ORIGINAL: Grant-KS
Yeah, I'm probably jumping the gun on this one, but I'm already thinking about my second plane. Ever since I first became interested in RC flight I've wanted to build my own plane from a kit. What I'd like to do is get a pretty simple kit for a good second, more aerobatic, and maybe slightly 3D capable plane, and start building. My idea is that if I start building it now, by the time it's finished, and I have the money for the electronics and stuff (I can put another plane on my JR radio) I will be ready to upgrade to another plane. I don't have much money, especially since I just bought my trainer for $300 about 3 weeks ago. So, I'm gonna have to keep the costs down, but at the same time, I'd like to get a pretty good plane for my next toy. I'd just like to get something to work on now. So...........fire away, what kits do you advise? If it's a .40 size, I could probably pull my Evo. .40 and JR 537 servos from my trainer and put them in the new plane when I'm done with the trainer. I'm not too scared of building a fairly complex machine because I'd be building it at my friend's shop, and they've got all sorts of tools that we could use. Steven might be helping me build it as well. Steven, Matt. and I would sometime like to work together and build a really good plane once we are all good and ready to fly the biguns. (BTW Matt is another 15 YO friend who Steven and I are getting started flying.)
Sorry, little bunny trail there. What should I build as my second plane, and why should I build that plane? Thanks! You guys are great!
Grant I agree with any of the 4 star series, take your pick. Another good and highly aerobatic plane is the SIG Somethin Extra. Most will say that this is too much but the ones that have it or have had it will tell you that with the rates turned down it flies as well as any plane out there and lands as slow as any trainer out there.
Both of these can be had as a kit or an ARF. Personally I have only built 2 SIG Somethin Extra's but it's my understanding that the Four Stars build just as easily. The best way I can put it is on any SIG kit you open the box, throw in a botlle of CA, close the box and shake vigorously, open the box and you have a completed airframe. Yep they are that easy.
EDITED for another suggestion.
Although not a kit, is the Hangar 9 Twist. Same recommendations as the Somethin Extra and is an ARF for 90 bucks. It was the third plane I bought, the Four Star (4*) was the second, but I did the maiden on the Twist first and flew it the rest of the day, then did the maiden on the 4*