Hey,
I'm knew to rc and was wandering if anyone could shed some light on my choice. I'm thinking of odering a LT-40 ARF from SIG.com, a Fut. 6YG, OS .46 LA among other accessories from tower hobbies; the only problem is all up gouge of the pocket is $532(US) and its a bit much for a 12 yr old like me. I'm thinking of getting a little summer job over the hols to do a bit of fundraising, but could anyone tell me where I can get some cheaper prices or if this combo will work.

P.s- i live outside the us and canada so i cant get a 'Build your own combo'

Thanks

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Some ppl laugh @ me cause iam different, but i laugh @ them cause they r all the same

I think you can get a build your own combo, Tower ships anywhere so you should be able to specify exactly what you want and have it shipped just the same. Also I see you live NZ, I assume that is New Zealand, check your LHS. There has to be something a bit closer, well maybe not real close but closer than Tower for sure. just my .02$

ZK

12 years old... hear in canada you have to be at least 15 to get an ACTUAL paycheck (unless its under the table type of job) that's why as soon as i turned 15 i got a job...saved up for three months and got me an alpha. it was worth every g** d*** burger i flipped!

How can you put a price on something you enjoy in life. Do some research and you will find out that there are a lot of combo's for a lot less money than you can believe, look before you leap! Just keep site of reality, keep every thing in perspective and enjoy.

You can mow lawns for money. I saw an Eagle 63 trainer with radio and engine sell last week in the $200 range. It would be a good combo for you. I see them a lot. Get yourself a couple hundred bucks together and I will help you find a deal on a setup. It won't be new but used flies just as well. Also check with clubs in your area and see if anyone there has a trainer for sale. They are around, you have to look though.

Thanks for the advice. I already do odd jobs around the house and garden. Here in New Zealand theres no age restriction to fly a model plane. Going down to a fly-in today so will ask round there. I thought I might as by new radio & engine so it will last me a bit longer, and as for planes the SIG.com deal + postage is still cheaper than most new planes AND some second hand deals here in Nerw Zealand.
Thanks alot.

Hangar 9 Alpha Trainer combo- About 300 bucks.

Jetts

it aint about the age its about the attitude n altitude, we all!!! have to remember we are a club cmon!! remember your first 20!?? keep postin bro!

get the avistar select combo from towerhobbies.com get a glow plug starter, extra props, fuel(from a local hobby shop),1-2 glow plugs ... fuel pump, chicken stick, and electric starter... and an expanded volt meter

Or, if you have a VOM at home (Volt-Ohm Meter), put a 22 ohm resistor across the terminals and it will become an expanded scale voltmeter. That'll save you about $12. Not much but every bit counts, right??

Thanks guys,
I've got my heart set on the Lt-40 so I think I'll still get that. How long does a 9.6V and 4.8V battery last in a plane(duration time e.g 40 min). Also what does a chicken stick do that a good ol' finger cant?

I think I've roped my parents into get me the radio and plane for xmas/birthday so all i need to worry about is the building/flight equipment and engine. CAn you do acrobatics in a LT-40?? Also what would a complete list of flight/engine equipment be so that I would'nt have have to get anything much from the hobby shop>
Thanks

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Sat. I saw a guy crash a $6000(nz) ducted fan just cause he mixed frequencies.

ZimboRaider

Field equipment manditory items:
Glow lighter
Fuel pump
Fuel
A box to carry your goodies in.

DON'T use your finger to start your planes, way to many times have I seen people need stitches or worse....

I would recommend a screwdriver wrapped several times with duct tape, as a chicken stick.

Good luck and happy flying.

get the Avistar monocoat version... the LT-40 has alot of dihedral and flat bottom wing... if your a TOTAL newbie and think your a slow learner i would suggest the LT-40 if you think you would like to do some basic aerobatics get the Avistar ... chicken stick can do things a finger cant cause you wont lose your finger using one...

Some decent advice so far. I will offer a bit that will save your plane, and may save your life. Get an instructor! Without one, I can pretty much guarantee that you'll crash that plane within about 20 seconds after taking off. Then your parents will kill you for wasting their money.

Ask those guys from the fly in if anyone can teach you. You'll have a lot more fun in the long run.

If you're buying new engine, I'd suggest a 46. Doesn't really matter if it's an OS (LA or FX), Tower Hobbies, or Thunder Tiger, but you'll appreciate the extra power, especially once your ready to move to your next plane.

Okay battery packs. The transmitter (Tx) and receiver (Rx) packs that come with the radio will power the Rx for about an hour, and the Tx for some longer time. Be sure to charge the packs overnight before EVERY trip to the field. (Doesn't matter if you were there yesterday and didn't fly, get in the habit.) You should also think about getting an expanded scale voltmeter so you can check them. Might save your plane, and they're only about $15.

Any trainer is capable of more aerobatics than most people realize. A decent pilot can get a trainer to loop, barrel roll, stall turn, wing over, immelman, cuban eights, split S's, rolling circle, and even a bit of knife edge. Most newbies just get impatient for their next plane, which has to be "aerobatic".

Flight equipment. At a minimum, I would get a self contained glow igniter and charger, expanded scale voltmeter, manual fuel pump, fuel (1 gallon minimum), a couple extra props and a chicken stick. If there's any way you can do it, also get a starter and 12 volt battery. I really prefer one with a self contained 12 volt battery, so I don't have wires hanging around the prop.

With a self contained starter and glow igniter, you also do not need a power panel.

You will want some type of flight box to carry all this stuff, but don't pay the high cost for a "real" flight box from Tower. Go to a local hardware store and buy a large plastic tool box. Mine carries everything I've listed, plus props, a tachometer, a quick peak field charger, paper towels and cleaner, glow plugs and wrenches, pliers and screw drivers, etc, etc.... Oh yeah, my transmitter fits in there too, and when it's closed I use it as a seat. Best thing? It cost me about $15.

Anyway, good luck and have fun. (It's the only reason to do this!)

Dennis-

its not a question of what a chicken stick does its what it doesnt do. it doesnt bleed it doesnt get stitches and basically it just doesnt hurt near as bad as a finger does. remember this is a hobby to be done for enjoyment not to try to prove that your finger is harder than a prop turning 12k rpm with nearly 1 horse power driving it. dont be in too big a hurry to feed your finger to the plane give it time it will probably happen any way the goal is to try not to let it happen today.

Would you need a field charger and spare batteries for a day of Flying?

Tower cannot ship . 40 size ARF Trainer kits overseas. USPS will not handle them. (Too big)

The only alternative is to ship via Fedex airfreight and that is EXPENSIVE.

Then take into the account the US$v NZ $ currency conversion. It really does not make economic sense to go this route.

You should try a Hobby Store in NZ. Should be plenty around.

There are plenty of R/C flyers in NZ and they all would have had to get most of their equipment locally.

Your local R/C flying club can point you in the right direction. Go talk to them. They can also answer all your questions about what accessory gear you will need and where to get it.

Actually even with the conversion and postage taken into account Tower is still cheaper. I wasn't thinking of getting a plane from tower, just radio engine and accessories.
For instance a 6YG in nz(including postage) is $260 but here in nz a 4WD costs $460 without nicads.

Is the Magnum .46 XLS better than a OS 46 LA?? I have never heard of MAgnum. On tower they recomend a 220 volt ac charger as HCAM3110 instead of the one packaged with the 6YG. Where can I get it? thanks

ZimboRaider - Yep, buying a package is a handy way of getting everything together. All above advice is top-notch, but a few points to note:

1) JOIN A FLYING CLUB. You gotta be able to fly otherwise that plane will turn into a $500 pile of match sticks!

2) LISTEN to DBCherry! He's got some good advice going and I for one, find him a valuable poster round here.

3) Finally: Go along to your local RC Flying Club and get talking! There's nothing that 'Old hands' like more than a new eager 'fresh' face. Many Fliers have found that at RC Clubs, you'll find yourself being offered surplus equipment for (in Tower Hobbies terms!) 'Peanuts'.

Try exploring your local club before ordering anything as it could well prove to be the most cost effective route available!

See you in the Sky!

Zimbo,

Tower CANNOT SEND YOU A .40 SIZED ARF TRAINER KIT BY ECONOMICAL POST. PERIOD!!!!

This warning is on their website and in their annual catalogue.

If the kit DOES NOT have a Globe (The Earth) symbol next to it, they will not send it out to you.

The problem is the US Postal Service (USPS) WILL NOT handle the package because of its size.

The only alternative is Fed Ex, or fly over to the US and bring it back as part of your luggage.

Either way, the cost will be MORE that the cost of the package. Much more.

Total cost makes it totally uneconomical.

Believe me, I looked at this method a while back when our Aussie $ was far healthier against the US$ than what it is now (and we are still in a better position against the US $ than your Kiwi $.)

It was Tower who told me "NO" when I phoned them to order.

It was uneconomical then and it still is.

The other point your missing is Legal Radio Frequency. The US use the 72 Mhz band. In Australia we fly on the 36 Mhz band. I'm not sure about NZ , but I do know that its not 72 Mhz and that in both our countries it is ILLEGAL to operate Radio type equipment on a non authorised band.

Not only would you not be covered by modellers insurance , but if you're caught, a large fine would be a certainty and a possible jail term would also be a possibility. The laws in boh our countries are very similar.

For example, a woman was recently caught in Sydney using a portable phone (no, not a mobile phone,. but one of those phones that operate your land line away from the base station.) her husband bought in from overseas. It had a range of over 1.5 kms.

Anyway, she was fined $A10,000. Same law applies to use of ANY unauthorised (i.e non approved by the government) Radio sending/ recieving equipment.

Getting back to the point though. Tower CANNOT sell me a 36 Mhz band Radio, of ANY brand. I have to get that here in OZ and you will be in the same boat in NZ.

Mate, your stuck with getting the plane and Radio in NZ. The engine, maybe not, but I would still look hard at this. Use a Currency Conversion program such as

http://www.xe.com/ucc/

To check your facts.

Also remember to add in about US $ 35 - $40 for freight of the engine alone to NZ, on top of the US $ price of the engine.

Zimbo, go talk to your nearest R/C club. Those guys are on the spot, done it all before and can give you better 1st hand advice, face to face on getting started, than anyone on this forum.

Hey thanks for the advice Woody 51. Actually here in New Zealand you can use 72.650 as a frequency and tower hobbies is still cheaper than here even with postage & transaction costs etc.

ZimboRaider

as you are in NZ .. there are couple of hobby shops in Singapore with competitive prices compared to the USA. A couple of them have websites and do international mailing ( which should work out better than shipping from US to NZ ). Just do a search on radio control shops in singapore.

Zimbo,
Have a read of your controlling bodies website. The URL link is:

http://www.nzmaa.org.nz/apps/

You will find that they have written a caution on the website against the use of many of the 72 Mhz bands in NZ and in fact they have withdrawn some 72 Mhz frequencies.

Apparently some 72 Mhz frequency's are also used by 2 way radios in the NZ logging and shipping industries. ( Crane operations etc)

Obviously the 2 will clash and for the modeller, the result will be more disasterous than for a guy chopping down a tree!

Save your self some long term$$$ (and heartache) and go with another band.

Do you know anybody coming over to OZ? They may be able to pick up a quality 2nd hand radio from Modelflite (the JR distributors here) at a good price. See their website at
http://www.modelflight.com.au/

But read the recommendation of your governing association and then go talk to your nearest club and see what they say. The URL has contact info on NZ clubs as well.

Best of luck and I hope you get flying soon.

Welcomne to the hobby Zimbo,

All the advise you are getting here is absolutly great.
Take it from another newbie. They all seem to be willing to help
everyone and anyone. It kinda makes ya feel at home

I saw you mentioned going to a fly in. Ask them where they started, where they shop, best prices and or deals they found.
You can never do enough research.

Also by all means if you do not have a elec starter use that cheat stick to start that prop, your fingers will thank you for it, take it from me. From flying U/C planes at a younger age I had my share of opened up fingers, that'll end your flight day for a while.

But thats just my perspective. Just remember, not sure about something just ask. Thats what makes this place so great.

Remember be safe and good luck with your new hobby.