well the title says it all?

Is there a list of RTF kits?

what i`m looking for would be a kit with a trainer, a FUTUBA radio and a .46 or so motor.

The field that i want to join seems to only carry FUTUBA radios, and well, the kit that i found so far (hangar 9) comes with a JR radio.

also, i am not willing to buy from the US since the duty fee + shipping will cost as much as buying at a LHS.


thanks in advance

-Starburst

Hobbico Nexstar

thanks.
is this the full list? or only the one that you know?

what i don't like with the hobbico, is that i comes with all kind of stuff that i don't want.
i.e. the simulator (i`ve got FMS on my computer)
and the stabilizer of some sort (i don't want a computer to be flying my plane)

-Starburst

If you positively have to get a 46 engine and Futaba radio and you don't want the Nexstar; you MUST buy plane, engine, and radio separately. Sorry but that is just the way it is.

If you have some flexibility, these are the ones I found in 5 minutes looking at www.towerhobbies.com and www.quantummodels.com
There may be many others but these were easy to find.

I know nothing about non-US mail order firms; you're on your own with that.

Flat bottom wing
Hobbico Superstar Select does not come with the 'features' the Nexstar includes; but only has a 40 engine
Thunder Tiger Easy Trainer 40T Combo; comes with .42 engine and Hitec radio (compatible with Futaba buddy box)
Thunder Tiger Easy Trainer 40T Plus Combo; same as above but covered with Ultracote rather than sticky back material

Semi symmetrical wing
Hobbico Avistar Select does not come with the 'features' the Nexztstar includes; but only has a 40 engine.
Thunder Tiger Easy Trainer 40H Combo; comes with .42 engine and Hitec radio (compatible with Futaba buddy box)
Thunder Tiger Easy Trainer 40H Plus Combo; same as above but covered with Ultracote rather than sticky back material

thanks,
i was affraid that was gonna happen.

it's just that the hangar 9 combo seems to be perfect (good radio, plane and motor) until i Heard the field that i want to join mostly (99%) fly futaba.

and since I was being able to save a bundle with the kit, i was very happy.

now, it's back for deal hunting.

I just hope some guys are selling some used stuff

-Starburst

There is a simple solution if you want that combination. Just order yourself a buddy box and cord. They are not that expensive new the box comes without a battery, antenna or crystal. Or just pickup an old JR four channel from someone. Just because after you first solo does not mean the box is redundant. There will be plenty of times as you move up that it will come in handy and down the line you just may want to do a little instruction yourself.

John

JohnBuckner,
i thought that a buddy-box will only let the same type of radio to work together.
i.e. futaba and futaba, jr and jr, are you telling me that with a buddy box i can work a JR and Futaba together?

-Starburst

If you get on EBAY you should be able to get an old JR radio,,, ANY old JR radio,,,, cheap, like 10 r 20 bucks. The radio doesnt even have to work, you dont turn the buddy box on at all, you dont need a battery in it.


Dude, if you need Futaba and you want a RTF trainer system I will put my personal guarantee on the Hobbico Nexstar. As soon as you get it take the little spoilers with all the holes off, take the stall strips off of the leading edge and the little thingy that is suppsed to self right it that hangs off the bottom of the plane,, disconnect that too. All that takes about 2 minutes and then you will have a GREAT RTF trainer setup. I have played it down so I dont seem pushy, but if you want a Futaba compatible RTF trainer the Nexstar is the way to go,,,

JUST remember when you get the plane,,, as with all planes check to make sure all of the hinges are properly glued in and get your trainer person to make sure you have the radio gear and linkages installed properly and you will LOVE this plane. One of my trainees that was a fast learner has one of these and he is doing all but hovering the thing. Loops, rolls, spins, inverted flight the Nexstar will do all the basic acrobatic maneuvers when you are ready for it.

Take all that crap off of it and it is a great 1st plane,,, as good as any..

The engine that comes with it is a quality engine,, and the radio gear although very simple is good stuff, more than enough to fly this plane.

No sorry what I was suggesting you to buy the airplane combo you want and if it is a Futaba Radio then just go ahead and buy a Futaba buddy box and cord of your own. Tranys sold as buddy box's are loss leader items and not that expensive. Any instructor worth his salt can instruct on any brand four or six channel radio, even entry level computer radios are not that hard to use even if he does not fly that brand. I can assure you at some point after you learn and solo having your own compatble BB will come in very useful down the line. Solo is not a well defined magic bullet when the learning stops then usually you quit, there are alway new stages that it is usefull. As an example not to long ago on a very dark moonless night I checked out six other flyers in night flight, all experianced and competant pilots, You bet we used a buddy box on my airplane.

To the best of my knowledge JR and Futaba are not compatable on a cord. In some combinations there is for example compatability useing Hitec with Futaba boxes and vice versa But only if the Futaba box is the round plug and if the Hitec directional cord is used, not a Futaba cord. Have done it many times.

I cannot emphasize enough Get what you want and then just get your own BB and cord to match it will be useful way beyond your initial training.

There is a large variety of cords out there some brands even use to have different cords for AM and FM. Its unrealistic to expect the instructor to have every combination. I currently have six different cords and many boxes and If someone is unwilling to set themselves up when I don,t have it then I rapidly loose interest in volunteering my time.


John

Ah ok, thanks, it cleared everything up

i don't want all the stuff that comes with the nextar, and i don't see the point of buying that plan and removing it`s component. (if i`m paying for something, i`m gonna use it)

i'll probly end up with an ARF instead, which will cost me 100$ more than the kit (hangar 9`s alpha)

and since everyone is using futaba, might as well join them.

but i've got till spring to make up my mind lol

-Starburst

Look at this before you make your final decision:
JR J-Line Quattro Trainer Set $49.95
http://www.horizonhobby.com/Shop/ByC...ProdID=JRPA400
Eveything you need to have your own 'buddy box' to go with the Alpha RTF.

I do not think there's anything wrong with being the 'one percent' at your field that uses something other than Futaba.

I have Futaba (and really like it) but the reason is a specific programming ability, not brand loyalty or peer pressure. Where I fly, Futaba is dominant with Hitec second. We have a few who use JR, including a current student. He knew JR was not common, but a nephew offered to give him a nice 6 channel JR system so he didn't turn it down. He spent the 50 bucks for the trainer set and his instructor (a Futaba user) is perfectly happy using the JR equipment.

Another Hangar 9 RTF you might consider is the Arrow. Same engine and radio as the Alpha but has semi-symmetrical airfoil for better aerobatic performance.
http://www.horizonhobby.com/Shop/ByC...ProdID=HAN2550

I thought in the horizion catolog, that you could hook the Jr radio to the futaba via a trainer cord. Yes you can. using trainerlink part #han173 11.99. I hope that helps you out

Silverman...
wow...

Jr to Futaba

from what i read on the net, i thought it couldn't be done ...

i bow to your godly search skills (you've beaten a master's student who spends its time searching scientific journal's database)

from the pic it looks like the connector is the `round` Futaba type. am I right?

-Starburst
ps. what function does the Futaba offers and not JR?

Hey Starburst, I only got into this hobby a few months back but have a few links to canadian mail order hobby stores. A good one to check out is [link=http://www.greathobbies.com]Great Hobbies[/link] located in PEI. I have bought from them before and found their service really good. If you check out their website and do a product search for "RTF" you will see a number of results. Just doing this now showed up the Hobbico Avistar RTF select - great trainer plane by all accounts the Avistar, also comes with a 4-channel Futaba radio and OS engine. Another site to check is [link=http://www.hobbywholesale.com]Hobby Wholesale[/link] out in Edmonton. On their site check out under airplane - ARF - combo for a couple more options.

IMO i think you are limiting yourself by looking for an RTF package and missing out on some other classic trainers. You could pick up a SIG LT-40 ARF with Futaba skysport 4YF radio and OS 46AX engine for ~$450CDN. This will be a great package and meets your needs and is cheaper than the Nexstar bundle.

Actually BigNed is right and wrong. If you're using Futaba for a buddy box, you don't need a battery. However, JR requires a battery to be in both radios. This is because the JR trainer cord does not supply power to the buddy box.

You can have most companies switch to futaba in a combo deal, unless they don't have both brands. The other option is to buy it all seperately. If you won't buy in the US, then look at the shops in canada. Do a search on google for them. You will find a bunch.

The trainer cord I listed from jr to futaba does not say it needs any batteries or anything. Go look at it on horizion hobbies website part #han173

Just make sure that the Futaba tx you want to use has the round plug, and not the square plug.

Starburst,
Getting back to your original question, the answer is NO. There is no list of RTF "kits" because if it's RTF it's NOT a kit!

papermache

Thanks for all the info guys

FLYBOY, i didn't know they could do that.

PilgrimChimp, thanks, i'll have too look into those sites

papermache, thanks for your constructive and helpfull answer.

Also, i don't mind getting an ARF combo, is just that a friend of mine wants to join as the same time as me and he definatly wants an RTF kit. Thats why i was asking for rtf.

-Starburst