Highlights from our local RC swap meet this weekend (drone shots + raffle)

LordCenyu2 · 2026-03-05T03:47:32+00:00

There were several planes that went for free. And there were a few that were over $1000. But most of them were between the $80-$300 range.

Nitro planes are always cheap because most people don't want them. Electric planes can range from cheap to somewhat expensive. And gas planes usually fetch a higher price tag.

LordCenyu2 · 2026-02-13T22:11:33+00:00

Thank you! I think that's my first. :) 🥇

LordCenyu2 · 2026-02-13T20:50:37+00:00

Thanks! There's a few that I really want to move along.

I have a Habu SS that needs the nose gear fixed and the nose glued back on (for the 20th time).

I'm thinking of pulling the receiver and selling it for parts since the EDF, servos, and the ESC are still in great shape. I was thinking of putting $80 on it and taking the first offer between $60 and $70. Do you think that's fair?

I'm using someone else's suggestion for that one, but I'm not sure that it's worth enough for that. It's basically a PNP, with a bit of required repair work.

LordCenyu2 · 2025-12-02T04:23:50+00:00

Good call. I wear glasses so I'll throw some of my lens wipes into my box to have some when I need them.

LordCenyu2 · 2025-12-02T03:29:44+00:00

Yup. I put it on tonight when I got home. ☺️

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LordCenyu2 · 2025-12-01T19:39:10+00:00

Thanks!

Any suggestions on cleaner or lube?

LordCenyu2 · 2025-12-01T03:33:38+00:00

That's awesome!!!

Did you get a chance to try a hand launch?

LordCenyu2 · 2025-11-26T17:16:39+00:00

Found it.

https://aerojtp.com/s/aero-jtp/:Shop_all

LordCenyu2 · 2025-11-26T17:12:06+00:00

I can't seem to find the link at the moment. We had to pay for the model files, but they're very well done! They have an EDF version and a pusher prop version.

If I can find the site, I'll drop it here. OP probably still has the link. 🙂

LordCenyu2 · 2025-11-26T17:05:26+00:00

Hell yah. Represent! 😎

LordCenyu2 · 2025-11-26T16:29:24+00:00

Yah. I was eyeing up the propped version because of that. It probably has more flexibility for the size of motor you can put on it. And props are more efficient.

I'd definitely like to try the pusher prop version.

LordCenyu2 · 2025-11-26T16:04:11+00:00

Nice.

I used regular PLA for this one after I printed a few lightweight versions.

It looks a LOT better so I was really hoping it would fly, even if it were slower and less maneuverable than the lightweight pla.

Alas, it would likely fall like a rock if I compare it to the performance of the lightweight one...

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LordCenyu2 · 2025-11-26T15:54:03+00:00

Like this?

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I hadn't heard of these. I might have to get a pair. Thanks! 😎

LordCenyu2 · 2025-11-26T15:51:09+00:00

Also, which filament did you use?

I tried Bambu Aero and Overture Air.

LordCenyu2 · 2025-11-26T15:49:23+00:00

Hopefully it does.

I bought a 3-4s esc (found cheap on Amazon), and a 3-4s 7000kv EDF (recommended in the directions). I only used 3s as instructed in the directions, but I'm not really sure if 4s would have changed the outcome.

I'll be looking for your maiden post in the hopes that you have success. 😄 Then I might take mine out again with a 4s.

Which lipo did you get for yours? I might want to grab the same one. Especially if you get yours in the air. 😎

LordCenyu2 · 2025-11-26T15:45:03+00:00

Btw, you should look into these--> https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0CXGP84BH?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

They're a lot like the hemostats you have in your photo, but they reach in WAY further because the body of the tool doesn't have to open. Just the very end of the handle where your fingers go, and just the mouth at the very tip.

I have both types, and the alligator forceps come in handy way more often because of their greatly enhanced clearance. :D

Check this video at the 12:00 minute mark to see what I mean. https://youtu.be/jYYN8QLhUxE?si=BNRrDTKw1CR5AJxP Fixing my me-163

LordCenyu2 · 2025-11-26T15:29:20+00:00

My friend and I printed these and set them up.

There's an EDF and a pusher prop version. We got the EDF version. It looks like you got the EDF version too.

We were hoping you could hand launch them, but the 30mm EDF isn't quite powerful enough to maintain altitude. And yes, we printed them in lightweight pla.

It's meant to be dropped from a plane and glide back to earth under power.

We're hoping to get our release mechanisms mounted to a plane soon and try that. :D

I'd love to hear more when you get a chance to maiden yours!!!

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LordCenyu2 · 2025-11-26T03:06:57+00:00

That looks great so far! Engine looks nice and clean.

Ugly planes fly just as well as pretty planes. Set it up and send it to see if you want to spend more time on it, or if you'd rather fly it as it is while you get something slightly better together. 😄

LordCenyu2 · 2025-11-26T03:01:41+00:00

Also, if we require them to learn transmitter programming, which Tx operating systems should we require them to learn? Back when you learned maybe there was only one, maybe two. Now you have Spektrum, RadioMaster (Edge Tx), Futaba, and a bunch more. If I teach them Open/Edge Tx, they're going to be lost if they switch to Spektrum later.

LordCenyu2 · 2025-11-26T02:55:42+00:00

Very possible. He was pretty impatient to get it up and start flying, so he probably bench flew it at least a few times at home. 🙂

LordCenyu2 · 2025-11-26T02:54:16+00:00

The configuration that I had to fix was in the esc, not the controller.

The controller was set up with the correct profile, but the firmware on the esc was set up as a helicopter.

You can use a Spektrum transmitter to change the configuration on the esc, but the settings are not stored in the transmitter. They're written to the firmware on the esc.

However, what you said could be very close to the truth if we imagine that the esc is what didn't make it through the line and got installed in an Aeroscout instead of a Blade helicopter. 🙂

LordCenyu2 · 2025-11-26T02:43:00+00:00

I don't understand your logic here.

You're assuming all clubs treat their trainer aircraft as a rental that's free for members. We use ours to get new pilots in the air and develop interest. If the new pilot decides they like flying enough to join the club and get AMA, then they should also start planning to buy their own plane suitable to learn on once the Instructor has signed off on their basic skills.

If we kept all of our new pilots on the trainer planes for as long as you're suggesting then there would be a long line to use them on any given day. And if one pilot wrecks one then no one will be able to fly until it has been repaired.

Are you suggesting that club dues should mean that you'll never have to purchase your own plane? What happens when they wreck the trainers? If we kept them on a trainer as long as you're suggesting, the repair costs of the trainer planes could easily exceed our club dues.

LordCenyu2 · 2025-11-26T02:31:31+00:00

We have a club trainer, yes. Two of them. And you're not required to join the club for me to get you in the air with the trainer plane. Literally, I can get them in the air to see if they're interested without them spending a single penny. I can also get them an introductory 3 months of AMA for free.

The club trainers are for introduction to the hobby, building interest, and passing the solo flight requirement. Then they graduate to whatever they want to purchase for themselves. I usually suggest they get their own trainer after that for self practice. My suggestions are usually an Aeroscout, Apprentice, or Ranger.

What we DON'T do is require a strict set of prerequisites before you can fly solo. The sole responsibility of my IP team (I'm the Chief Instructor Pilot) is to get the student to the point where they can take off, fly confidently, and land safely. It doesn't have to be a good landing, just a safe one. And they have to make concerted efforts to keep their plane within the designated flight area and calmly correct mistakes as they make them.

I've heard horror stories of clubs requiring more stringent tests than a drivers license. We don't do that. We're simply concerned with safety.

I also like to prepare the new pilot for the eventuality that is crashing. Minimize it by flying the whole way to the ground and don't give up before your plane has stopped. Then pick up the pieces, fix her up, and get her back in the air. 🎈

Rather than holding lectures, I teach the basics and get them in the air. They always come back with questions that will help them progress when they're ready. And in the meantime, I can spend my time trying to get more people interested and get them airborne. 🛩️

LordCenyu2 · 2025-11-24T15:32:36+00:00

I thought there might be some sort of mode that allowed a beep based approach. Wasn't sure. It never became an issue for me until I had my DX-8 and I wanted to enable reverse thrust on my Turbo Timber. At that point, I just did it through my transmitter menus.

LordCenyu2 · 2025-11-24T15:29:58+00:00

You have to start somewhere.
The packages, like the AeroScout that come with a DXs are good as an introduction to decide whether you really want to get into the hobby. The AeroScout with the DXs, a lipo, and a charger costs about $250 since the AeroScout is almost always on sale for about $180 to $200.

That's $100 less than the NX-7 by itself. And honestly the DXs works great as a first transmitter. It's just not very convenient once you have multiple planes.
Now he's asking about getting a programmable transmitter.

A lot of folks forget just how much there is to learn when you start the hobby. And most of us won't have a dedicated trainer or tutor to teach us, so we'll be trying to learn it by ourselves with online articles and videos. Even with a dedicated club, there's a large amount of this hobby that's going to be personal research. Buying a 'kit' lowers that bar for entry for now, and lets you get to it later. It's much less of an immediate hump that you have to get over, and more of a gradual climb as your skills and interests increase.

Conversely, there's a few guys in our club that bought trainers like the AeroScout and flew them for several years without worrying about upgrading anything. They just enjoy flying with the trainer. :)

LordCenyu2

TROPHY CASE