Hello All!
I've always been amazed by model airplanes and I've decided it's time to dive into them myself. I've been doing some research and here's the setup I've decided on. Any commets are suggested.

Plane - Sig Kadet LT-40
Engine - O.S. .46FX
Radio - Futaba 6XAS 6-Channel FM with S3004 BB Servos

This seems to be a common plane/engine combo for training. The radio sounds good to have for future upgrades.

I haven't decided whether to get the kit or the ARF. Would it be THAT hard to build this thing my self with no prior experience? The kit is considerably cheaper than the ARF! I've got all winter to build it (after I talk the wife into letting me spend $500 on all this stuff!).

Thanks,
SHANE

Shane, sounds like an excellent setup!

The kit vs. ARF thing can be debated to the end of time....personally, I prefers ARFS because I have limited building time, limited building skills, and get impatient.....I wish I had the time, skills, and patience to build a kit....maybe someday....for now it's ARFs for me...

Mike

Shane, WV winters being what they are would suggest the kit, but remember, pricewise you'll have to spend 30-40 dollars on some kind if covering material.

The kit will be good experience and the ARF provides almost instant gratification. The rest of your choices are excellent but I would check with other fliers in your club/area to see which radio is predominate. They are all good so hold various brands in your hands for ergonomic effect. It could make a difference.

Good Luck and Happy Landings

I would recommend you buy the ARF. It is correct that the kit would be great experience, but I don't think building is good for a first plane.

I'd also like to offer another possibly cheaper alternative. Check out the local flying clubs and, inevitably, someone will have a trainer (maybe even a kadet) for sale RTF (ready to fly) with radio.

I bought a Stik from a club member that was completely ready to fly with radio for $180. All servos, x-mitter, etc were installed and he even let me test fly it.

Unless you really like to build, go with the above. You'll have less invested. You'll have less to lose when/ if you crash. You'll have a plane that's been a proven flyer to get you in the air and give you time to learn what you need/ want for your first kit.

Welcome to the club!

Mike

Kit or ARF is more of a personnal opinion...

Fact is that when the costs of glue covering fuel tank and minimum tools needed for construction of a kit are factored in to the initial cost a Kit usually costs MORE not less then an ARF..

I'm not telling you not to get a kit just want to point this out..

Beginner airplane kits serve two purposes they are easy to construct with (usually) execellent step by step instructions and easy to fly...

IMHO I'd go with the kit.

as far as ARF having less emotional value in the event of a crash being a factor..

If you do not already know this Crashing airplanes is a part of this hobby. Nobody is crazy about but it does happen..

If you realize this and only fly what you can afford (emotionally as well as finanically) you'll have less of a problem and enjory yourself

If on the other hand losing a 200.00 plane will freak you out then I would suggest finding a different leisure time activity

Shane,

I have been flying my LT-40 with the OS FX .46 (JR Radio) for about six months. I think its an excellent set up. Very reliable engine with plenty of power. You need to be aware of prop size, I flew a 10X7 for the first two months and had a hard time landing (it glides and glides and glides), then switched to a 11X5 and it handles much nicer.

I, too, had no experience when I started out.

I wouldn't recommend a kit first, UNLESS you have an experienced modeler who can drop by from time to time. There's lots of gluing and assembly on the LT-40 ARF so I thought there was a great deal of satisfaction from finishing the ARF. However, even with the much more limited construction need, I was very nervous when I took it to the field the first time because I simply didn't know how critical things like CG, servo installation, push rod travel, etc., etc., were.

I am building a kit (4*60) for my second plane.

GB

I just have to say this in defense of building a kit for your first plane, it is true that it could cost as much as an ARF, by the time you are done, and it is also true you are emotionally invested in the plane. But, unless you have good woodworking skills, or have built many other models, you will make construction mistakes, particularly with straight surfaces, washout, and the plane's symmetry. It is my opinion that you'd be much better off learning to build right along as you learn to fly, instead of flying that ARF trainer, followed by an ARF taildragger, and then finally getting the itch to build on a P51 or something like that. That is NOT the plane to learn how to build on, much better that you have gained building skills on a trainer that is much more forgiving. Not to mention, with a whole winter, that ARF will be just sitting there from February on. Of course, if you think crashing something you built would be too much to take, then go grab the ARF.
good luck!!

I too whole heartedly recommend the kit. You have all winter, and yes, there will be added expenses involved, but you can buy the covering, wheels, tank etc. over the next few months after the wife has gotten over the shock of the initial investment.

Beginner kits ARE much easier to build. That's not to say you won't make a mistake. Hell, I've been building for 40 years and I still make several mistakes per kit. But you learn how to correct them. You also learn how to build. Which will come in handy when the inevitable mishap... haps.

One more nice thing about building... It gives you all winter to dream about flying it!

I suggest the kit,not only is it a plane to learn to fly with it's also a plane to learn to build with.It's easier to learn to build with a plane that is made with the beginner in mind,I've seen lots of people wait till the third or fourth plane to build on the learning scale,by then the manufacturer has assumed you have some building experience,a high percentage of those planes never fly or fly poorly because the person couldn't understand the building process,also hard to repair a wounded plane if a person has no building experience.My $.o2 only.

Use a OS 46 LA engine instead, you do not need that power and it is considerably cheaper. Also, go with the kit for 2 reasons:

1) If you crash it or damage it in any way (it WILL happen) you will ahve a much better chance of being able to fix it.

2) All planes except trainers assume that you have some prior building experiance. So, if you get an ARF, then on your next plane it will be even harder to learn how to build.

Trainers are traditionally the easiest planes to build, especially the Kadet LT-40. I was in the same boat you are in, "Can I really build this thing?" Trust me, it's not that hard. Besides, building is half the fun, not to mention cheaper. Watching a box of wood turn into a flying machine is simply pure self satisfaction. Remember, regardless of what you choose, HAVE A EXPERIENCED PILOT HELP YOU LEARN TO FLY!

Hey mgw flyer where at in morgantown? im about 10 minutes from you

The 46 FX is a good choice, you can use that engine on future models. If your looking to save money, go with the kit, but on the other hand, you will have to buy building tools, glue, etc... Besides.. here in WV, there wont be much more flying this year, so you will have plenty of time to build.

If we get another nice day, you should come to the field with us, just to check things out, get a few more opinions and what not... if your interested, let me know. We usualy fly on sundays at rockville, in valley point, depending on the weather, there is also an AMA field here in masontown, but its pretty much shut down for the season.

All excellent choices. Go with the Kit if you have the time and some local help if needed. I also recommend getting Real Flight or other simulation software so you can practice flying now. Pete

Visit our beginners page for assistance.
http://www.geistware.com/rcmodeling/novice.htm

Also a look at your second plane.
http://www.geistware.com/rcmodeling/second_plane.htm

Thanks for the tips everyone. I think I'll stick with the setup I originally planned and maybe I'll ge the kit and fart around with it this winter.

Does anyone have a list of the common tools I will need to build it? That would be handy so I'd know what to buy.

Hypter, I may take you up on that offer. My next post here was going to be to seek out other modelers local to me. I guess that is probably the closest. Is there anywhere to fly right here in Morgantown? What about where they have the Balloon Festival? I would think that if there is enough room to launch 50 hot air balloons, then there should be enough room to fly a model plane!

LOL Yes, that would be big enough, they dont have it at the airport anymore do they? There may be problems getting permission to fly there.

There is no other place I know of in morgantown to fly. The Airstrip in bruceton/valley point is a great place to fly, paved runway, huge place to fly. It is a private airport where we have permission to fly, and you wont need an AMA membership to fly there, the field in masontown is consideribly smaller, and AMA is needed, there is 6 members, and the club has their good and bad points, like one plane in the air at a time, which is good, and bad... Rockville is a much better place to fly, and alot more fun, its about 20-30 from sabraton. Sunday is calling for heavy snow so no flying then, I will probably go up today for awhile since the weather is half decent.

Tools you will need to build.

CA Glue - Thin, Medium and Plus
Epoxy, 5 and 30 minute
Bar and Multi-Sanders and sandpaper
X-acto knives with a saw blade
Clamps are a must
Razor Blades
A good building surface ( fair warning, if you wife is like mine, DO NOT build on the ketchen table )

Covering Iron would be nice, I used a Clothes Iron on my first Trainer and it shows, covering iron was best investment I ever made. Also a hinge cutting tool, the Great Planes "slot machine" is a good choice, way better than using an xacto knife

screw drivers, pliers, etc.. cant think of anything else right now

Also... forgot to ask, where do you plan to order from? May I recommend Quantum Models (quantummodels.com) Some of their stuff is cheaper than Tower Hobbies, however you will need to order the 46FX from Tower, or another place 'cause Quantum dont carry O.S. Engines. They carry Sig products, also, if you order over $100, its free shipping.

There is a LHS in Reedsville, but it is small and they dont carry much Airplane stuff, and everything is WAY overpriced ($15 for an engine mount).

Attaboy Hypter, take him under your wing.

MGW, You don't need ALL of the things mentioned. You will need medium and probably thin CA, and 30 minute epoxy ( I stay away from the 5 min stuff). Razor blades, a few hand tools etc. A lot of the other things are really nice to have, but not a dead necessity. (Besides, maybe Hypter will loan you his covering iron if you ask real nice. If he's really good, he may come over and show you a building technique or two)

HA, I am still "under the wing" of DSJBEAN and Joss Stick..

MGW, Dont take all of my advice, im still a beginner myself... Just telling you what I have been told Just nice to have someone else as close to me as you are. And yes, Ill loan you my Covering Iron if you need it, it gets interesting the first time you cover, I had monokote stuck to everything but the plane.

Sorry, I cant show you a "building technique" im still trying to find one myself I built my first plane (glider) with CA glue and a clothes iron... Mike, if you see this, tell him the story about the glider.

The LT-40 kit builds very easily. The instrutions are excellent and the parts all fit together nicely. The kit comes with all the parts necessary except the covering which will cost $30. Glue - another $12, Iron - $15, Pins - $3, Hobby Knife....etc, etc, etc........ It will end up costing more than the ARF but you will know alot more about the plane when finished.

I personally enjoy the building process. If you think you might enjoy building then I would suggest you go for it!

Oh, I use an accoustic cealing tile over an old table as my building surface. Holds the pins great.

I can't believe I'm the first to say this…

The OS is a good engine, but if you get a Thunder Tiger 46 pro you will save about $30 and get an arguably better engine. Plus, after-market mufflers made for the OS will fit the TT.

Just my 2˘

Good Point Brian Soltis


The TT Pro 46 is another good engine, but have you even heard "you get what you pay for"? dont get me wrong TT makes great engines, I dont own an OS engine, I have a TT-GP42 and a TT Pro 46, both are great. But like Brian Soltis pointed out, you will save some money. If I had the extra cash, I definetly would have went with OS. But that is just me.

I agree to a point, but sometimes the cost is not indicative of the product. OS is a good company , but their prices reflect their reputation more than their actual quality. If there was more demand for them, they would charge even more. If they tacked on another $30 to the price, would that make them a better engine than before?

IMHO there is nothing even close to a $30 advantage to owning an OS over a TT.

I know this is a little off subject, But what makes one engine better than another. Is it simply opinion or is there some kind of mechanical advantage. I haven't flown yet but i've wondered if i could've saved myself some money and gotten a TT. Is the only way to really tell actually flying both?

SigPiPup, if you want to get technicial.. the OS 46FX is lighter, has more power, its ABN construction vs the TT ABC construction, its double layered and more durable, and the plating process is more consistent, which results in better compression, and longer life. These are some points that the TT Pro 46 does not have.

Brian, I do agree with you 100%, the price does reflect more on the "name" than the performance. But the 46FX is a better built engine. Everyone has opinions. I would recommend the TT over the OS just because I own a couple TT engine... both are great, but if your looking to save some money, go with the TT, that what I did, and I dont regret it one bit, great engines.

.02

Besides, this is the wrong fourm for engine talk

Well, my next engine will be an Irvine or a Saito (still can't decide…) so maybe I should just shut up anyway!