There is a little more to the Nexstar than just the simulator. The Nexstar also includes removable speed brake flaps, removable "Anti-spin/Anti-stall Spin Control Airfoil Extensions", and an adjustable "Active Flight Stabilization" system which automatically levels the plane should you lose control (based on light levels around the plane). They do away with rubber bands and use a type of bolt in "Pivotflex" system that pops the wing clear of the fusilage under force, giving the craft a more sleek appearance. The snap-in landing gear has a much better look than the wire landing gear of the Alpha. The simulator is specific to the aircraft, including adjustments for the all of the removable and adjustable components, plus it includes a USB cable to connect your radio to your PC. It also has a couple of options for future upgrades.

The big kicker...they guarantee you will learn to fly:
"The NexSTAR is such a great way to learn to fly that we guarantee your success! As long as you train at an AMA-chartered club with a qualified, club-designated instructor, if you crash before successfully learning to fly, we’ll repair or replace it with any Hobbico trainer of up to equal value...FREE!"

Anyway, I didn't mean to put a plug in here for the Nexstar considering this is an Alpha topic. If you want to read RC Universe's review, you can read it here: http://www.rcuniverse.com/magazine/a...article_id=258

Basically, comparing trainer to trainer, the Alpha is the Taurus to the Nexstar Cadilac, at least in print. The question is: Are all these bells and whistles worth a hundred bucks? Perhaps the $100 is better spent on the next kit, and not on goodies for a first-time trainer.

BTW, I think I am going to go with the Alpha over the Arrow. I know this is not my last plane, and it may serve more as a fun second plane to let friends (or my wife, hehe) participate later on down the road.

Stormin,
you'll be very happy with the Alpha. Flown stock, with the flywheel and 3 bladed prop it's slow, quiet, stable, and more than manueverable enough for a trainer. If given enough altitude, this aircraft can almost right itself. Something, I'm sure, is not so true of the Arrow. Check all your hardware bolts, they do come loose. Once I had mastered the Alpha, it became my go to warm up airplane. Sometimes it's nice to just fly something that doesn't require so much work. I dropped the 3 bladed prop and went to a 2 bladed 10 x 6 prop, and removed the flywheel. It screams!! Many people don't know it's an Alpha, until it taxi's in. Oh, and watch out for the trees. This problem is not an Alpha related issue. I flew mine into a tree, I swear that tree wasn't that close before. I trudged through the woods, found my Alpha, resting at the tip top of a 40 ft tree. What did I do? Well I didn't have a shotgun handy, so I just climbed up and got it. I had an extra piece of twine. Tied through a belt loop, and the other end around the fuselage just forward of the tail. When I finally got down, I surveyed the damage. A broken rib on the right wing, some torn ultracote and the balsa, just behind the wing was compressed. That was about it. I repaired the rib, recovered the wing, and replaced the compressed piece of balsa. It was back in the air, the very next week-end, and flew as well as ever. By the way, I flew this plane solo, with no real flight experience, other than my DB Products FS2001 flight sim, on the second flight. This ones a keeper. If you decide to get it, you won't be sorry.

Great advice, Aarial!

I've decided to go with the Alpha 60 model. Around here in central Texas, a nice clear day means higher winds. I think the larger size and the .61 Evo will help pull it through that. Also, if I ever need to gut the plane I think I'll get more use out of the .61 Evo rather than the .40.

I also was told at a local shop that you can trim the wings in about 4" and give it less dihedral later on, in addition to the new prop (11x8 was suggested), for a nice screamer that can keep up with many of the sport planes out there.

You're gonna love it. The .60 looks sweet.

Got the Alpha and the Arrow-both good, the Arrow is better for intermediate. The Alpha is a pure trainer, but still capable.

Jetts

For low temp coverings... a bit below steam line. for high temp right on the steam line (going by my Black & Decker travel iron)

You can always heat more if you were too cold. If too hot you make a big hole.

Stormin, how do you get the promo discount?

They (www.southeastrc.com) took it away... Apparently the promotion ended before Christmas, and they didn't know the coupon code was still active. They're still the best deal I've found if you can get your order over $150 for free shipping.

I ended up purchasing the Alpha 60 via eBay for $325 plus $21 shipping+insurance. Not a bad deal!

Beginner's perspective to another beginner...

I got a .60 size xtra easy 2 about a month ago. For learning... I recommend it. It's not been anything but fun yet. The reason I think I like it is the large wing area. It makes it very docile. I can see how I may be able to outgrow it. But it comes with a little better radio than the alpha and it just seems like it floats.

I think a big part of my fun will be pushing my trainer over the edge till I bury it anyway

I love that hangar 9 corsair kit too, but I'm a good bit from being able to fly one. I saw one today that a club member built. It looked sweet. He had a 1.2 4-stroke of some sort on it. I had been oggling that kit in the local hobby store for awhile. I dunno though, I keep hearing that warbirds are hard to fly, that one in particular.

Btw, if you put a 10x7 APC prop on the Alpha, move the CG rearwards, and increase the control throws, you'd be surprised what it can do.

11X5 instead, but my sentiments exactly!

Jetts

Well I've had a few flights on my new Alpha 60. Flights were fine, except we are having some engine trouble...basically the high end needle valve is not "responding in a predictable manner", as my instructor put it. At first he thought that something was blocking the line, so we flushed them, and additionally replaced the glow plug. Helped for a min, then back to the problems. After a while he noticed repeated issues with bubbles in the fuel lines. His theory is that the fuel is foaming due to vibration and the bubbles are being sucked into the lines. Upon inspection of the tank, it is solidly secured with balsa, and the vibrations of the frame appear to be causing the problem. He states he thinks it is a design flaw with the Alpha 60, and feels that I should remove the balsa surrounding the tank and pad it with foam instead.

Now, I'm a beginner, and I don't particularly want to go attempting to cut up my new airplane to satisfy a theory. So here I am, asking you guys.

Has anyone else heard of this problem?

Stormin',
If the tank is secured by balsa, yes- take the balsa out, and use some GOOD foam to pack the tank...Not too tight, just enough to hoild it securely. Try to use latex foam, or any foam that is "soft" to the touch. I have used in a pinch, several wadded up bread bags and it worked fine.
Also you may get a few jabs for this one- put 2-3 drops of Armor All in your fuel. It was first used as an industial de-foaming agent. 2-3 drops PER GALLON, as it does contain some things that will cause your glow plug life to be shortened a little if you get too crazy with it.
2-3 DROPS PER GALLON.
Magic.
While you are re-packing the tank, take the time to remove it, and double check the lines, inside too, before you re-install it.

Jetts

Thanks Jetts, I'll give it a shot. I'm not exactly sure how I'll get that balsa out, but we'll see how it goes. The Armor All is an interesting touch...I'll run it by my instructor.

As far as foam...I'm had a hard time locating a source for a decent foam. I found some (possibly latex) foam at one hobby shop, but an 8"x10"x.5" (approx.) sheet of the stuff runs like 4 or 5 bucks. I found some window a/c sealing foam which is about a 2" square and maybe 3' long, for less than 3 bucks. Why would the kind of foam matter? Does this stuff react poorly with fuel or something?

Stormin'
Just use a razor saw, knife or other, and cut the old wood out. Be careful not to poke the tank.
As for foam: I'll get some flak for this, but I've said it before, If you pack it GENTLY you can use just about anything. We make a "crash video" and even though MOST of the crashes were genuine, we augmented the video with some "made to crash planes". In those planes, we just lightly wadded up news paper, or some we used bread bags, they worked fine.
ALTERNATIVE SOURCE: You can look in the yellow pages, and find an upholstery place, go to them, (or their dumpster) and pick foam that feels soft and uh, gooy, -like the fake barf or dog poo you find at the gag shops. This will be excellent foam, as opposed to the foam that feels dry, and coarse to the touch.

Jetts

I have never flown an Alpha but after hanging around the field for most of the training nights last year, I have been impressed. Only ever seen a real problem with one. On a low pass over the field it rolled inverted and dove into the ground after a radio failure. He sent the plane to horison who traced the problem to a faulty switch and they overnighted him a new plane. And the landing gear are very tough, watched one put its wheels into a superstar 40 head on (50-60 mph closing speed) and it only loosend the nose wheel. The superstar made it back ok too btw. The really funny part is that these "2" alphas are one in the same! Poor Sandy has no luck.

Can anyone tell me exactly what allen wrench this plane's propeller has? I bought 3 sets, none work. Ill buy one from anyone.
Also, if you can, please described how you got this motor going. Thanks.

GT,
Here's the distributor, you can get a pack with the tools and instruction manual from them. http://www.horizonhobby.com/

I'm guessing you got the engine used? Use a standard starting proceedure to fire it up; Fill the tank, 3-4 drops of fuel down the carb, flip the prop 3-4 times (counter clockwise), set the throttle so the carb is open just a crack, attatch the glow driver, then use your starter to spin it, it should go.
I've got a couple of these great engines. When I go to my shop I'll see if I can dig up a spare book/allen wrench.

Jetts

P.S. USE SOME LOCTITE ON THE FRONT L.G. MOUNTING SCREWS, AND THE TAIL MOUNTING SCREWS!!!

I got started in RC flying in December 03. I purchased a GP real flight G-2 Lite simulator and flew the sim for hours. I spent every spare minute on the sim and in February 04 I solo'd after two sessions with a buddy box. I purchased the Arrow and installed an O.S. 46 FX. The ARF Kit without the radio included the 3 bladed prop which I replaced after the first flight. The trainer prop was slow and the plane at full throttle appeared sluggish. I installed a two bladed 10X6 and it flies great. I have seen the alpha and arrow fly together and in my amateur opinion there is no comparison. The arrow is much faster and more maneuverable. I can perform about every maneuver I can think just short of hovering. It's a marvelous airplane and a joy to fly. My only gripe about the plane is the wire main landing gear. It flexes a little more than I like and it looks cheap on this nicely designed and constructed aircraft. I am not crazy about the rubber bands that mount the wing, but It has not given me any problems whatsoever. I have put this airplane through some pretty tough dives, rolls, etc, and the wings have not separated yet! It's a fast, yet very forgiving airplane if you do not overfly your capabilities. I can't say enough good things about it. I did put some 3/8" foam insulation along the fuselage where the wing is attached to keep the wing from getting barked up.

I think the Hangar 9 arrow is a good choice for a trainer and a sport airplane combined.

Thanks.
T.M.