captken 59:

We all start somewhere in the learning process, its best to follow someone else who has allready paid for the mistakes and knowledge. Find a good HS/retailer known to know his stuff, and use him where possible. So far, when trying to match gear to airframe, I go to the sites that are smart enough to give motor thrust numbers. If you are building a 4 lb airframe, you will want at least a 4 pound thrust motor. A sport model will probably fly at 1/2 thrust/weight ratio, buy why push things. (3D 1-1/2 to 2 times weight) Now that you have the motor size needed, go to the motor needs to get your controller and battery. If you motor is designed to pull 25 amps, you want at least a 25 amp controller. A little fudge room is good, I would size to a 35. NOw its battery time. You want a good battery that will give you at least 10 minutes of flight time, usually a 3 cell pack. Weight is a limiting factor here. You will need at least two to enjoy flight time without waiting for one battery to charge. With motor, controller and battery, stay with the good stuff, Hacker, AXI, Phoenix and Thunder Power have proven to me to be good quality gear, Do not buy the weak motors that require a gear system to make enough power to fly, just a way to use cheap stuff rather than the higher end. No such thing is good and cheap. You will end up spending more in the long run to by the cheep stuff, cause they seldom work well, and only for a short time regardless. Li-po is the best way, overall to go. Go to the rcu electric site and learn how to estimate the size of battery needed. I generally rely on the recommended lipo battery size from the dealer, but you need to learn enough about electrics to make confirming decisions youself. Smarter dealers like Horizon, Hobby People, rcx planes.com, will give you good recommendations in general, based on actual in house use, and testing of the actual equipment. If they do not, do not buy from them. Most will offer a economy package and a recommended package. Spend the bucks now, not later after learning the geared motor and cheep battery system is not up to snuff, even though it works for a while. Motors ourchased 3 years ago are still running well in my stuff. They die from crashes and pilot dumb thumb, not wearing out. Nothing worse that to loose a great bird because the motor went up in smoke, or the ESC pooped out. Just dose not happen with the good stuff. Bottom line, learn, learn, learn from the RCU web site, its all there if you take the time to read. It will be much more fun to have a good idea of what you are doing, and how to. Find someone in the local club that runs electrics, and run stuff by him. Get a Watt meeter, so you will know what your system is doing. A good way to select props is based on actual draw to the motor. Will perform much better, and not overprop and damage your equipment. Amazing one size pitch or length will make. A good motor ECU and battery system will not ever become hot to the toutch when ballanced correctly as to size. If it gets hot, your doing something wrong. Hope this gets you into the right direction. ENJOY