Subj : New hobby
To   : Amcleod
From : Digital Man
Date : Sat Jan 06 2001 08:55 am

RE: New hobby
BY: Amcleod to Digital Man on Sat Jan 06 2001 05:38 am

 >  > I got my brother a Zagi-3C for Christmas, helped him build it and just fe
 >  > love with the thing. But I don't live near a slope, so I bought the 400-X
 >  > (electric powered) and have crashed it every time I've flown it (first ti
 >  > a very tall tree, second day in the middle of a lake). The thing is so to
 >  > though, it just bounces right back (the lake water fried the receiver and
 >  > speed controller though). Anyway, I bought a 3C for myself after I heard 
 >  > near-by popular slope (called Glider Hill), but I haven't built it yet.
 > 
 > The first thing I'd have to do is learn how to fly.  That means an
 > INDESTRUCTABLE aeroplane with only limited controls to master.  When you hav
 > to order it from overseas, hope it makes the journey down here uninjured, bu
 > it, and then look for somewhere HARD to crash it, you want it to withstand
 > minor problems like being run over bu a Hino or nose-diving into a barbed wi
 > fence!

Yeah, I've been flying (three times now) at the park across the street from my
house. There's a lake and many small tress to avoid, but today I managed TWO,
count them, TWO perfect flights where I powered up to about 500 feet or so and
then glided down for a perfect landing. Then on my third flight, I cracked it
up pretty good (full power nose into the ground). Need to go buy a new receiver
now (busted the PCB in half) and do some rebuilding, but these things are
pretty damn tough all things considered. The glider-only versions are more
durable I imagine as they are about 50% lighter and you wouldn't be powering
into the ground like I have been. :-)

 > I built a balsa/monokote slope-soarer/thermaller some years ago.  I used a l
 > bungee cord (Hi-start?) which worked BEAUTIFULLY to get it up to about 120
 > feet.  Then it tipped over and put the nose down....

Yeah, I'm pretty sure you can hi-start a Zagi too. But since mine has a prop I
haven't needed to. :-)
 
 > Pretty tough stuff, that monokote.  Balsa - not quite as tough.  :-/

These planes are a single wing made entirely of foam (100% expanded
poly-propolene in the 3C glider) and I've had no problems with the wing, but
the balsa elevons have both cracked (they seem to work fine taped back
together, however).

If you're at all interested in this hobby, I highly recommend the Zagi's as
they're realatively inexpensive, durable, easy to build, and fun!

Rob

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