www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0161p this will be an xmas present to myself, is it a good deal you think or should I try a different route?

The only thing I would change is the engine. The engine you have chosen will fly that plane very well, but you will have to upgrade when you move up to a better plane. I suggest a 46 Ball Bearing engine

i wouldnt buy the vemon batteries you have chosen...buy a 6 volt pack instead http://www.amazon.com/Tenergy-2000mA.../dp/B001BCOWLY those work good

Well a big reason why I choose this is because it was a combo with easy pay. I would like to get the pt 60, an o.s. 65, and futaba 6 channel. But it's not in my budget (she said no). Soo I'm kinda stuck with this but that is about my budget maybe 130$ for 3 months give or take. If you guys
have any suggestions or solutions I would appreciate it. I do have quite a few building materials, and maybe novice building skill. I really want a kit and not an arf.

Are you teaching yourself to fly or is there a club with instructors you can go to? If you are teaching yourself start with one of these:
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXVVX2&P=ML

If you have an instructor lined up go with your plan

Yeah I met a guy a couple towns away, its a 20 min drive but hes really helpfull, and is really helping me out alot. I told him that Im gonna bug him alot about the build.. but I think hes ok with that. So yes I will have instruction, I have an almost full kit for a sig senior he gave me to build, and I have the tail feathers built just need him to inspect them for me, and tell me how bad they look lol. But looking for a radio and motor I found the pt 40 combo, and I thought that would be enough to get me a good start.

If your just starting out this combo will be fine. Just take your time building, build it straight and light, it has very good directions, and get an instructor to teach you to fly. Have a good Christmas

The PT-40 is magnificent, Ilearned on one.
The engine choice is fine, but a better one in my opinion is the Thunder Tiger GP42. It is a bit simpler , durable, powerful, reliable and easy to tune. and in stock now.
And the batteries? You could try your local Harbor Freight for rechargeables cheap.
Here is a really nice radio that comes with a receiver and extras for a few bucks less.
http://www.hobbypeople.net/index.php...tx-fhss-1.html

Rubber bands, Wal Mart .97 cents
Prop, Master Airscrew. Because when you doink it on landing (and we all do) it wont break so easy.

Hi!
My 35 years of advise...
Good engine But I would choose a an OS LA .46 (Plain bearinged) for a newbie! A ball bearinged .46 is overkill and will just get you into trouble more easily because it's too powerful.

Use a 11x6 or 12x4 prop. RAM, Graupner "Cam-prop" and APC are the best performance vise.

Medium Ca glue and thin ...and of course accelerator is must! Thick Ca glue is not something I use.

Get a 4,8V or 6V pack Do not! I repeat! Do not use alkaline batteries! NiMH cells is a must, and use a welded 4 or 5 cell pack!

Well, after reading all the advice and re-reading your question and monetary circumstance, I'd say if that is what is in your budget then go for it. Like Jaka, I've got a lot of years under my belt so I feel that I can give some informed advice. I built the PT40 and it is an awesome plane. I eventually gave it to a club member for his son and I believe they are still flying it. Granted, you probably could get a friendlier engine but at a higher cost. I have a couple of SuperTigre engines and there is certainly nothing wrong with them......they have been around a long time.....they just take a bit more breakin, but that will teach you something and yes it is more powerful than you probably need but that is what a throttle is for and it can go on future sport planes as you move forward. As for batteries and props, yes you can get better but they are the least expensive things to replace and the combo seems pretty complete and you say you have help. This will help you avoid chasing around for all the individual pieces and getting back to your initial question and your response this seems like a good combo with a proven airplane and a good brand of radio gear and if it fits your budget and you want to jump in then I'd repeat myself and say go for it!! Hopes this helps amid all the other advice you're bound to get.

Cheers,
Andy

Don't forget that Tower has its own line of trainers. Bet they also offer a "combo", too. That way, you can probably get more choices with an engine. Never hurts to call them and ask.

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...%3C%2FB%3Es+40

Rich

G'day

A long time ago I built a GP PT 40 as my second plane. It was a straight forward build and it flew well as a trainer but my instructor hated it because it was a trainer. (He was a bit strange.). My son also learned to fly on it. I like the PT-40 and I think it is a good choice.

Our PT 40 had a plain bearing Thunder Tiger GP 40 in it but the Super Tigre 40 should also be nice. We have been using one here recently and it is a very sweet running engine. It is also quite powerful and more than enough for the PT-40.

When you get the engine, buy a couple of spare glow plugs. I did find that the original Super Tigre plugs did not last very long after running in with several Super Tigre engines. Also, the GS40 engine is a ringed engine. It will benefit from short runs initially and with plenty of oil and with the mixture set rich. You can gradually lean it out over the first hour of its running. Some castor oil in the fuel will help too and it does not need large amounts of nitro. 10% is more than necessary.

And enjoy. I am sure you will.

Mike in Oz

I love your combo,getting the kit is brilliant, and will teach you a lot about your plane, but it is more difficult, well the covering is. Tower has the same combo with their trainer, really good little plane also. They have it as an ARF for a little less money and free shipping, if you are interested. [link=http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0161p?&I=LZ0085]CLICK ME[/link]

Good advice but I'm an advocate of the philosophy that for people just getting into the hobby, building a kit is a must for several reasons not the least is that they will understand construction methods and will then be able to repair. I know that there are legions of folks that will disagree but ARF's have produced a lot of pilots that only know how to throw away planes when they have a mishap rather than be able to repair them and the kit built planes actually will weather a crash better because they are put together better.

That would be why I called it brilliant,and said it will teach a lot about planes. Covering is harder is just a fact. Then I gave a suggestion that is better on his budget. Not sure how that is a negative since the OP stated he is on a limited budget.May let him buy more fuel to fly his plane.

Thank I appreciate ALL of the advice, but I want to built a kit, I really want to do a scratch build but I know i'm too much of a rookie for that. I am not too worried about covering because I should have plenty of hands on help when I need it (and Im sure I will).

Hell I can be there in a few minutes.

sirdank,
are you going to but this combo? if i were you i would upgrade the radio since the futaba 4YF does not have the expo. feature that i find very handy when flying planes. IMO expo. is a must have.

Sirdank,

The tower deal is a great deal, the setup you have selected will more than set you up for success in the hobby. Once you become proficient at your first setup/plane, upgrade at that point. The PT-40/Super Tiger combo is an excellent start, (take the advice above get some spare glow plugs and props). The four channel Futaba will be fine, all the bells and wistles are nice to have but when your on a budget, (so many of us are) prudence will dictate. Not having all the bells and whistles will also have another advantage, you will have to learn how to install and adjust your servo/radio setup the old fashoned way, by installing your servos and adjusting the linkage mechanically. Many times when first starting out in RC we become dependant on technology (expo, dual rates, electrical end point adjustments and so on) and forget the basics about how to properly setup a model. Good on you, and good luck.

Steve

EXPO a MUST? That is pure hogwash!

A properly setup airplane does not need expo. I NEVER use it. Every plane I flew with expo other people asked me to fly scared the hell out of me. When I want a control to move I move the stick.

There was no such thing on a radio when I learned to fly. It is not needed ESPECIALLY on a trainer. Dual rates, Yeah that is ok. I seldom use those either.

A fellow club member has the one he learned to fly on and still loves to fly it.

The Super Tiger gets mixed reviews from others I have talked to. Really pay attention to the break-in procedure is what I hear, maybe even replacing the glow plug used to break it in or soon after a few flights.

Take your time building and covering [:'(] and you will really enjoy it.

Join a club. Best advice you can get from anyone. Club members will show you things you never dreamed of. You will find that flying is only half the enjoyment, the best part being with and talking to others who really like this hobby.

I love my Supertigres...

The problem with them ( at least in my Experience ) is NOT the break in procedure, but the slight weirdness to their carb setup.

Some throttle barrels leak air like a sieve from the sides, throwing off the mixture.

Supertigre includes a rubber seal to try to help this, but the seal itself lets in a lot of air.

Couple this with the mid range to idle interaction and tuning them up initially is a PITA.

However once you have them set up well, you can practically forget about any re-adjustments.


On a couple of ST's I've had to file out a small half moon ( I posted this on another thread with full explanations ) to help the low end idle.

Richen the low end needle due to the slightly increased amount of air intake at idle, which makes the mid range transitions rock solid.

Others have not needed this fix... so it all may be due to poor intake sizing.

Do yourself a huge favor and find a kit that is laser cut these die cut(die crush) kits suck for fit and finish. I will never build another die cut kit again.

I have this plane and engine combination. Plane is great, covering is cheap. The Supertigre GS40 has plenty of power. Been flying in windy conditions all summer long.

Jim