My opinion is... forget that Futaba even makes the 3003. Pay about $3 more per servo and get the 3004 instead. The ball bearing can reduce the slop in the control system a TON! Even if you want the least expensive servo for an introductory Patern plane. Make sure its a ball bearing servo.

If you already have the 3003's... you can get the EMS ball bearing kit set for the 148. You get a stronger case top and the ball bearing and a glass-filled nylon servo arm for $5 a servo. (comes in a package of for kits for $20) I found out about this when looking to repair sone 148's that had busted off mount lugs... the kits cost the same per servo as replacement cases... and I tried one on a 3003 because it looked like it would fit... (perfect fit. [8D] )

Very soon, I will have no "standard" servos without ball bearing output. They ARE that much better.

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If going for a .91 4-stroke powered or larger plane... its time to start thinking about better servos than the 3004 or 148. If you are going to be flying in classes above Intermediate... you definitely want more precision... and possibly need more servo power.