EPC,

Well, I spent a fortune on mine and it's a riot.

However, I will tell you my setup, and you be the judge:

Motor : nippy 0808 : Hobby Lobby : $69
ESC : Castle Creations Phoenix 10 : Todds Models $ 51
3 Cirrus 4.4g servos @ $35 each: Aeromicro
RX Antenna : Todd's Models M72 antenna : $12
RX : Berg Micro Stamp : Aeromicro : $60
2 Kokam HD 340 2 cell packs : $29 each

This represents $350 for a $35 foam airplane. Pretty much comparable to any glo sport plane.

I recommend the Astro 109 charger at about $120. If you undestand electronics, and LiPo cells, you can get by with much less. This one is very safe with very little education on the part of the useer. Auto cell count detection-- you just set the current level. Still, Lipos can be deadly if mishandled.

Still listening? Good. With this setup, I can fly 3 days a week and do all kinds of 3D in a very small gym. I view it as excellent winter training for the giant scale plane I aspire to fly someday costing easily 10 times as much.

So, you can save money going with a brushed motor, cheaper servos and GWS RX. About $100 total savings, but the plane will not be outstanding. This is my experience.

Another option I've tried is the Jeff Williams E-sledge. This plane is a little bit bigger, can handle more weight fine, and much more durable. You'll need a 3 cell pack though, which will be $43 per pack.. The shock flyers really want to be light (6-7 oz) and the only way I know to get them there with good equipment is expensive. The E sledge flys well at 10-12 oz.

One more tip: On the Castle Creations ESC, be sure to disable the soft start (we dont' need no stinking gearboxes!) so you get more punch on the throttle when you want it.

Hopefully someone else will post good info here too. I learned a lot over the past month looking in the Ezone RC Groups (www.rcgroups.com).. Also, there is a lot of good info in the Profile brotherhood section here on RCU.