SCRC Local Help Sources

The SCRC members are very willing to help people new to the hobby. Help includes abundant advice on planes, radios, and engines. Building and flying help is also readily available to aid in getting their model airplanes built and flying. The following information is provided to aid the newcomer to the hobby but all modelers will find it helpful.  Click here to see how a 13 year old obtained help.

Choosing and Building Radio Control Model Airplanes

• This guide is recommended for new pilots entering the world of R/C modeling. Our intent is to give you an idea of what equipment you need to get a plane into the air. We will include recommendations on which planes make good trainers. The recommendations for a primary trainer take into account ease of building and ease of flying; also listed are additional items usually necessary to complete construction of the plane, and the field equipment used to support your first and subsequent flights.

  AIRPLANE:

  We recommend for a primary trainer an airplane with a high wing, flat bottom airfoil, some dihedral, and three control functions. We also call functions channels, and these channels are the different control surfaces or actions controlled by the radio on the airplane. For example, three channel planes use rudder, elevator and throttle functions. Primary trainers are stable, fly slow and can perform some stunts when the pilot has gained enough experience. Another name for the trainer is "hands-off," because if the plane is out of control and the pilot takes their thumbs off of the radio, if the plane is high enough in the air it will recover to level forward flight on its own all due to built in stability. The size we recommend for this plane is a 40 size (i.e. an engine displacement of .40 cubic inches). These planes have a wing span about 60 inches. Although these planes and engines cost a little more than the smaller size trainers, we feel the advantages far outweigh the cost difference. Large planes are easier to fly, easier to see, and this size engine allows more flexibility when choosing your second kit. The following airplane kits (*) are recommended by the State College Radio Control Club:

  • MANUFACTURER KIT PRICE
    • Carl Goldberg Eagle II* $69.98
    • Carl Goldberg Mirage 550(electric) $83.59
    • Great Planes PT-Electric $73.99
    • Great Planes PT-40* $69.98
    • Sig Manufacturing Kadet LT-40 $74.99
    • Sig Manufacturing Kadet MK-II* $71.95
    • Sig Manufacturing Kadet Seniorita $54.95
    • Sig Manufacturing Kadet Senior* $76.95
    • Skyward R&D Skyward 40 $69.95
    • Hobby Lobby Telemaster 40 $79.50
    • Hobby Lobby Senior Telemaster $135.00
    • Ace R/C Inc. Whiz 40 $89.95

    The asterisked planes above are five excellent trainers with superb step by step photo-illustrated instructions (another reason we've recommended them). Photos really help out a lot. The prices are approximate and vary depending on where the kits are purchased. You should see your local hobby dealer for more detailed pricing information. If you join, remember that club members get a discount at Nittany Line Hobbies . Each kit needs hardware items which aren't included in the kit. The following is a generalized list of supplies and helpful extras necessary to complete the kits. The exact list for each model is provided in the instructions.

    ENGINE & RADIO:

    • Your choice to suit model.

    GLUES:

    • Epoxy: 5 minute; 15 or 30 minute (setting time)
    • Cyanoacrylate (superglue): Thin; Medium or Thick (viscosity)
    • Cyanoacrylate: Accelerator (catalyst) and Debonder (both optional)
    • Wood glues: Ambroid;
    • Carpenters (aliphatic resin); Testors (all optional)
    • Mistake Masker: Spackling; Epoxy and Micro-Balloons; Balsa Filler
    • See Adhesives Summary for more information.

    TOOLS:

    • Drill and Bits (1/16; 3/32; 1/8; 5/32; 3/16; 1/4")
    • Single Edge Razor Blades
    • Razor Saw and optional Mitre Box
    • X-acto Knife
    • Straight Edge
    • Sandpaper and Sanding Block
    • Sanding T-Bar T-Pins
    • Hinge Slotting Kit
    • Flat Building Board
    • String or Strong Thread
    • Plastic Wrap or Waxed Paper
    • Masking Tape
    • Allen Wrenches
    • Pliers
    • Screwdriver(s)
    • Wire Cutters

    COVERING:

    • 12 Feet of Covering Material (2 rolls)
    • Covering Iron
    • Heat Gun
    • Iron Sock
    • Touch Up Paint (fuel proof)
    • Covering Iron Thermometer (optional)

    FINISHING SUPPLIES:

    • Wheels: Main and Nose or Tail
    • Wheel Collars
    • Landing Gear Straps Propeller
    • Spinner or Prop Nut
    • Chicken Stick or Electric Starter
    • Fuel Tank
    • Fuel Line (2-3 feet)
    • Wing Seating Tape
    • #64 Rubber Bands (1/4 Pound)
    • Balancing Weights
    • Foam Rubber (wrapping radio gear/vibration isolation)
    • Throttle and Steering Linkages

    The items listed above are as complete a list as we could put together, not everybody has all these items in their workshop, except, of course some fliers who've been building over many years. (Their workshops look like hobby shops). Some tools may be required by the specific kit and you could probably borrow what you need from a club member initially. Club members are also full of knowledge and advice which will come in handy when you're building that first kit. Finally you will need some equipment to get your radio control airplane started at the flying field. The following list is a basic set which will get the job done. Later on you can build up a more advanced set of field supplies and starting devices.

    FIELD EQUIPMENT:

    • 1.5 volt battery for the glow plug and a glow plug clip or a rechargeable Ni-Starter
    • Fuel Bulb and Pump (to move fuel from the gallon to the tank)
    • Four-Way Wrench (for glow plugs and prop nuts)
    • 1 Gallon of fuel
    • Field Box to hold equipment and supplies.

Flying Your Radio Control Model Airplane

• Now that you're ready to fly, call one of the club instructors. They will help you to get started and try to prevent you from destroying that new aircraft you worked so hard to build. If you have the right kind of radio (fm or pcm) the instructor may even have a trainer cord. The cord allows two radios to be tied to together as main and trainer. The instructor has a switch which when activated allows the trainer to control the airplane. If you get into trouble the instructor releases the switch and control of the plane returns to the instructor. Then hopefully, the instructor saves the aircraft, takes it up to a safe altitude and gives control of the aircraft back to you, the student. This is a great way to learn as it gives you more time to recover control than when passing one radio back and forth. Best of all, it drastically reduces the chance of crashing the new plane. The following list identifies the club instructors. Feel free to call one or more of them. Find out when they'll be at the field and let them help you when you arrive. You can also go to the field and ask any member there for help.

• Click here for a comprehensive set of Preflight checks.

Flying Help

• The following list identifies the club instructors. Feel free to call one or more of them. Find out when they'll be at the field and let them help you when you arrive. You can also go to the field and ask any member there for help.

  INSTRUCTORS:

  • Woody Struble 238-8118
  • William Shetler 355-5917
  • Sam Stitzer 364-9530
  • George Gurney 238-9448
  • Hugh Zinsmeister 1-717-667-2406
  • Rich Moore 231-8283
  • Henry Loewen 238-1817

Source of Model Aircraft Supplies

• All of the equipment listed above and much, much more including extensive model selection, building, and flying help can be found at:
  • Nittany Line Hobbies

    with two State College store locations

    • 1649 North Atherton Street (In the Wal-Mart mall)
      State College, PA 16801
      (814)235-1661,
      (888)654-6229
      
    • 121 South Fraser Street  (In the Plaza next to the Parking Garage)
      State College, PA 16803
      (814)237-7100

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Last Updated 12/23/1999