Hello, Iam new to the boards and I have been looking at the boards for some time and I was wondering for someone that is starting out, I’ve been checking out Hobby Lobby and found this in the beginners section. What do you think about the Mini Piper? Link: http://www.hobby-lobby.com/minipiper.htm or http://www.hobby-lobby.com/telemaster-mini.htm

Also great forum and great info to all the people that participate in providing such tech support and other help! You have a great community here in regards to addressing all levels of flying and others of RC related topics!

Also can someone point me in the right direction for a directory in South California for RC planes club?

Thank you all!

Frost

Hello Frost,

You can get the information on clubs from the Academy of Model Aeronautics, aka AMA (which you should join for your liability insurance).
I would recommend that you firs visit the club, and see the typical trainer plane set up used at that field. This assures you that the instructor(s) who will train you are familiar with your equipment, and can give you the proper help.
Over here, most beginners use the Hobbico Avistar with OS .40

I would also recommend the hobbico avistar 40 rtf. This is the plane I learned to fly on. Plus you can also do basic aerobatics.

Frost,

Don't go for a small plane like the minipiper. Get a .40 size plane with a .46 size engine (for takeoff in the spring when the grass is a little long) and a good 4 chanel radio. That minipiper looks more like a park flier. A nice R/C ARF trainer (with compitent instructor) will get you going, and God willing, last you several years.

Just a thought.

If you want to start with electrics I would go with Wattage or GWS as opposed to Hobby Lobby, their stuff tends to be high $$..unless you want to go glow even then I wouldnt recommend any of the .40 trainers,,but thats just me..I started with a .40 glow trainer, received very little in the way of help and soon gave up on the hobby,,10 years later ,got back into it with park flyers on my own,,now happily fly 1/2A glow planes...lots of options there....Rog

I prefer the Sig Kadet LT-40. Helped me a lot. It flies like a sailplane and handles way.

If you're serious about the hobby, I agree with going to a club first and checking out what glow power is all about.

The small park flyers like the Mini Piper won't fly well, if at all, on a windy day, and not many instructors are use to trying to train with a park flyer.

Here's a link to the AMA's "club locater" page. Just plug in your state or Zip Code and you'll get a list of clubs. http://www.modelaircraft.org/templat...677786D06500E8

Good luck with whatever you decide, and welcome to RCU!
Dennis-

sig lt-40 kit with either a thunder tiger gp42 or a os 46la engine. just add one hinge to the rudder and two hinges to the elevator leave everything thing else as they call for in the instruction manual. Yes i know both the engines are bushings not ball bearings. But both engines have more than enough power for the plane. and will never have any bearing problems ever.

If you decide to go electric.. get a GWS Slow Stick.. Simply the most durable plane in the history of Rc Aircraft(Ask me how I know)
However if you decide you want to go glow the initial setup is really not to much more than for Electric! I'll tell you my set-up, the price, and then you can decide..
1.) Hobbico Superstar .40
2.) Futaba 6EXA computer radio w/ RX and 4 S3004's
3.) Hobbico Field Box Complete Combo(Come's w/ every thing but fuel!)
4.) Super Tigre G51 Ringed Engine
5.) Misc: Spinners, CA's, Props, Fuel< Glow Ignitor, and Glow Plugs.

My Total cost: $489.99
That's not bad at all! Especially when you factor in the Engine I got, Radio, Electric Fuel Pump, AND electric starter!

For My dads GWS Slowstick we got:
1.) Gws Slowstick
2.) Charger
3.) 2 Battery Packs
4.) LOTS of propellors
5.)GWS Flight pack

For $200... But note you cannot fly small electrics like this in much wind at all! It only weighs like 18 oz. with the new motor on it! Plus If you ever decide to go glow.. You'll need to buy almost all new equip.[] But you can use the charger to give your batts a quick Zap at the field.

Ok, so what about the Radio? FM correct? 3 Channel or 4 Channel which i want to go to a Futaba as I have used those in RC Cars, to be able to grow into another plane? Also what is the big deal about wingspan, stability? Some say that i should go with .40 but i find some that are .30 or .35 and iam still trying to get the Lango down, so i would like to know what GWS means? What is this all about the Glo, what is it? Pic please? Also what is better to go with electric or gas? Ive used both in RC Cars but this is competely different i realize. Also thank you all i have found a club near me, but i still want to ask my questions here. I also live in an area that is windy alot, its not very calm very offen! Any more help info would help, thank you!

Frost

i 2 need adivice im just starting out got nuffin in experience only 1 rc car that i blew up i was thinking the irvine tutor 40 it seems an ok plane more help please.