I have finished assembly of a Sig LT40, had it inspected by competent flyer at my local club. Finished making suggested fixes, and will start lessons soon. But I want to start on my 2nd plane now. I bought a GP Easy Sport 40 ARF as it looked sort of like an old Falcon 56. It is a neat kit, but I hate the shelf paper covering. It will take me sometime to get to solo on my LT40 but I wanted to get started assembling No. 2. Can I strip the covering off the wings, stab, and fin before I get started? Maybe off the Fuselage also. And as far as engines go, I have several .40 OS Max engines - a .40 Max H from years ago, a .40 FP from not so long ago, and a .40 LA from earlier this year. I am thinking of using the the oldest one since I had it so long. It is in the breaking in stage right now with the rest of the engines. This will be my fall project. Any suggestions on the covering issue or the engine use?

I would say to avoid the 40LA, and by all means, if you're so inclined, get rid of the "shelf paper"!

Got to agree with minnflyer on the OS .40LA . Cheap Junk!!!

My kid brother dropped one off the bench onto a carpeted floor and the remote needle valve mount broke.

My old .46SF has been drilled in the dirt more times then I care to remember and I never broke even one needle valve.

the 40LA will fly the plane,also very user friendly,there is not much h.p.and will not take a lot of hard landings,would advise to use the fx and forget the la.
Have a goodun,John.

Visit our section on recommendations for a second plane.
http://www.geistware.com/rcmodeling/second_plane.htm

I got the Easy Sport as a second plane as well but it was the kit. The ES is not a light plane and will really need a decent .46 to have satisfactory performance.

Covering. I would just wait until the contact paper starts to show signs of abuse then take it off and cover with iron-on.

I am hesitant to say this becuase I don't want to bust your excitment, but wish someone told me when I got my ES. Don't be surprised if you find that the Easy Sport is marginally different from your trainer. I was disappointed and quickly moved to a Tiger Stick (all sticks are basically the same) and that is a much more fun plane and still will slow down and land easily. Other choices are the Sig 4*, Sig SE, Mid-star, Tiger 60, Venture 60, etc. If I were you and the kit is still in condition to return, I would return it and get one of the above mentioned planes or something similar.

Thanks for replies. Matt, I think I will just put it together like it is, and not worry about the shelf paper. If the 40 isn't strong enough, i'll put my Magnum .46XLS on it, and same the .40's for something smaller. I have a Tiger Stick waiting in the wings, along with a Mid-* and a Something Extra in their boxes waiting to be built. I'll just fly the Easy Sport to build up time before I move on to something a little more exotic. I've been planning on this for a long time. I started building up my supplies since 1978 for when I would have time. Two sons, two college educations later, I am ready to start having my own fun. If all goes well, and the creeks don't rise, I'll get to start this weekend.

Definitely go with your Magnum .46.....I have the same plane and it is NOT light......I tend to disagree with Matt....my EasySport is a lot of fun to fly.......It was actually my 5th plane and I'm not at all bored with it......I did increase the throws on it quite a bit......try that if the performance isn't to your liking......it's a great kick-around plane.

Mike

hey, i am new to the hobby and have been traveling to brookville every other weekend to see my mother. where are you guys flying i would love to check it out.

Hi TheCelt. We fly at the north end of the lake, Whitewater Valley R/C club site is off Dunlapsville Rd near the Quakerstown site. They fly most Saturdays and Sundays late in the afternoon. I'm not sure about the rest of the time. I'm fairly new myself and can only get out there on Sundays.

Be careful if you decide to strip it. Being an ARF, it's likely that it's constructed mainly of hot glue and that some of the parts may actually separate as you pull the covering off...

My second/third plane 9 years ago was a Easy Sport 40 and had a Super Tiger 45 and flew great. I was very satisfied with it. Good choice and you will enjoy!

The Soaring guys fly off the dam.
Is that where you are talking?

No. The dam is at the South end of the lake, just outside Brookville. Our site is at the north end of the lake, across the road from the Quakertown Rec area. About 12 - 13 miles farther out from town.

Definatly a good idea to use the 46.
I have never run into a "40 sized" plane that didn't fly better with a bit more power. take offs are better, the needle is more forgiving... I have a couple perfectly good .40's sitting on the shelf that probably will never see air time again simply because the 46's and 50's are far more fun to fly.

Sticks make great second planes, or depending on your style, maybe a faster smoother plane like the Aresti or a wild fun flyer like the Sig Something Extra would definatly be a good choice. once you have a few flights on the easysport it is just a tiny step up to just about any plane.

Thanks,
The next time I go canoing, I will come and visit.
I have friends that live in Oxford, Oh that I will be visiting from time to time.

Great. The next time you come, stop by the Mound Haven Motel on US 52, that's what keeps me from being at the airstrip more, my wife won't let me close up shop to go flying.

I have the ES .40, and it flies very well with a Super Tiger .40 engine. The controls are sensitive to inputs, so be gentle at first, but you will love this plane. I had to solo with it as I had torn the landing gear off of my trainer. (hit the edge of the runway) Good luck Loren

Thanks for your input. I will be putting a Magnum .46XLS on it initially. It's sitting there waiting for a plane to pull. I may change it to an older OS .40 Max H later on for permanent use, as I will probably move the .46 to another plane. Or maybe put my OS 40FP in it, who knows?