Looks like my wife is getting more tactical about cutting back my TT time. She just found an R/C flying field, with paved runway, just 3.6 miles from our new home! 3.6 ,miles! I have never lived so close to an improved R/C flying field since I moved out of my parents' home!!! (Holy crap, over a decade) I have 2 airplane kits that require runways to fly, and they have been sitting gathering dust for the last 4 years. It is time...the little Fokker DR-1 Triplane and the Sukhoi Airshow Performer shall live! I'll still pop in for a game now and then (2 nights a week, about), but right now I have a race against time to piece together 300 balsa-wood sticks while the weather is still so good!

Damn, I'm exited. I might show up in the battlefield as Manfred von Richthofen just for fun (or Red Baron). Any other R/C pilots in here?

Man, I'm messed up in the head. I just imagined what it would be like if the tanks could fly. BattleMode would just be another battle flight simulator, but picture Scrum in a 3D battlefield! Can't stop, so camping would be gone, but imagine the swarming around the goal as the flying beasts ram each other for the scrum! Picture the group diving down the air to scoop up the scrum before it hits ground.

Never mind, that's just me being nuts. A flying field 3.6 miles away. My wife is getting her little airplane dusted off and juiced up as well. Woo hoo!!!

- BombJames Bomb

Airplane scrum = vomit comet. I always wanted to fly an rc plane, but no dice. Send pics!

Yeah, love to see that Fokker...

Airplane scrum: sounds a lot like quiddich (sp?). And I agree Tally - I thought my equilibrium had been well-adjusted to TT, but that drop from Reagent X's multiple-jump pad soar in one of his movies put my cookies in severe jeopardy this AM!

About how much does one of them there planes cost?

Cost? Depends on the size and quality. They can go anywhere from $60 for a complete system, to about $20,000 (I saw a biplane with a 14-foot wingspan where just the stupid engine cost $6,000). Mine are about a few hundred total. My radio control system is about $350 (and is used on multiple aircraft), my motor system is about $150 a plane, and the airplanes are $60 kits with about $50 in materials to build them. Sadly, I only have 2 operational airplanes left, since most of my previous creations had a losing argument with the earth's surface. (Flying in areas without runways can make landings a tad difficultI swear, that tree moved!)

Most pilots these days opt for the foam pre-builds where you can get a full-up system with radio for about $180. These actually fly pretty well, if you don't mind the foam look. My Zagi is one those.

You can get an idea of the RC hobby at http://www.towerhobbies.com/

It's fun stuff once you get good at it. They are real crowd pleasers if you get permission to perform a mini-airshow at a school.

- BombJames Bomb

@Tally

Can't you add wings to one of your skins?...

Funny you mention Fokker triplanes because I've been idly dreaming about using the Torque engine to do a WW1 flying game. You can tell how much time I've spent on it because I'm still not sure if Torque is up to doing a flying game - anyone? I still pine for the thrills of Microprose Knights of the Sky, best plane game ever, and sooooo simple.

Well I guess your head will be in the sky for some time to come. I've been there myself and used to fly when I was younger. Post Pics please.

Seems a tad bit outta my price range. But then again I'd rather be up with the plane instead of watching it on the ground

As far as I know TGE would be ideal for a flying game...already uses x,y and z axis and objects can overlay each other. Probably spend a lot of time customizing the physics....Im gonna play with TGE if I ever get some $...

JB when it is crappy outside please come indoors and play some TT!!

B

*cough* http://www.garagegames.com/mg/snapshot/view.php?qid=737 *cough*

Wow that looks promisingly like what I was thinking about, hope they finish it!

Excellent find, 56K! Sw33333333t! Might be a new addiction for me when it comes out (if the weather stinks).

Honestly, guys, they have COMPLETE RC aircraft for about $80 that are durable as hell. They aren't screaming performers, but you should see the fun we have getting about 5 or 6 of those in the air and compete to knock each other out of the sky! XD Games are great, but the resolution and physics models just aren't up to snuff to RC aircraft.

- BombJames Bomb

James,

R U Saying that you will be spending even LESS time playing????/

NNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :[ XO :(

@TG: Get yourself a Zagi and meet me in California. Dogfight, you against me, girl!

Heh, never underestimate the powerful addiction of Think Tanks! I'll still pop in now and then (especially on weekend nights), but I really miss working on airplanes. I love just spending evenings tuning the motor, tweaking the control throws, and building the next beast. SInce I have to fly while the sun is up, it means I'll be burning up my evenings doing the chores I put off.

Of course, you will probably see a lot more of me again if ProjectB gets completed. I love dogfight games. Since Crimson Skies won't work on my PS2, perhaps ProjectB will fit the bill!

I think I have a picture of me and my Zagi somewhere around here. I'll see if I can dig it up.

- BombJames Bomb

James, would I be the only goyle there or would I have a support group of other "Girls of RC"?

I'll get that Zagi, I'll sharpen the wingtips to a razors edge, then I will take your little piper cub of a wanna-be-cool-plane and slice it to ribbons. Then with the adrenaline of a live dogfight tantalizing our souls and stimulating every inch of our bodies, we will engage in passionate love- rebuilding of the planes damaged in an incredibly expensive game of "throw away your money in seconds flat".

Maybe better if we just have fun flying our planes until the sun goes down, then have nasty sex.

WWWAAAAIIITTT, did I say that out loud?

Well, if my wife ever reads that, my airplane may end up shredded into ribbons before takeoff! :P

There are ladies in the sport, just like there are ladies in gaming. It used to be quite rare when gas engines where the only way to fly. Not to be stereotyping, but few ladies enjoy the horrendous noise, smell, and grease of a clunky gas engine. Now that clean and powerful electrics have taken over the field, there are quite a few dogfighting ladies to contend with. And no, they don't pick the cute pink airplane, either. They got something to prove!

- BombJames Bomb

AMEN bruddah.... Don't all of us ladies have something to prove eh?

:)