Hello, I've been looking around, and i think im interested in this hobby. I have 0 experience on building anything other than I know how to solder, and i would like to start out with an RTF. I have around $300, which one would you recommend? And what do you think about the HANGAR 9 ARROW, or the MEGATECH NITRO AIRSTRIKE (which comes with .46 engine)

How hard is it to do an ARF? That's gota be fun to do. I just read a thread of a guy who bought a cessna 182 AFR for $170, around how much would the rest of the things cost?
Any favorite websites for arf or rtf's? And lastly, overall any recommendations?

There's nothing to assembling an ARF, a few "Glues and Screws" and you're ready to go. But The Arrow is slightly more advanced, It would be ok, depending on what your instructor says (You DO have an instructor right?)

Take a look at the Hangar 9 Alpha. It's a more basic trainer, And the Evolution engine is excellent:

http://horizon.hobbyshopnow.com/prod...475&pc=HAN2475

PS Find a club in your area, Instruction is free, and without it, your plane will last for about 15 seconds before turning into a pile of broken balsa.

Ok, im definately going with an AFR, and i do not want a trainer, even though im a begginer. The p-51 seems good, what do you think? Please comments.

Oh ok. My last post was without reading your post MinnFlyer.

Hmm, I had no idea there were "instructors", i was planning on building my plane, and secondly put a mini cam etc on it, and fly it at my local park.

EDIT: the arrow and the megatech im seeing on ebay are both RTF, both around $300. Then i saw the p-51 for $150 AFR, and lastly im deciding on which to get, an arf or a rtf, i guess ill have to search for more information on ARF's like what things they are missing and what are the best parts, how different .46 and .51 motors are, and also stuff about setting up medium range video on the plane.

Are you serious? The P51 will be a real handful for a beginner. You need to start with a simple to fly aircraft. A trainer is obviously an ideal model. If you want something different there are alternatives but the P51 is a big No No. It will not last long enough for you to enjoy it unless you know what you are doing!

Just read your last post.

DO NOT DO IT.

I am not normally one for jumping on someone but you need to learn a little more. These models are not toys. Assembly of the ARFs is pretty straight forward but running the engines and flying them takes skill and discipline.

These models are not to be flown 'in your local park' and fitting a camera is way too advanced until you have been doing this a fair while.

If you are seriously interested you will get no end of help.

DO NOT BUY ANYTHING OR ATTEMPT TO FLY ANYTHING until you have done a bit more research and know what you are talking about. People have been killed by these models. You have been warned!

WHAT, KILLED????

EDIT: on the other hand, yes, i have already started doing research cant you tell? (jk). Thanks for your unlimited help.

Another question, i live in FL. By chance, anyone live here and knows some "clubs"?
Also, how noisy are these things?

GTac01

I am also a beginner in this hobby. I got my trainer, Megatech Nitro Capitol Flyer, for Christmas.

ARF means the plane is Almost Ready to Fly. You will need an engine and radio to fly it.

RTF means the plane is Ready To Fly. Means the plane has EVERYTHING included, but some assembly will still be required.

On this forum you will find everyone EXTREMELY helpfull when you have questions or problems.

I agree with everyone else, STAY AWAY FROM A P-51 until you have completed training and are very comfortable flying the trainer. The P-51 is a very fast and very manuverable plane and will get away from you VERY fast. Work your way up to it slowly.

Larry

Exactly CG, thx for helping. Yes, I know what arf and rtf is, thats why i was asking what are the components that ARF's dont come with.
Man, im getting even more excited. I have never really seen anyone flying these things, maybe once one of these came by me a loong time ago, but i have no idea of what it is like. Im getting more anxious because now it seems like its not EASY to fly these things?

EDIT: i think im gona start by finding a "club", and watching what its like. And then ill decide what to get (if anything).

Alrighty, here ya go:


this is what I needed for the completion of my Hobbico Superstar ARF Select (just because it said ARF doesn't mean that it doesn't come w/ the engine, because mine came with EVERYTHING except fuel, glow driver, and starter (you should have one....) anyways, here we go.....:

1.) Fuel (at least 10%) Omega 15% is $13.99
2.) Extra prop (yes, you'll need one) about $1.50-$1.75
3.) Various tools (flat-head, phillips (small big) you should have some of these.
4.) Epoxy (30 min.(<amount of time to work w/) would be best to glue that tail stabilizer in (the horizontal one) about $5.00
5.) Of course the engine and radio if it doesn't come w/ the plane
6.) Starter (you put this up to the spinner (a.k.a nose cone to start the engine) $25-30
7.) If you can't afford the starter (like I did, didn't get mine for 5 mo.) then have a chicken stick (like a stick with rubber on the end to start the engine "manually" by flipping it over) about $3
8.) Glow Driver (this is usually red and it has a battery in it. You put it on the top of the engine over the glow plug(<kinda like the spark plug on model airplane engines) and it lights up the bottom of the glow plug to make the engine fire when you carefully and safely start the engine. $5-6
9.) Fuel canister (self explainitory; holds your fuel for you) Or you can buy a device where you just use the jug that the fuel comes in and you don't need a can.
10.) Field Box (YOU SHOULD HAVE ONE OF THESE) Without it you will have to carry everything. They are kinda expensive. I had one build by a guy my grandmother knows for $50 (she paid for it) and that is about what you will spend if you buy a partly assembled one in the LHS (Local Hobby Stop).....


[X(]Now, about that P-51......oh buddy.........I read that and I guess you really have just started (no offense). You will have enough trouble learing just on the trainer. Now, dending on how fast you learn, how many time you go flying, you should be able to get you a P-51 for your about 4th or 5th plane. Sorry to say that but please don't start out. I guess you get the idea not to get a P-51 until later.....

BTW (by the way), I hope that you have fun NOT flying at the park. Chances are there alot of people there and if you crashed then you wouldn't be covered by AMA (Academy of Model Aeronautics)...

Speaking of the AMA, you need to join this organization. It is like you insurance is you were to damage someone else's property, your plane get stolen or w/e. Usually you can go to the LHS (local hob store) and get a form to fill out to get the card sent to your house. Open memebership it $58.

If you have any other questions, I'll be glad to help ya out and I'm sure all other on RCU will to....Just ask around......Hope this helps.....

BTW, I hope that you have so much fun with your TRAINER.....I'm sure you will.....Make sure that you have a good instructor to check over the plane on it's maiden flight and to fly it for the first time to trim it out.


I'm not even going to read over this long post, so if there are any mistakes that others notice, please tell me!!!

Thanks man. Speaking of costs.

So $300 for the FIRST trainer, $58 for an academy, and how much is it for a club subscription to be a member and get an instructor etc. Is it a one time fee or monthly, any extra charges?

Hey man, anything to help a "new guy." I know exacly how you feel and totally feel your excitement. I was there about 3 years ago.

Well, $300 for a good trainer, $58 for AMA, and for joining club, I pay $48. Now I don't know how it it for other clubs, but I pay yearly. Some other clubs might be different in Florida, but most are on an annual basis.

Oh, for the instructor. That is a different story. Well, not that much, but many instructors at a club don't charge anything, they just help you out of the thrill if ya know what I mean. IMO (in my honest opinion) I DON"T BELIEVE THAT ANYONE should pay to get instructions to fly. There is a thread somewhere on RCU that has a person that is charging $5 dollars and hour. But, this guy is providing all the equipment, like the plane and engine, so I guess that is a reasonable price for providing everything; and since you are going to have your own plane for insturction (right?) then you probably won't be charged.

Now, you were talking about a one time fee. For the AMA, you can pay I believe it is like (now don't quote me but) $2,500 to become a LIFE MEMBER or AMA and not have to renew yearly (AMA is a yearly pay thing too). I couldn't even come close to that much, but you can have a flex pay of $375 for like 4 years to become the Life Memeber. If you would like more information on AMA and how to join, go to [link=http://www.modelaircraft.org]www.modelaircraft.org[/link] and look around.

If you have anyother questions, please don't hesitate to ask and I'll do the best I can to help ya........HAVE FUN......

Now you gave me another idea. If i get instructed from a guy who provides everything, i could learn like that, and get my p-51 directly without wasting $300 on the trainer.

EDIT: whats a FUTUBABA?

EDIT2:

The only club i can find in west palm:

443 - Palm Beach Aero Club
J. Frederic Dreher - IMAA 5236
4972 Palm Hill Drive
West Palm Beach, FL 33415
Phone: 407-964-8930
Web Site: http://www.flinet.com/~pbac

Looks like they USED to be very good.
"Hosts for the annual "Top Gun" competition as well as the annual "Wild Weekend R/C Combat" event. Club info as well as site maps, club newsletter, event schedules, swap shop area and more."

Cant find another one....

Crap man, that was fast. I just clicked ok on this thread, and was checking my mail and there was another post for this thread in my e-mail. WOW......

Well, NO please don't do that. PLEASE PLEASE don't. If you got a P-51 THAT would be a waste of money. If you were just to use someone elses plane for training, and then go to a fast, manauverable plane, you WILL crash. I know. It doesn't matter how good you are.

I know that you want to move up like I wanted to. I was soloing about a week after my first flight of my Superstar, and I was already thinking about another plane, but not a P-51.......PLEASE....I can't stress enought to you to now go from a trainer to a fast plane. Shute man, I am like you and only have 2 planes and am saving up to get a helicopter this coming Christmas or maybe even sooner.

Oh, now that I think about it, try to get a simulator. I recommend the Real Flight G2 (generation 2). This will save you some learning, um....not save learning but it should help you learn faster and easier. Maybe. i know, you will go to the LHS and look at the price of RF (Real Flight) and be like.....CRAP MAN, I CAN"T GET THIS.....unless you have the money, at my LHS, this sim is almost $130....much too much for me, but I'm gonna have to get it so I can "train" for when I get my heli. I have had a demo for the RF and loved it. There is so much you can do on it.

Again, if another question pops up, then ask me or anybody and I'll do my best to help.

BTW, how young(I don't like the word old, when you're flying R/C, you're never old!!! HEHEHEHEh) are you?

Oh yeah, there are alot of trainers out there: Hobbico Superstar, Arrow, but I would recommend the Superstar. Also out there is the new Hobbico Nextar. Take a look at it [link=http://www.hobbiconexstar.com/]HERE: The Hobbico Nextar[/link]


Just noticed the rest of your post and you asked what is a Futaba? That is a brand of radios to use. Some major ones are: JR, Airtronics, Polk, and of course Futaba

Im 14!
NOW your gona try to stop me. lol.

I'm 15.......crap, that was fast too.......Started 3 years ago.....It's ALWAYS good to talk to and help other ppl that are my age.........Have fun.....Hey man, at the speed that we're replying, we could just keep refreshing the page and just talk like IMing......HEHEHE LOL

Do you have AIM or Yahoo Messenger??

LOL, nice man, u got MSN?

EDIT: we wrote that ^ at the same time. My aim is GTac04

Nope man......Just AIM and Yahoo.....

GTac01

You made a good suggestion for yourself. Start by finding a local club. See what they have flying there and talk with the club's instructor.

The guy that got me started in this hobby is a member of a club here in Lorain County, OH. I went to one of their weekend "Air Shows" and saw all the different types, except jets, of aircraft flying. Man, it was amazing to watch.

After you visit your local club, you might even be able to hook up with one of the members to help you select your plane and the various assundry items that go along with it.

PLEASE, PLEASE do not think that you can go directly from a trainer, even if it is someone else's plane, to a P-51. If you do this, your gonna make kindling out of the plane and get discusted with the hobby. Take your time and work up to this plane. You will enjoy the hobby that much more.

Larry

Alright, I'll add you.....won't be able to talk and help until like next weekend. I only have AIM and Yahoo at my moms...so.....yeah....

I wished I lived in Florida....so warm and pretty much all year flying.....much be nice....

www.aol.com has an HTTP version of AIM.

http://horizon.hobbyshopnow.com/prod...?prod=EVOE0610

I know nothing, all i know is that thing is FAST.

GTac01,

Welcome to this GREAT hobby! I hope you have a long and succesful stay.

First off: the other people are right; DO NOT get a P-51 first. Last Augest I saw an experianced pilot crash his P-51 on it's maiden flight. It was a sad thing... and if you only have $300, you want it to go as FAR as possible. Look into things you can get from your LHS. Try to stay with people that you can talk to as opposed to the online sales people.

BTW, what you might not know, is that us younger pilots have somewhat of an advantage over the older generation: computer and video games. When you are flying, you use many of the skills that you use during a video game. Unfortunently, that is not enough to jump right into a more advance plane.

Yes, engines can be loud. They can sound alot like weed whip engines. The bigger ones even louder.

In short, read this board, talk to people before you buy anything and try to start out with something in the trainer catagory.

GTac,
You started getting it a few posts ago. Find a club, go check things out, talk to an instructor and find out what radio equipment he uses (you want your's to be compatible so you can "buddy box" (connect your radio with his for instruction), buy your TRAINER and equipment, join the AMA and then the club.

The AMA website has a page where you can find local clubs by plugging in your Zip Code. AMA membership at your age is only about $1.00 per year if you don't care about the monthly magazine, and most clubs offer price breaks for younger members.

Futaba is a brand of radio equipment, as are JR, Airtronics and Hitec. Not all radio equipment is compatible with each other.

Expect to spend between $400 and $450 for a NEW ARF trainer, engine, radio equipment (transmitter, receiver, servos, battery packs, charger and switch harness), and necessary field equipment like fuel, fuel pump, 3 feet of fuel line, a glow igniter with charger, power panel, electric starter for the engine, 12 volt battery (for the starter) and 12 volt charger.

If you check out the field first ask about used equipment. Quite often you can pick up a used trainer with engine and radio for $150 to $250. Well worth it when starting out.

Good luck, and welcoem to RCUniverse and the GREAT worls of RC flying!!
Dennis-