<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 13px; ">Hey Guys,

I have two of the Hobbico nexstar trainer planes with the O.S. .46 FXi engine and Futaba 4YBF 4-channel radio w/4 servos.

The bodies on both are pretty rough, thanks to my learning, but now that I am into it I need a new ARF that would take these items - What should I get?</span>

hows about the carl goldberg tiger 2 arf

Or the Hanger P51 PTS.You cantake off all the "trainer bits" and end up with a nice sport plane.

Ditto on the Tiger II

But if you want something inexpensive, I just reviewed an excellent intermediate trainer called the Wingman 1 and another reviewer (Chris Batcheller) reviewed the Wingman II (Low wing version of then Wingman 1) and they are both excellent:

http://www.rcuniverse.com/magazine/a...rticle_id=1108

http://www.rcuniverse.com/magazine/a...rticle_id=1086

Phoenix Dolphin for $99:
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...LXLGM8&amp;P=7

If you think your first plane took a beating...

If you want to stick with your current engine, the Tiger 2 would be a great choice.  If you want to go up a size and get a bigger engine, there is a larger Tiger 2 that would be great, or the 4 Star 60 ARF is also a good choice.  If you want to try your hand at building a kit, then the 4 Star 40 is a great choice and would use your existing engine.

Hanger9 Pulse XT40. Super low-wing sport plane and ideal for a second airplane.

H9 Pulse is great!</p>

I second that. I think the Dolphins an excellent 2nd plane, and it really does take a beating. Some dummy ran it into a post and it held up pretty good ; that dummy being me :P Anyway, it will teach you more about sport planes and how they fly, it will do some mild aerobatics, and yes it does go pretty fast and will perform well if you have sufficient throws, although I recommend you keep the throws down for the first couple flights   And who could resist the price ... $99 ; most sports are about $20-60 more, depending on which one.

TF96

Hey guys and gal,

stupid question - how do you steer these sport planes on the ground? My Nexstar has the tail servo conected to the 3rd front wheel, so it turns it when it turns the tail - But Idont see how you'd turn on the ground with these planes?

I third the Dolphin. You can't beat it for the price and it handles like a dream.

The tailwheel is generally connected to the rudder via a spring, or piece of wire. You would steer a taildragger the same as a trike, except the steering is in back not front. The rudder command still turns the plane. The steering is a little faster turning than a trike also with the same input on the stick.

       Are you sure you are done with that trainer? 
At the fields I've trained at, most of the flyers became complacent with aileron and elevator and have been flying for years without learning the rudder. This is mostly why they are scared of a little wind when landing. The rudder can be used for many corrections especially when cross wind landing  to have good control.

        When the plane is on approach and it crabs to one side ailerons are not always enough. Try this, lets say on approach, the plane moves to "your left", move the rudder left enough to correct and hold it there. The plane may nose down and go to "your right", continue holding in left rudder and make corrections with the right stick. you will find the plane becomes more stable and can be flown strait in. Try it up high with low throttle, after a while you'll be doing touch and go's in the wind while everyone else wonders how you do it.</p>

Yes, Phoenix Dolphin is the way to go, your engine and servos are all you will need for a real great flying plane, The Dolphin is the only plane I have ever maidend that did not require any trim for true flight. Simple and low in price. The landing gears, wires that is, is the only real issue with the plane. So, just bend then back into shape ever time you fuel it and away you go. For grass fiels, put bigger tires on it.


Good luck.

Any good 40 STICK, They have classic status for very good reasons.

Any good 40 STICK, They have classic status for very good reasons.

I put my stuff from my NexStar into a Great Planes Escapade (had to lose the AFS system). It'sbeen a great second plane and an easy low wing trainer to advance to. I learned on a 3 channel rudder flyer and find this one easy to fly on high rates after the first shakeout flight . My$.02.

Ooh,
Why don't they put decent size wheels in these kits?

Anyway, most tail draggers use a tailwheel that is free to rotate and has a link tied to the rudder via elastic bands or springs. As the rudder moves over, it biases the tailwheel to come round with it. Once the model is turning, the wheel tends to come into line with the rudder, so the extra servo force is momentary, unless you are on rough ground, the wheels are small or the grass is long.

Hi

Can you tell me what the Quality is like in the assembly of the NEXSTAR is it up to a good standard?


Thanks

Ray