I just soloed a week ago and now i'm wonderinga bout my second plane I've got all kinds of time on my trainer left but I need to know what I should be saving for. here are my questions:

1. Kit or ARF?
2. Best second model in your opinion. Please give reasons why...
3. I would really like to fly a piper cub as my second model because my grandpa flew one and he'd get a kick out of seeing a model fly again. AND I love that plane. Do you have any good ones?
4. I bought the Hobbico Superstar mkII with radio servos and the O.S. .40 engine Can I use this hardware in my next plane?
5. Do you know of any piper cub models that I can use my existing hardware in?

thats all for now I'll ask more later

Hey welcome to the Hobby rcflyer.

I started with the same trainer as you did, the superstar...and now I'm currently flying my second airplane, the modeltech me-109 25 size with all the same hardware from my superstar even the engine, so yes u can use those parts from your plane now and put it in your second ariplane. Which will also save you some money.

Also the piper cub is a great second airplane...one guy in our field said that the piper cub is even easier to fly that my superstar trainer. Plus the piper cub is a very aerobatic airplane and a very good looking one too.

I would recommend that you buy an arf for a second plane because you dont want to have to spend alot of time building a kit and (probably) just end up crashing it one day.

I have several piper cub arfs that I know of that I found researching online. Check this link out about the Graupner J-3 Cub: http://www.rcuniverse.com/magazine/a...TOKEN=67767486

Ok heres another one, a 40 size Piper Cub with a huge 72'' span! :http://www.discounthobbies4u.com/cat...40_3116817.htm

Here's one from Greatplanes...Huge 81'' w/s..its an arf... http://www.greatplanes.com/airplanes/gpma1310.html

The greatplanes one is probably the best and you can also go to giant scale events with that one.

But for the Piper Cubs I would recommend to put a 4-stroke engine. It's because the look better on the airplane without that big muffler like of a 2 stroke....and also because the sound more real too...

Enjoy your flights and hopefully your grandfather likes teh cub that you get..

-Paul

Check out this artical on second planes.
http://www.geistware.com/rcmodeling/second_plane.htm

With Cubs, the bigger they are the better they fly. Thats generally the rule with other planes that come in different sizes as well but particulary holds true for a Cub. therefore I wouldn't even consider anything smaller than the 40 size![8D]

Your present equipment will do just fine in a Cub. There are several ARFs available, check the big mail order dealers in the magazines or on the web. Look for one about the same size as your trainer. Don't go too small because, as tail draggers go, Cubs are fairly tricky. They are short coupled and can turn and dart around on take off. They also will try to take off into the wind, no matter which way you want them to go.

Also, there are full wing Cubs and clipped wing Cubs. The clipped wing ones are modeled after full scale planes that had the wings cut down for better aerobatics. They tend to be more aerobatic as models, too. For the same wing span, the cilpped wing version would have a larger fuselage.

If you can afford it, you might consider a second radio. This way, you can warm up on your trainer and then fly the scale Cub. you can then leap frog the radios into newer planes, having one to fly while installing the other into a new plane.

**bump**

Anyone else have any good kits for a second plane. Low or High wing? The superstar is high and so would the cub if I got it but... Doesn't the cub have more aerobatic capabilities because of the lower dihideral?
How long should I wait until I start playing with my control throws? I really feel uncomfortable with my aileron setting... its to sluggish it takes a few more seconds than I feel comfortable when I roll. It also makes emmelmans (SP?) difficult. oh well its just a trainer.
What approach should I take to making it more sensitive? One element per flight? (elevater fly it, then aileron fly it etc..) And as far as moving the cg... when should I mess with that? or shouldn't I? moving that towards the neutral point should make it more aerobatic.. Right? I'm not sure but what does moving that do exactly?
If I add more elevator would I be able to do an outside loop? I think the wing has too much dihideral.
I'm really looking at saving for the Blackhorse J-3 Piper Cub .40
I'm gonna need another servo if I use my current ones out of the superstar should I buy another 5 servo's and use the current tx? also what motor should I stick in it? will my OS 40 la work? I'd really like a 4stroke but I'm unsure as to what kind of investment that would be... so right now I'm looking at $129 for the model. whats the servos and 4-stroke gonna run me?

For a low wing, there is the Sig Four Star 40. Look through the posts and you will see lots about this plane. The kit is about $80-$90. It's a good build and a great flier. The 40LA would be a bit sluggish in the 4 * and you will probably out grow it quickly. A 40FX or 46AX would be a better choice. I have a Four Star, and I am looking to move up to the .46AX, or even the OS .50SX after a month of flying with the 46LA. The plane works fine with four standard servos.
Start with the recommended throws to start. As you improve, you can increase the throws. To start, it is better to have the CG at the recommended setting, or a bit forward. Moving the CG back will make the plane more responsive, and will make for a bouncier landing.

Scott