Hey flyers, new to the forums. My question is when you are starting out and have your first plane, what is in your field kit and what should I carry in mine. Keep in mind that I would like a reason why you carry each part. I am even looking for the simple stuff that a new flyer SHOULD have like extra rubber bands, props, etc.

Thanks for the advice.</p>

Are you flying glow or electric?

Sorry I am flying glow. I would be interested to see what you need to have for an electric though since I may move into that area later. Currently I am only flying a glow trainer.

A few things that I think one needs at the flight line with a glow engine:

1 or 2 new glow plugs
glow plug wrench
glow starter and back-up
prop wrench or c wrench
extra rubber bands or nylon bolts (depending on plane)
fuel and fuel pump
extra props (either the size that you are using or the size range for your plane(s)
needle nose pliers
knife of some sort
3 straight and 3 Phillips screw drivers range from extra small to normal size
starter or chicken stick
something to secure the plane at the field, either a rope and a stake (long screwdriver works) or starting stand
tape to patch any small holes

I also have a bin of misc. parts and tools so that I can fix many small things on my planes or my friends planes if needed.

It depends on how organized and prepared you and your planes are, also who is also at the field and if you may use some of their tools if needed.

hope that helps, and just remember that this is my list and what I am comfortable having at the flight line, I also have a small airplane trailer that has some other stuff (extra dremel, etc.) that I bring to the field.

Jon

Minnreefer, where have you been. Long time no see.[][]

I would add a bottle of both thin and medium CA for minor repairs and spares for every kind of fastener on the model, along with hand tools for every fastener on your models. I also keep a few small pieces of balsa on hand in case minor bracing comes loose. Your field kit should include a way to fix anything that would ground you for the day that you wouldn't mind fixing at the field. Cleaning supplies are also very handy to save your covering and keep fuel residue off of your interior. I used paper towels for a while, but then found that a microfiber rag for cars works much better and is washable. A little windshield washer fluid or denatured alcohol in a spray bottle will get the residue out of your seams.

Gene, I am not sure where I have been, I have been busy with life I suppose, 2 young boys and a full time job will do that )). I have not been flying much lately (either too hot, or rain, or work) and my regular field is still under water from river flooding (it is located on a flood plain near a river that has been above the banks since March). I guess that I am also to a point in the hobby where I have enough knowledge to know most stuff and not ask so many questions, but not enough to offer solid advice to anyone ))))).

I have been meaning to ask you if I could copy your covering on your cub, I love the way that it looks.

I hope that things are going well for you and that you are still making a great breakfast on occasion. ))))))))



One other thing that I like to have near my flight box, a good cup of coffee. ))))))))))

I copied it from Hazel Sig's clipped wing cub. Just did it in different colors. Here is a later picture of it. Send me a picture when you get the cub done.

Can you believe that the only difference between the two cubs in the WS. Everything else is the same measurement. Must be the covering that makes it look much smaller. Charlie's cub is a full wing, mine is the clipped wing version.

I have Electric, so I have this little box with compartments, holds some tools, glue, and some parts, then I put that in a larger box that holds a charger, a couple heli's, a covering iron, and some other things. I keep that in the car. When I walk out with my plane, I have the plane and my flight case, which holds the radio, 4 batteries, some cables and the Lipo charger.

So out of this list
1 or 2 new glow plugs
glow plug wrench
glow starter and back-up
prop wrench or c wrench
extra rubber bands or nylon bolts (depending on plane)
fuel and fuel pump
extra props (either the size that you are using or the size range for your plane(s)
needle nose pliers
knife of some sort
3 straight and 3 Phillips screw drivers range from extra small to normal size
starter or chicken stick
something to secure the plane at the field, either a rope and a stake (long screwdriver works) or starting stand
tape to patch any small holes

need only
tape to patch any small holes
extra props (either the size that you are using or the size range for your plane(s)
needle nose pliers
knife of some sort
3 straight and 3 Phillips screw drivers range from extra small to normal size
prop wrench or c wrench
extra rubber bands or nylon bolts (depending on plane)

Although maybe next year I will have a glow or gas model to fly. I will need a bigger box then.

When I started in glow about a month ago, I bought a $20 Stanley rolling toolbox at Walmart and turned it into my "Caddy". I mounted some cheap bars at various points on the inside lower compartment to attach bungees to, and secured my jug of fuel and my 12v gel battery inside that lower compartment.<div>
</div><div>With a bit of persuading with a rotary tool, I cut an opening for the glow panel in the sliding door, drilled a hole for the tubing and mounted the pump to the outside. In about an hour and with $25 worth of stuff I have a fantastic toolbox and caddy that holds all my tools and spares in the top section and my battery/fuel/starter/panel and space for more in the bottom.</div><div>
</div><div>PM me if you'd like pics.</div><div>
</div><div>In the top section I carry:</div><div>
</div><div>Glow wrench with four spare plugs (two A3, two OS 8)</div><div>Glow Starter (NIcad rechargeable kind)</div><div>Exacto Knife and blades</div><div>Spare props</div><div>Prop balancer (Tower Hobbies magnetic type)</div><div>Complete sets of allen wrenches in metric and imperial (had these left over from my paintball days)</div><div>Adjustable wrench</div><div>Mini wrench set</div><div>Screwdriver set</div><div>Packing tape</div><div>Tin and medium CA</div><div>Foam Safe CA</div><div>5 Min Epoxy</div><div>Pack of #64 rubber bands</div><div>Bind Plug</div><div>Turnigy Accucel 6 Charger and cables (for Rx/Tx pack charging)</div><div>Plus some odds and ends like fuel tubing, washers and so forth.</div><div>
</div><div>I also picked up a Black and Decker starter for cheap - the type that you jump start your own car with. It comes with a built-in 110v inverter so I use that with the standard walwart chargers if I have to top up my batteries at the field for my Supercub.</div>

We ALWAYS want pics

<div><div>Stupid forum software that can't handle BB codes

Image gallery here:

http://img703.imageshack.us/slideshow/webplayer.php?id=imag0209r.jpg</div></div>

One other thing I'd add is some extra fuel tubing. It's absolutely infuriating to get to the field and find that yours has developed a split and is a 1/4 inch too short to just cut off and reattach.

In addition to Minnreefers list, Icarry:

Popsicle sticks-for minor repairs, plus it's fun to get the part. The little wooden ice cream spoons are useful also.
extra wheel collars-to keep your wheels on, wheel collars have a way of disappearing
small tin of hardware (like an altoids tin) that matches the hardware for your plane
allen wrenches/ball drivers (standard and metric) that you need for your plane.

And here's my field box:

Q-tips!<div>
</div><div>So many uses. The plastic handles are the exact right size to make a temporary fuel tubing coupling in an emergency too. I also bought a package of Great Planes carb covers - probably seriously overpriced for what they are, but my field is extremely sandy and it's nice not to have to worry about dirt in the carb when I'm packing things away.</div>

I carry much of what has been listed so far (except Q-tips ) which I now am thinking about. One other thing I carry is my leatherman. It isn't the best tool for some of the smaller tools needed, but if you forget something, it can come in handy.

I keep a Leatherman around too. It's not the best tool for anything, but it does everything.

Never go to the field without one.

I pretty much do what Minnreefer does (plus a voltmeter) except that when I need a Phillips screwdriver, I borrow it from someone else. Seriously, though, a set of Japanese Industrial Standard screwdrivers will do everything that Phillips screwdrivers do, but they'll do it better, and they will also work on those Japanese Industrial Standard screws on your engines. If you try to get those out with a Phillips screwdriver, bad things may happen to the screw. Someday I'm going to get a set for my field toolbox and stop mooching.

Phillips screwdrivers were invented for use in early machine-driven applications. The whole point is that they will slip out of the screw easily, which was good with crude machines driving them, lest they overtighten the screw and break something. Why people use them for screws that are turned by hand is a puzzle.

I like the balsa or popsicle sticks, and I carry glue with me. I should have mentioned a voltage checker, but I currently have an Aurora so I don't use mine much anymore. A tach is handy at times. I have extra fuel tubing on my fuel bottle, so I steal from that if I need more.