If you are open to glow power Sig Kadet Senior can't be beat, The BIY kit will satisfy your urge to build and the 78" wing makes this huge bird just float. (I modified the kit by adding strip ailerons and lowering the dihedral by about half)Here is a pic of mine:

Okay, here are my top three picks for electric:


1. http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXDJT0&P=7 (House of Balsa Electric Acro Cub)

2. http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXDJB3&P=7 (Goldberg Mirage)

3. http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXNW26&P=7 (Electric Cub)


Here are my top three picks for glow power:

1. http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXFG17&P=0 (Sig Kadet LT-25 Trainer kit)

2. http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXFG11&P=0 (Sig Kadet LT-40 Trainer kit)

3. http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXFF89&P=7 (Sig Senior)


Let me know what you guys think, thanks. I am still debating glow or electric. Which one is cheaper in the long run?


Shredder111[>:]

Look at glow power only, I choose to poo-poo on electric

Finally! Any of the Sigs will do fine. The choice is really just which size you want. Do you have space or $ constraints, or just a preference for smaller things? If so, consider the 25. If none of these are an issue, the 40 size (with a .45 engine) is the most widely recommended range to begin with. These planes are a nice size and when you begin looking for your second, third, etc plane, there are many other choices in the same size range (so you can reuse your engine). If you want to go BIG, the Senior gives you that choice. One of the guys in the club has an Electric Senior. It flies great, but the two lipo battery packs he brings to the field cost more than a couple of my planes combined! [X(] Personally, I'd go with the 25 or 40. The 25 is my preferred size, but the 40 is a more popular size and trikes are a bit easier to learn on.

http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXVY37&P=7

How about that one? The weird thing is that on all of the other Rascals (hehe) it says beginner to intermediate level, on this one it says intermediate to advanced. Some are exactly the same size just ARF or bigger. What gives? Would this work as a trainer?


Thanks, Shredder111[>:]


P.S. I will defin. go with a SIG I just dont know which one

Personal opinion here, but I find the .049 size engines to be a pain in the butt. I'll probably build one eventually, the 1/2a fly-ins are great fun, but I would not want to learn with one. My main reservation is people seem to spend more time trying to get the things started than they do flying. Moving up to the .15 or larger sizes provides significantly enhanced reliability and ease of use, IMO.

O.K. I understand. It is good to keep things as simple as possible. I choose the SIG Kadet Senior. I like how it is so realistic with the windows. Now if you could please help me make a list for all the things I will need to run it like engine, servo type, remote, etc. I will really appreciate it (basically the whole complete list) I am totally new to glow power so I don't really understand everything I need. I am awaiting for an answer and scrolling around Tower Hobbies




Thanks, Shredder111[>:]

Shredder -- the folks at Tower will be able to tell you what you need -- they do that as part of their job & they are good at it. Just tell them that you have nothing & know nothing -- they will tell you exactly what to get. They won't try to take you for a ride either.

I want to discuss this with piper chuck because he might be my future instructor

I don't think I'd be calling Tower asking them to sell me everything I need. However, let's not rule out input from others here. Lots of people have good ideas, it's difficult to think of everything, and getting input from others is the way we all learn. Having said this, here's how I would approach this.

First, let's divide this task into manageable pieces. There are 3 logical groupings, plane and everything that will fly with it, building tools, and field equipment. There will be some overlap between the three categories. Some people take the minimalist approach to things and buy as little as possible. Others seem to want to have one of everything. I'm somewhere in the middle.

Plane: This list is dependent on the kit, some include more than others.
Plane kit
Engine
Radio
Fuel tank and line
Foam rubber for fuel tank, receiver, and battery
Rubber bands for the wing
Wheel collars
Spinner
Wheels
Wheel collars
Covering
Prop
Glow plug

Building tools There are so many, where to begin? Paul Johnson (AKA caffeenman) has a great site with lots of information on this: http://www.airfieldmodels.com
Building board
Wax paper or something to protect the plans
Knives - xacto and single edge razors
Glue - Fast and medium CA, 30 minute epoxy, wood glue (I prefer CA and epoxy)
Metal straight edge (12" and a long one)
Square
Covering iron and heat gun (some consider gun optional)
Balsarite (fuel proofing and to help the covering stick better)
Sandpaper, sanding blocks, sanding bars
Misc clamps, clothes pins, t-pins, tape, etc
Drill and appropriate bits
Cutting board(s)
Needle nose pliers
Screw driver(s), allen wrenches, and wrenches

Field equipment Same here, the possibilities are endless. There was another thread on this recently, I should go back and see what I forgot.
Flight box (can be home made, kit, or premade)
Fuel
Fuel pump (manual is fine), lines, and cap for fuel bottle
Glow plug power (can be a 1.5v battery, glow driver, or 12v battery and power panel)
Glow plug connector (not needed if you go with a glow driver)
Glow plug wrench
Prop wrench
Prop reamer
Misc screwdrivers, pliers, and allen wrenches
Chicken stick
Spare glow plugs
Spare prop and prop nut
First aid kit
Cell phone
Cleaner (I use Simple Green)
Paper towels or rags
Spare fuel line


Things that are not required, but are should haves:
Battery tester

Optional:
Electric starter (I have 2, but almost never bring them to the field)
Electric fuel pump (not needed unless you run large engines with big fuel tanks)
Tachometer

Note, this list is not complete. Hopefully, others will point out things I missed. I really should write these things down and add them to the checklist that bubba and I developed.

Edit: Done for now, I need a break!

Your forgeting one VERY VERY important building supply.
Cd player and cds to go with it
-John