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I think the intent was that he joined an RC club so he knew what planes/parts/tools/etc were quality and which were junk. Not that he had to actually join a cl

I think the intent was that he joined an RC club so he knew what planes/parts/tools/etc were quality and which were junk. Not that he had to actually join a club in order to purchase anything.

lmm 11y ago
Sure. That still sounds much worse in many ways than all the info being up on Tom's Drones or wherever.
- NickNameNick 11y ago
  The info was on rec.models.rc.air and rec.models.rc.heli and flyinggiants.com for scale enthusiasts, and runryder for heli enthusiasts, and .... etc. They are fantastic resources,but they aren't in-person help. Local clubs were a much better experience, because they could tell you about the local stores, or lend you the tools and supplies that you only need once (I'm looking at you, green loctite), or help you assemble that tricky part that has terrible instructions. Also, in a time before ready to fly models, everything came as a broken down, or partially assembled kit. Having someone who knew what they were doing check that you had assembled your very expensive model correctly was an enormous benefit. For a new pilot, having an experienced pilot fly your airplane for the first time, and sort out the trim, etc saved a lot of people a lot of time, money and heartache. You don't really need any of that with a multicopter - they're so much simpler mechanically. I can see how they've gotten away without that kind of community, but i still think it's a major loss.
  - shocks 11y ago
    Exactly this. The quality of advice is also much better. The first thing they'll tell you is "you need to get insurance, these things are not toys". Now you can walk into Maplin (UK electronics store) and buy a £200 drone as a Christmas gift for your 12 year old. The rep who sells you the drone won't tell you about insurance, or how dangerous they can be, or anything...
- shocks 11y ago
  It might be worse in some ways, but I'm really referring to the fact that I had to go to a specific group of people (a club) and request information. They gave me the best quality information. The same probably would've happened if I went to a aeromodelling shop (back then the nearest one was an hour drive away). I went Christmas shopping today and saw various £200+ drones for sale in high street shops. You can walk in, buy one, and walk out no questions asked. Great in many ways, terrible in others. It gives no opportunity to raises issues about liability and the fact that these things are not really toys. One of the first things I learnt at my club was just how easily a prop will take off your finger (by way of a carrot). They are not toys.

I think the intent was that he joined an RC club so he knew what planes/parts/tools/etc were quality and which were junk. Not that he had to actually join a club in order to purchase anything.

lmm 11y ago

Sure. That still sounds much worse in many ways than all the info being up on Tom's Drones or wherever.

NickNameNick 11y ago
The info was on rec.models.rc.air and rec.models.rc.heli and flyinggiants.com for scale enthusiasts, and runryder for heli enthusiasts, and .... etc. They are fantastic resources,but they aren't in-person help. Local clubs were a much better experience, because they could tell you about the local stores, or lend you the tools and supplies that you only need once (I'm looking at you, green loctite), or help you assemble that tricky part that has terrible instructions. Also, in a time before ready to fly models, everything came as a broken down, or partially assembled kit. Having someone who knew what they were doing check that you had assembled your very expensive model correctly was an enormous benefit. For a new pilot, having an experienced pilot fly your airplane for the first time, and sort out the trim, etc saved a lot of people a lot of time, money and heartache. You don't really need any of that with a multicopter - they're so much simpler mechanically. I can see how they've gotten away without that kind of community, but i still think it's a major loss.
- shocks 11y ago
  Exactly this. The quality of advice is also much better. The first thing they'll tell you is "you need to get insurance, these things are not toys". Now you can walk into Maplin (UK electronics store) and buy a £200 drone as a Christmas gift for your 12 year old. The rep who sells you the drone won't tell you about insurance, or how dangerous they can be, or anything...
shocks 11y ago
It might be worse in some ways, but I'm really referring to the fact that I had to go to a specific group of people (a club) and request information. They gave me the best quality information. The same probably would've happened if I went to a aeromodelling shop (back then the nearest one was an hour drive away). I went Christmas shopping today and saw various £200+ drones for sale in high street shops. You can walk in, buy one, and walk out no questions asked. Great in many ways, terrible in others. It gives no opportunity to raises issues about liability and the fact that these things are not really toys. One of the first things I learnt at my club was just how easily a prop will take off your finger (by way of a carrot). They are not toys.