I recently bought te hobbico nexstar and I was wondering what everybody out there thought about this trainer. I heard it was the best trainer out there, if anybody's got anything to say about it (good or bad) let me know. thanks.


-shaun

OK, I'll byte ... I have a NexSTAR ... but I haven't flown it. I have, however, read all the reviews I can find ... including ModelAirplane News and Sport Aviator. I trust both and both really like it. I have downloaded about 12 short videos of actual flight ... including BEGINNERS FLYING THE NexSTAR. Frankly, I believe.

http://www.masportaviator.com/ah.asp?CatID=1&ID=15
http://www.modelairplanenews.com/ma/...s/nexStar1.asp

Here's another believer: http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_2739641/printable.htm

If it flys ANYTHING like the RealFlight simulator (and Rick Bell claims it does), which comes with the Select version, it's a champ. You can practice with and without the AFS on the sim. At the field, if you've never flown anything, try the AFS ... but make sure the sun is 25 degrees and you test the AFS as advertised. Be advised that when you 'turn off' the AFS for some future flight, the ailerons will not self correct.

As for the model, it's well built and does assemble very quickly ... about the same task as assembling a kids bike or a Sears lawn mower ... but DO remember, it's not as tough as a lawnmower, so, some care is required in handling ... it's balsa, remember ???

OK, as a builder, I wasn't satisfied to this extent: Assemble in 20 minutes and fly as soon as the batteries are fully charged. Maybe ... but will the next flight result in a 'rekitted' pile of balsa. Even if it does, you still have your transmitter, hopefully your receiver, and quite likely your motor and fuel tank ... on to plane number two, if that happens.

I surfed the internet looking for 'other reviews': 1 lost a wheel during flight ... make sure the collars are tight and tightened on a FLAT SPOT. 1 spun (aileron or rudder roll) in on landing ... could be a stripped aileron or rudder/nose servo since the kit comes with S3003s.1 complaint aired about wrinkles in the MonoKote ... gotta iron them out. Generally, that's about it.

BUT:

I think an RTF begins life 'out of the box' as an RTC (Ready To Crash), i'm a skeptic, and, worse, want to be certain I fly it a whole lot more than once ... so ...

1. replaced the 2 5/8 foam wheels with 3 1/4 light rubber wheels.
2. filed a flat spot under the wheel collars and tightened them tighter than should be necessary
3. replaced the S3003 servo lids with a Futaba kit making them S3004 ball bearing servos (with real ball bearings)
4. converted to 2 aileron servos immediately ... NEW S3004s ... put original on the shelf
5. put relief spring setup on the nosewheel pushrod to reduce stress/strain on the nose/rudder servo gears

... beyond that ...

http://www.masportaviator.com/ah.asp?CatID=2&ID=23

After applying the above Sport Aviator article, your RTC will truly be an RTF.

I've been flying a NexStar about twice a week for 6 months now. It appears to be very well constructed, using good materials and clearly there is a lot of thought that went into the design. Assembly is quite simple. (I have just built an Ultra Stick 60 ARF and found it took much, much more skill and time by comparison.) The plane shows no bad flight charistics - important in a trainer. Overall, I'm quite pleased.

The flight trainer, while relatively simple, proved invaluable. Basically I had to work to bet the controls sorted out seeing the plane in various orientations. I probably crashed well over a hundred times on the simulator but now find that my responses have become pretty much automatic. Having said that, the plane on the simulator doesn't act quite like the real one. Still it served its purpose. I also found myself using the simulator to practice cross wind flying and would mix up the trim tabs to practice trim adjustment. All of this was quite useful as it is important to be able to learn without risking the plane.

What problems have I had? (1) In terms of the flight characteristics the only problems that I had were with the nose wheel and the rudder. I found the standard set-up way too sensitive. My instructor also picked up on the sensitivity of the nose wheel and suggested that I reset the servo linkage. Otherwise most students will over control and be all over, or off, the runway during takeoff. In readjusting this, I think that the rudder also needs to be reset or the plane will tend to vere when the rudder takes over. Actually, I've never gotten the rudder sorted out. I've practiced taking the plane 3 mistakes high and trying to do figure eights at part throttle using rudder instead of aileron but find that the plane tends to nose down and rapidly lose altitude when rudder is applied. I don't think this is entirely an overcontrol problem; I've reached a point where I've been confortable setting the elevator and ailerons to be more responsive. (2) the trim has peeled off, particularly on the starboard side. It would seem that the oil in the exhaust acts as a solvent. I should add that I do make it a practice to clean the model throughly after flying, so that's not the problem. I suppose that this is ok as it's given me some experience with recovering which I'm sure I can use later. Still, it's a pain.

You could have purchased a much less desirable plane - fly it and enjoy (just disconnect the auto leveler)

Jerry

Bought one a year ago and really enjoy it. It will not fly exactly like the sim, so be careful. The plane will not go vertical like the sim allows. Another good mod is to use nylon bolts to hold the main gear on. The little plastic tabs that fit in the holes of the main gear have failed on a few planes, to include mine. Other than that, I have had great luck with mine. I have flown since day one with all the stuff removed/unplugged. That was a decision made by me and the instructor. But with 30 hours on the sim, I soloed on my second flight. And btw, I have cartwheeled mine. No damage. The thing is pretty tough.

The NexStar came out a couple years after I already learned to fly so for me it was never a consideration. As an overall package I think it is quite impressive. You have to hand it to Hobbico, they seemed to think of everything when designing this one. Thats not to say, however, that the NexStar is perfect. To be fair, every plane whether it is a trainer or a full bore 3D aerobat is a compromise to some extent.

lyotchic, you mentioned the tendancy for the NexStar to drop its nose when you use the rudder. This isn't a defect of any kind. As a matter of fact, many planes share this trait - it isn't limited to trainers either. This is what is often referred to as rudder coupling. Some planes suffer from it more than others. The really clean flyers don't have it at all. The ones that don't have it, however, are typically pattern or aerobatic planes - way too advanced for a beginner. You will often see guys mention it when judging the flight characteristics of a new aerobatic plane. A really good one won't have this characteristic. Others will pitch toward the belly or canopy during knife edge flight. Mixing on a computer radio is typically used to eliminate minor coupling.

Ok, back to the NexStar. If there is something I tend not to like about it is all the gimmicks tacked on. The wing cuffs and speed breaks are often looked at as band-aids for poor flying by many veteran flyers. Not to mention the AFS system. Most instructors tend to hate it and wind up turning it off. I tend to agree in these areas. I tend to feel that a plane that reacts to the student's inputs in unnatural ways is only going to slow the leaning process. A newbie doesn't have the skills to recognize when the AFS is kicking in yet so in a way it is an unnatural way for the senses to "learn" how to control the plane. To top it off, it isn't the cheapest way to get started.

On the plus side, the NexStar definitely makes it easy to get started. The simulator is always a good idea. The plane is definitely one of the better looking trainers out there - most look like a flying box! It generally flys very well for what it was designed for and although a bit on the pricy side, all the equipment is of very good quality.

The simple fact is the market is full of good trainers. The NexStar isn't the best flying of the bunch or the worst. It will serve its purpose like most of the other trainers out there (very few are actually bad) but like most trainers, once you have leaned to fly, you will be looking to move on.

The Next Star is just too much BS. With all the training devices (wheels), you'll be an old man before you learn how to fly it. I would imagine a competent flight instructor would disconnect the AFS first thing. If you want to fly, you'll learn faster by taking some reasonable risks. Any trainer should do the trick, but I highly recommend spending some time on a simulator before you hit the field.

There are a lot of other things you can do first. For example, a lot can be learned by going to a field and simply observing and asking a few questions. One of the first should be: "Do I really want to hang around with these people?"

Regards,

Suzie Miller

The NExstar is superior in every way. The plane is well constructed, our club has one for those who want to try the RC flying experience before buying a plane or membership, it's survived a year of beginner use. FXI engines are already run in. The flight sim is real physics engineered to this plane, incredibly realistic. It has an instructor, and wind and obstruction options too. The AFS is VERY useful. You can set it to 5% through 30% rate as a sensitivity scale, and you can ween off of it in a couple of flights. The airbrakes slow the plane down for safe landings and more reaction time beginners need, more than any other RTF kit. The break away wing bolt is great too, more forgiving and accurate than messy rubber bands or nylon screws. IF you want good advice, read only from people who have actually used one, and I trained several children with this package quickly. I didn't get this opinion from taking to retired elderly at the field who didn't bring a plane to fly. I am going on personal experience. Right Suzie?

The nexstar is all about hype. It's loaded with things that are not needed, especially the RTF version. It is ok as a trainer, but there are simpler, less expen$ive, trainers out there that will do the job just as well.

As a flyer who has enjoyed building more then flying, (I have crashed many) the Nexstar is and has been the best trainer I have ever tried to fly. I did no purchase the RTF option, as I choose to use motor (OS 50) and equipment that I already owned. I now have over 30 flights on my Nexstar and hope to pass it down to my grandson.

I purchased a Nexstar 2 summers ago, no flying experience and I used the sim for about 3months until I got real good on landings,,And as of today I have at least
140 flights on my Nexstar no crashes..I did turn off the AFS off after about the 6th flight..and only replaced the fuse due to the stripes all pealed off..wanted mine to look new again...Now Im teaching my brother with a buddy coard how to land the Nexstar, so I think its a great plane, I now have a Shoestring Arf and and Glodberg Skylark MkII
Arf and also building a King Kobra with retracts....Love this hobby...Just turned 50!!!!!!

Went to my first RC Airshow yesterday, came home, hooked to the net for research and from what I can tell the Nexstar is the way to go for the money. This thread was very helpful for a decision and as an entirely new pilot I want all the safty features I can get to bring the bird home safely while having fun learning the sport!

I also noticed that as you progress you can remove all the safety features and actually use this aircraft to progress to next levels of skill sets, so angin for an all-in-one trainer that is cheap for the features and equipment provided I can see flying this for some time before having to spend more on another aircraft.

I got my Nexstar almost 6 months ago. I found a local flying field so I'm making arrangements to join up with the club and fly this thing! I've been flying small parkflyers for a couple years and I'm ready to move up to the big stuff!

I've tryed to train a coupla people on their nexstars[:'(] an we finally went an got my ol faithful sig LT-40[8D]. The LT is so much better flying than the nexstar there is no comparison. Any newbies that come to the field now we tell'em to buy a arf LT-40 and a good os 46ax.


Ronnie

I've trained a few people with Nextars as well. They aren't anything special as far as trainers go. First thing to do is make sure the electronic stabilization gizmo on the bottom is disabled. We have had a couple try and fly away with that turned on. The LT-40 is hard to beat. My personal favorite also.

I also agree. Disconnect that stupid AFS or you will never know how a plane is suposed to fly!!!!!!!

I learnt to fly on my NexSTAR and it did a wonderful job. I trained with the speedbrakes and wingcuffs on but the AFS off. After 2 weeks I removed the speedbrakes and 2 after that the cuffs came off. I have since converted it to a taildragger and removed the dihedryl from the wings. I fly 20 differant airplanes but I still find this one a relaxing flier especially with the mods done. The pic shows my NexSTAR as a dragger with the dihedryl still in. When I removed the dihedryl the plane rolls and flies inverted way better and handles wind a lot better also.

Ditto on the auto leveler. Tried to fly one just before sunset, it was like I was in the twilite zone. kinda like a car thats really out of alignment.[&:]

How did you remove the dihedryl? I just bent the rod in the wing and added 1/16 bass wood to the top part of the wing joiner. and yes it flys inverted much better and rolls instead of a corkscrew. I also added flaps.

Whats the benifits of being a taildragger? just preference?

"Whats the benifits of being a taildragger? just preference?"

Nosewheels have been called 'Firewall Removers' by more than one pilot

I think I like the Tail Dragger Idea, like my .60 Ultra Stick.

I forgot about being a Club Saito member.

How did you remove the dihedryl? I just bent the rod in the wing and added 1/16 bass wood to the top part of the wing joiner. and yes it flys inverted much better and rolls instead of a corkscrew. I also added flaps.

Whats the benifits of being a taildragger? just preference?


[/quote]


I removed the dihedryl exactly the same way you did. But when I'm sure that I'm 100% happy with it this way I will reinforce the join with epoxy and make it more permanent and stronger.
Taildragger versus trike--- I found the NexStar ground handles way better as a dragger. Point her straight and throttle up, tracks very straight on takeoff. Absolutley no trouble taxiing in a crosswind. As a trike setup the plane wanted to wingtip in a crosswind--now--not. Also absolutley no fear of knocking the firewall out because of the nose gear AND a lot more prop clearance also. Very easy mod and I am 150% happy with the outcome!!

Curt

what tail wheel did you use?

I used a Sullivan tailwheel assy-- SUL861 for a 60 size and up. I fly off grass so I went with a heavier assembly, haven't regretted it. I have also upgraded the front gear to a Dubro fibre landing gear-- DUB 789.... again, a nice changeup (way sturdier than the stock gear)

Curt

I have had 57 airplanes in the 21 years of flying. Is that average or a record ????? I have 7 planes now. I havent sold any of the 57. Crashed many of them, gave so me away, threw some away. Anyhow i,m curious about others experiences.-------

As for Nexstars, I am on #4 . Just got it going the other day. the first three bit the dust, oh well . To me Nexstar are my favorite plane . They fly well , look good , are easy to build , easy to assemble at the field, and are durable, cheap to buy ARF . Out of 57 planes they are my favorite. My other everyday planes are a U-can-do ,Sig rascal 110 , Seagull Extra , GP spacewalker.

Nexstars ARFs are great------ The RTF is not a good buy, you get a poor radio , plus a lot of training stuff thats not helpful. Jerry dearmond So. Ohio 740-858-4579