Introduction
Set Up
Controls Fuselage Radio 1 Engine Undercarriage Wings Linkages Radio 2 Assembly Last Checks And Finally
At some stage, your model will be transformed from an ornament into a flying machine. Given all the hard work that you've put into building the ornament, it makes sense to take every care to ensure it doesn't finish up as matchsticks. No-one - not even the most experienced model flier in the world - can give you an absolute guarantee that your model won't finish up as wreckage. It all depends on where the percentages are. It is very unlikely - as in virtually impossible - that a complete beginner will be able to build, then fly a model aircraft safely and then go home with the model in one piece. On the other hand, it is very likely that an experienced flier will be able to take your model and do just that. As usual, the choice is yours!
If you are a complete beginner, the single most important step you can take is to get competent help with setting up and flying your model. The best place to find this help is by taking a visit to your local model flying club. Within any club, there will be a number of fliers who are willing - and more importantly - able to help you with test flying. These guys will be able to assess your building and how you have set up your model based - usually - on many years experience. Before a potential test pilot even thinks about flying your model, he will go through a number of checks to eliminate as many sources of problems as possible. Realistically speaking, these checks should take about an hour. Many kits these days seem to have instructions along the lines of " Build model, stick in engine and radio - Go Fly ". This should be followed by " Stick bits in bin bag, go home and give up hobby! "
What are all these checks? What's the secret?
Well, there's good news and there's bad news.
The good news is that there's no secret - the bad news is that there's a lot of checking to be done! A good flight check consists of a lot more than " I like the Go Faster stripes down the side ", " Oh, I've flown one of them before. " and " They're nice fliers "! - Really?
Many beginners go down to their local flying field hoping to see " Pride And Joy Mark 1 " fly and sadly have to return home with a " Things To Do " list which comprises things that could have been done beforehand- if only they'd known. Either that or their potential test pilot spends ages sorting things out. Perhaps the brightest beginner is the one who goes down to the flying field while they're buiding their model and gets step-by-step advice! Your chosen test pilot is going to go through all the steps inspecting everything anyway so just think how competent you would look if there were only a couple of minor problems to sort out. The vast majority of the tests can be carried out at home and are all pretty simple. It's also a big help if you bring your radio and aircraft instructions with you so the person who is checking over your model can verify control movements, radio operation and so on.
Set Up
Controls Fuselage Radio 1 Engine Undercarriage Wings Linkages Radio 2 Assembly Last Checks And Finally