Hey there, I'm slowly accumulating what I need to get into the air, but I'm wanting to put together a field box, starter, battery, etc. I see that Tower has a package that appears to have everything, although I suspect its all the lower end stuff. Price is $119. plus probably a bunch of freight. Does anybody know if this is reasonable equipment to use? Are there anymore packages available from other suppliers? I tried picking out components separately but of course I chose the better stuff.......wow! the bill got high very quickly! I'll appreciate any responses.

Yeah, I didn't go that route and purchased items separately. I believe the stuff they include is pretty good quality and worthwhile. Here's a link concerning the Master Caddy box we got from TH.

[link=http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_969156/anchors_969156/mpage_1/key_/anchor/tm.htm#969156]RCU Master Caddy discussion[/link]

I assume you're talking about this one:
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXL419&P=ML

That's all good stuff in that combo. It's pretty much the same stuff that I bought separately. I did upgrade a few things... I got a 12Ah batt (instead of a 7Ah in that combo), a better 12V Gel Cell charger (charges at 1A and cuts off instead of "trickling" all the time), the higher torque Hobbico 180 starter, and a better power panel (Accu-Glow II power panel).

You might want to consider getting a battery powered glow plug starter, instead of using the panel-ready one, for starting planes. I used my panel glow starter for quite awhile with my heli, but when I started using it for planes, I was alway worried about getting the cord caught in the prop! When you're starting the plane, you have the starter cord going from the power panel to the front of the prop, and the glow starter cord going from the power panel to behind the prop! The portable batt powered glow starters are a little more convenient IMO. That Hobbico power panel in the combo has a charger jack for a batt powerd glow starter too, if you decide to get one. One cool thing about the power panel glow starter, though, is that it switches the 12V batt voltage at a certain frequency to get 1.2V for the glow plug, and because of this, you hear a high pitch whine when the plug is energized (almost like and ESC/motor whine in an RC car), and you know right away that it's fired up!

I personally would get it seperate. and the battery power glow plug ignitors are very nice, i use one and they are very good. I use the dubro and it has a beep test. its only 20. If you have.40 engine or below a chicken stick will be fine for a prop start

Well, you guys give me good things to think about. I already have a glow starter...been using them for years on my u-control. I've always flipped my props by hand and I'm figuring my luck won't hold forever....the idea of a starter is mighty tempting. I tried the chicken stick years ago but it just never felt right. Now, come on...no lectures about the hand flipping.....I can see how it might be a pain having all the wires around while starting.....I hated that before I started using the glow starters....maybe I'll buy things separately and skip a few items in their package....thanks, all!

I've got pretty good OS engines that start pretty reliably, but every so often I have to crank one over awhile to fire it up. Never tried a chicken stick myself, but after my experience with an electric starter... I'm sold on using starters!

You can also buy a starter that has an independant power supply. That way you don't have to have any cords around the engine, and if you get a manual fuel pump you can do away with the power panel and the separate 12 volt gel cell battery.

I use two 6 cell RC car packs wired in series for my starter. Gives a bit more oomph to the starter (at 14.4 volts) but doesn't hurt it. AND you can charge the car packs with a quick peak field charger.

I use a tool box from Home Depot or Lowes for a field box. You can get a nice one for about $15.00 and save a few bucks over the $30 to $40 wooden field boxes.
Dennis-

Yeah, the hand crank fuel pumps are fine. I dont see my self using an electric soon. But, i am a pretty simple guy. If something works i will use it till it wont. Maybe when i get a bigger tank an electric will come in but the hand cranks are quite good.

I went ahead and bought separate components....my thought was that I could make do with less accessories and save some money, but on the other hand, if I bellied up, it might make things less complicated....I've always fueled my u-control planes with a bulb, and when I see the prices of the electric fuelers, it doesn't make sense not to get one when I'll already have the battery and panel. Even though I have a glow starter, I sprung for the jumper wires. I'd like to try them and it wouldn't be a bad backup....think they were $4.50. One thing I do not like about this hobby is the array of batteries and chargers you accumulate. I want to mess with planes, not manage batteries....!!!

So anyway, I ordered a ton of stuff from Tower and it should be here next week.....get that box put together and and I'll be ready!! Thanks to all that offered an opinion.

One problem I ran into with a power panel powered glo clip was under certain conditions when the starter is engaged the power to the plug is reduced and the engine won't start. I would turn up the power to the plug and then when you release the starter switch the increased power to the plug will burn it out.This happens when the field box battery is low. Granted this seldom happens, but when it does it will get your attention. I once used up a whole card of glo-plugs before I figured out what was going on. Also the power drain from the starter will usually diminish the efficiency of the glo-plug and make starting harder.I do not like to use the same bat for the starter as the glo-plug.