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Old 10-09-2011 | 10:48 AM
  #35  
jpjamie
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From: Rochester, MN
Default RE: New pilot, need a suggestion.

The SIG LT-40 is a good way to go.

I've flown this model for years and still fly a modified one regularly.

First off, get the "ARF" version, because it uses a front "wing tooth" (fits into the front plywood former) and two nylon wing bolts instead of rubber bands to secure it to the fuselage. While I say "ARF" it's got more to do than most ARF's so just be aware of that. Also, the ARF has a fully sheeted exterior fuselage with partial plywood sheet reinforcements inside. Your .46 engine should work just fine. There are a few issues to be aware of with this model aircraft. After a few flights you will notice the nose gear will give you problems, by either becoming loose or the wire will bend. The main landing gear wire is designed to be "springy" and take hard landings, but you will get tired of bending this wire back from being "splayed out."

The wing on this model is almost flat bottomed, making it a "floater." While this is good for a beginner, it limits wind penetration and tends to make the model "balloon" on landings. Overall, this is the model trainer to get by far and I highly recommend it, but read below for some options with this model you can add from the start. That said, if you've never flown RC models before it might be best to just keep things simple and not make the changes I write about below, besides, you can add them later.

While the LT-40 is designed to I fly with a .46 I bolted in an O.S. .61 two stroke because after the alterations this model has slightly more weight. Most of the weight was added by covering the fuselage with a light (sorry don't remember the thickness) fiberglass cloth and West resin. An auto body shop friend of mine then finished the fuselage with sprayed on auto primer and paint.

Use a Fults Dual Strut nose gear:
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXH129&P=7
Every LT-40 trainer should have one, because it just works flawlessly and has for 5 years.

Get yourself Dubro main landing gear and a set of wheel axles:
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXNM65&P=7
This gear needs to be bolted at the location of the stock wire gear, or just behind. Make sure you bolt it into plywood or basswood that makes contact with the plywood sides of the fuselage for support. This is another reason to get the ARF, because it has plywood side reinforcement.

Instead of using one servo (centrally located) for the ailerons, use one for each servo located in a plywood box out in the center bottom of each wing. This allows you more precise control over your ailerons and you can even use "flaperons" which will help get off the ground faster and make for some "interesting" slow flights and landings.

Because of the "flat" bottom wing, I installed a pair of Graupner wing spoilers top side of each wing, right behind (touching) the rear of the top spar.
While this is an extreme alteration, spoilers provide a very predictable sink rate for precise landings even in windy weather. Without these spoilers landing the LT-40, in 10-15mph wind is not fun at all. With these spoilers you get to land with throttle and a lot faster, which is loads of fun. Spoilers on this plane make it way more fun!

Practice with an RC flight simulator with a trainer model, not a "warbird" or other scale jet model.
The tendency is to fly a cool scale model RC jet aircraft which is a mistake. Always fly on calm days with the sun to your back. Always watch your time to avoid running out of fuel. Keep the model relatively high in case your engine quits and/or you run out of fuel (having so much fun). Imagine a huge funnel going from your head up into the sky at a 35 - 45 degree angle and keep the model in that airspace at all times. Turning with the ailerons is where newbies "auger in" because once into the turn, they hold the turn too long with the ailerons, instead of using the elevator to complete the turn and keep the model in the air. Put a black stripe under both wings and keep the top of the wing white to differentiate top from bottom at distance. This way when you see the top of the white wing the model will be flying in a turn toward you...black stripes means it is flying away from you, because you're seeing the underside of the wing.

Landing is the hardest part. You will need to get over the desire to turn your body as if you are sitting inside the model as it lands. This was a huge problem for me until I used a flight simulator and just, well, got over it! Flight simulators may cost a few buck, but the learning experience pays off big time.

Tower Hobbies links above were just easy to grab and are here for no other reason.