I just recently got back into this hobby, and in my initial excitement I ran to the LHS, and spent about $120 on one of those combo deals that is supposed to get you everything you need for the field. It was a flight box, battery, power panel, electric starter, corded glow charger, electric fuel pump, whatever the bits you put in the fuel can cap are called, and one of those red coiled hoses.

If I had it to do over again, I would have passed on this. Instead I would have purchased the following

Power Panel
Battery
Cordless Glow Charger
Hand Fuel Pump
Electric Starter
Nice Flexible fuel line
Chicken Stick (In case your battery dies)

I am choosing to list these items as they are either the only items I am using from the original kit, or things I went back and bought. The exception to this would be my electric fuel pump. I am still using it, but when (and I do mean when) it fails I will be replacing it with a hand pump.

If you notice I didn't list a field box above. Again if I was doing it over I would have bought a nice toolbox to mount everything in, and used that instead. Several people here have posted their setups, and they are much nicer than the cheap wooden box I am using now.

In addition to items about I would recommend a voltage meter, and a field charger even if you are flying glow. Although your TX battery might last all day your RX battery certainly will not. I can get 4-5 lazy circle style flights out of my battery before I too nervous to fly them again. Having a voltage meter will help you know when it isn't safe to fly anymore, and the field charger will get you back in the air fast. Although I can run the field charger off my flight box I don't do that. Thanks to a tip from one of my instructors I bought one of [link=http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2102439&cp=&pg=2&sr=1&origkw=B anana+Plug&kw=banana+plug&parentPage=search]these[/link] from Radio Shack. This way I can charge my plane from my car instead of the quickly depleted battery in the flight box. I save the charge on that for my starter.

Actually looking back over this, I might even have passed on the battery and the power panel, instead putting that money toward a cordless starter.

Hopefully this will help people just getting into this put together a good list of the "essentials". At least my wife is happy though. For years she has complained that I am a horrible person to shop for. Now all she has to do is go to my Tower Hobbies Wish list for lots of both big and small presents. There is no more guessing if she is getting the exact thing that I wanted.

One last thing...I just noticed that nobody (myself included) answered one of your questions and that is how much tubing do you need. If you are using gallon jugs you will need about 12-14" to put inside the can (essentially enough to reach the bottom of the jug). You will then need enough to go from your jug to your pump. Using a hand pump you will probably need at least 18-24". You will then want the same amount to go from the pump to the plane. Although I am using an electric pump mounted to my box I bought about 4' of tubing, but I have a little left over (always nice to have).

I hope this helps. If anyone notices any mistakes please don't hesitate to correct me. I am still learning all of this myself, and am always looking for tips.

Thanks!