ORIGINAL: Omaha_RC_Flyer
ORIGINAL: bigedmustafa
A .40-sized glow engine like the Super Tigre G-40 will cost you about $49.99. An equivelant brushless electric power system can be purchased to fly the plane with similar authority, it will set you back about $250 to $300 for motor, speed controller (ESC), and LiPo battery.
If you need to go cheap, go glow. If you need to go electric, spend a little bit extra and buy a real airframe. Balsa flies better. You can purchase a Ready-to-Fly electric trainer with a brushless power system and radio for around $299.99 plus batteries:
http://www.hobbico.com/airplanes/hcaa12.html
Good luck and good shopping.
Big Ed,
Now you know that almost every Spad I have built flies as good or if not better, than some Balsa Planes. You have seen most of them fly in person. An Electric spad can be done, and flown successfully just [link=http://www.putfile.com/omaha_rc_flyer/images/95015]Look at this one.[/link] Here is the video to prove it.
http://media.putfile.com/Mini-Spadstick
Later,
Omaha
Of course I've seen a number of your SPADs fly very well, Mike. I'm no SPAD-hater. Omaha_RC_Flyer built a Mini Spad-Stik that looked so nice I thought he'd bought a Hangar 9 ARF at first glance. My comments were qualified by the fact that:
-This will be the original poster's first build and first large/hobby quality trainer
-He was debating about going with glow versus electric on his first SPAD
Experienced builders are capable of building very nice flying SPADs. The original poster is not an experienced builder. Omaha_RC_Flyer has built a number of SPADs over the years to gain the experience he needs to craft the high-quality SPADs that he now builds.
The odds of somebody with no modelling or building experience slapping together their very first Spadet and having it come out as nicely as an LT-40 ARF is almost nil. The odds of that same inexperienced novice then putting together a brushless outrunner power system on his miracle Spadet and actually getting his motor, speed controller, y-connector, 2 parallel wired 3S LiPos, LiPo charger, and radio equipment all ironed out on the first attempt would be another miracle.
Omaha_RC_Flyer could do all of the above, and even he is considering buying something like a Nexstar EP or Electristar RTF trainer to fly as a camera platform. My only advice to the original poster was the same, if you're going to go electric on your first "real" airplane, you should skip the SPAD idea and buy one of these RTF models.
SPADs are fun to watch, and it's nice to see some of the innovative ideas that SPAD enthusiasts come up with. I just wouldn't recommend trying to build one as your primary trainer and then spending $400 (charger/balancer not included) on a brushless power system so you can power it.
I think this would be a recipe for frustration. If any SPAD enthusiasts disagree, I'd love to hear their argument to the contrary!