert room 15yds wide x 25yds long with a 20ft ceiling, a bit small but it's cheap and has other advantages too! Flew my Ember1 in there last week ad it was a little tight!

2. Local Sports Hall 20 yds wide x 40 yds long with a 25 ft ceiling. Costs twice as much but there's no mirror ball to avoid!

I've looked at the Silverlits for my 9 yr old son and I may be able to drop on a battered Vapor to steal some electronics from. If that comes off I'll be looking at something really small and slow!

Thanks again to all!

kenchiroalpha

Hi Dave
These are a good size for very small venues
Do enjoy
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyeuaMiVlVM[/media]
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r22gzcWFbOg[/media]
Take care
Hank

jusos

Here is my proposal. Easy to build, easy to fly. Cheap HK components can be used.

Kits $19.90:
http://www.freewebstore.org/cnc4rc/M...3_1800348.aspx

Free plans:
http://www.cnc4rc.com/forum/index.php?topic=10.0

bigtruck169

Greeting to all indoor flyers. Can any of you experts tell me where i could find inexpensive receivers for these indoor planes? 2.4 spektrum most perfer. Some link please

Wildflyer

Welcome bigtruck169

Hobbyking has spektrum compatible receivers, some as low as $8 some are about $15

There 4ch uncased rec. is working great for me in an outdoor park jet, I have had NO trouble with range, and I don't always fly around my head.

It weighs 2.7g as it comes, but I have been looking at removing the servo plugs and wiring them direct. With biowire servos, you could have 3 servos and an esc at about 6-7g

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbycity/s...dProduct=11972