Hello all...

First off, I've learned a lot browsing these forums, I've had many late nights this last week. Its great to read all your opions, and learn from your experiences.

I've ordered the LT-40 ARF, and am almost ready to order the radio and engine.

I noticed the TT Pro .46 doesn't come with glow plugs. When I looked at glow plugs on towerhobbies.com, there are a bazillion of them. Which ones for this engine?

I understand that frequency crystals are used for each channel. In reviewing the manual for the Futaba 7C I see no mention of installing crystals, and infact it says that it is against FCC regulation to change the crystal in the transmitter. Do I have to order the transmitter preset to a channel? Or can it operate on any channel, and I just need to order a crystal for the receiver?

Propellers - The LT-40 calls for a 10x6 - 11x5 (i think) prop. What do these numbers mean? What is the effect on performance with a larger or smaller prop? Whats the performance difference between wood, plastic, or carbon fiber?

I will be hooking up with an instructor, however its going to be several months before I will be able to. In the mean time I'm having a blast with RealFlight G3 and would like to know if there are any training aids - things that I would get the most benefit out of practicing, and how to do them. I'm looking for a document that I could print out and work through.

Finally...are there any other Canadian online stores other than www.hobbywholesale.com, or www.greathobbies.com? I find thier selection lacking - I'd like a Canadian Tower Hobbies. I realize Tower ships to Canada, but I hate paying all the trans-border fees and exchange, and most of all I hate waiting the extra week. I have yet to find a local hobby store with a good selection, and someone who is familiar with the hobby. I went into one down the street from me prepared to buy a RTF trainer, and when I expressed intrest in RC aircraft, they just pointed to a corner and said whatever they had was there - they couldnt answer any of my questions. Besides, the online stores seem much cheaper. The LT-40 ARF was $225 at the store, and I got it online for $144.

Thanks again!

Peter

Hello Peter! Welcome to R/C!

Good choice with your plane! Let me see how I can do with your questions...

The TT Pro .46 is a fine engine. You'll get a lot of opinions about glowplugs, here's mine: Use the OS #8. They are a little more expensive, but I think they last longer. The OS A3 is alright, but not quite as durable. Whichever you get, buy 2 or 3. It's not uncommon to burn one out while breaking in your engine.

You can choose whatever frequency you want when you order your radio. Tower Hobbies will provide you with a list of frequencies (channels) that they have in stock. The crystals will already be installed in the transmitter and receiver. Tower just has you add the appropriate two numbers to the end of the stock number. For example, if you wanted channel 47, you would order stock number TL528747. ---->[:-] BTW- You may get confused by the use of the word 'channel'. It is used both to indicate the number of controllable functions on a transmitter (6 channel radio, 8 channel radio, etc.) AND the two digit indicator of a transmitter's frequency (I'm on channel 47, or channel 26, etc.). So you may hear people say, 'I have a 6 channel radio on channel 53'. I don't know who came up with this system, but there must be a less-confusing way of talking about radios!

The propeller that you get is matched to the size of the engine. When you get your engine, the instructions will have a list of recommended props. The first number is the length, the second is the pitch or amount of 'twist' of the blades. Most people use a 10 (inch) by 6 (pitch) or 10x6 prop on a .40 sized engine. Get 2 or 3 props, these will get broken (usually) as you learn how to land.

Don't know of any training aids for the G3 simulator, but it will help you a lot to practice with it. Try to fly in a specific pattern when you practice, don't just yank it around. Fly an oval shaped pattern, trying to make it consistant. Fly a figure-8 pattern, trying to make both ends the same size and the cross-over in the same place in the sky. Big left turn, cross-over, big right turn, cross-over, etc. Practice making a big gentle turn and lining up with the runway. When you are lining it up consistantly, add the throttle control, so that you are slowing down while you are making the turn towards the runway. Get it slower and lower, and soon you'll be landing right where you want.

Don't know of any Canadian on-line stores, but there must be some. Maybe someone here knows of one.

Good Luck!

Thanks for all the info ho2zoo

What kind of performance issues are there with different glow plugs?

I once read that it was a good idea to have several sets of crystals so you had the option of a different channel incase things got congested. Is this no longer the case with the computer transmitters? How would I decide which channel to get?

Peter

the 9c radios have frequency modules you change for the transmitter. this is legal as the modules are tuned properly. or you can use the synth module which allows you to dial in the frequency. the recivers can have there crystals changed anytime just be sure to stay within there band range of high low

I'm sure some people would argue, but I don't think the engine's performance is going to be effected VERY MUCH by the glow plug. Maybe a hundred RPMs up or down, but on a trainer, it's not a big issue. Actually, now that I think of it, you may want to get the cheaper plug for breaking in, and then some higher quality ones for your actual flying. As I said, quite often you will burn out a plug as you break-in the engine.

You can get computer radios that will allow you to choose any frequency you want, but they are pretty expensive. It's usually not a big problem to be on just one certain frequency (there are 50 available). If you know the place where you are going to fly, you can ask them what frequencies are used a lot, and then avoid those numbers (so you don't have to wait for somebody to finish with the one you need). Other than that, pick whichever you like! Like your age, or your favorite Nascar driver, or your shoe size, etc.

As for frequency, head out to the field and take notes. Visit the field you figure you'll fly at most often, when you figure to be flying there. Walk over to the frequency board and write down all the channels in use. Do that a couple of times and you know what channels NOT to order for your new radio. This is a very worthwhile thing to do. Once you've got the list, you might or might not then walk around and ask the flyers what other channels they fly frequently. You get to know some of them this way, and you might discover a frequency or two that is troublesome at that field and would be worth avoiding.

While you're there, watch and see who the modelers are that everyone gets to help with problems. This isn't a trivial matter. It's really worth taking the time. And when you have questions, wait for one of those guys to be standing around and go ask. You'd be surprised how the quality of help differs from modeler to modeler. And you'll know from observation who at the field likes to help and who is most worthwhile getting help from.

The numbers on the prop are the diameter (first) and the pitch (second). Pitch is the distance, in inches, the prop will travel through a solid material in one revolution, this is theoretical as there is a lot of slippage in the air. GIVEN THE SAME RPM: more pitch/less diameter = more speed, more diameter/less pitch = pull.

I'd use an 11-5 for your trainer. I would suggest Master Airscrew for your trainer.

IMO, there's not a better all around plug than the McCoy 9 or 59.

When you order your radio, you can specify which channel you want. Go to your field and see which frequency seems to be the least used. Some clubs keep lists of frequencies currently in use. If you are close to a channel 4 TV station, do NOT order channel 20. Some more expensive radios have synthesized frequencies, and can be tuned just like a TV. As a beginner, you do not need this unless your club is VERY active.

Dr.1

Some clubs, including the one I am joining have a website, & the secratary actually keeps a running list of who flys on what freq. Then he posts on the website the list of channels & the number of members on each channel next to it. This can be quite helpful when deciding which channel to buy a new radio on. You see from the list that there are allready 5 or 6 ppl flying the channel you had in mind, you start looking at another channel. If your club doesn't keep a list like this then you could do it yourself as darock suggested. Allthough being that you're up in the Great White North, I don't think you're gonna get a real idea of who's on what channel till the spring thaw![] But it's not really a big deal, you'll still get plenty of airtime in & half the fun of this hobby is watching & visiting with your new found friends at the field anyway. The other half is building/flying your planes. It sounds to me like you've done your home-work & made some excellent choices. I think your gonna do well in this hobby/sport. As for glow-plugs, I'll leave that to the pros. I just slap an OS #8 in everything I own, except my new 4-stroke.

ho2zoo had what sounded like good advice to me for practice on the sim, I'm gonna start trying some of that too, & quit trying to play 3D for awhile. Good luck to you my friend, it's allways nice to see someone patient enough to come in here wanting to do it the right way. Most of us had to be talked out of that Warbird, or that 3D Monster for our first plane!! Keep us posted & let us know how your progress goes.