Hi All

I just brought out my plane that I started building 12 years ago, a and finally had the time and money to finish it off. I'm pretty excited. The kit called for a .30 to .40 sized motor so I bought an OS LA 40. It was pretty cheap and with just getting back into the airplane side of RC, I didn't want to get the most expensive motor out there. I just need to buy a 4 channel radio, like the Hytec Lazer 4. Anyways, I'll have some questions as I finish building the plane

Toxik,
Welcome to the Beginner's forum here on RCU. Please feel free to ask any question you may have, we'd be more than happy to try and help you out. Just remember, the only dumb question is the one that doesn't get asked.

Ken

Toxik,

If you are planning on staying in the hobby you may want to look into some of the affordable computer radios on the market. Futaba and JR make great 4 and 6 channels. That way if you want to have just one radio for several models, or with the six channel if you want to add flaps, or retracts to a plane later on. You would never have to switch radios. I am very much like you in the respect it took me several years to get flying, and I am still learning. I build my own planes, and it took me 4 to get it right. I started out with a Laser 4, and also an Airtronics vg400, I decided to switch to the Futaba 4ex for my two trainers. It makes it easeir to only have to bring one radio and one frequency to the field, if you have multiple models. Just my two cents, good luck with the build.

Crash

Ok, so I will ask. What airplane? Where are the Pictures?
Welcome to the airplane side. Once you fly you will never go back

The plane is a Japaneze Zero, and sry I don't have pics yet. I'll shot some soon and post them. How's the engine I bought, is it ok? Also, breakin procedure on airplane engines. Is there anything I need to know? I've done it on my Traxxas Revo.

If you plan on learning on a Zero, its gonna involve an awful lot of buddy box time!!!..Rog

OS .40 LA is a fine engine. Run it on the rich side and you will have no problems with it.

Hello Toxik
You Will Find That Breaking In 40 Is A Lot Easer Then A Car Engine And You Don't Realy Need After Run Oil.Just Make Shure Youu Use Airplane Fuel.i Like 18% oil And 15% Nitro.Car Fuel Does Not Have The Oil And To Much Nitro.It Will Run To Hot And Fry.That Is Why There Are No Old Car Engines.
I Agree With Flyinrog The Zero Is Not A Trainer.i Sugest You Learn With A Trainer And Save The Zero For You Second Plane.Trainers Are Not Realy Ment to Surive The Lessions.Mine Looked Like It Came Out Of A War Movie Till I Was Done With It.An Extra 1/2 Pound Of Extra Epoxy And 2 Foot Of Repair Tape were Added
Enjoy The Hobby We Will Be Here To Help.
John

For fuel, anything with a higher nitro content than 10% is a waste of money. It will just make yor engine run hotter with out seeing much performance increase. Ask at the hobby store where the RC clubs are. The mimimal cost of joining a club will be saved several times over when an instuctor saves your plane from crashing. The RC club may be able to tell you who has a trainer for sale, cheap. I had a Zero and its more of 3d type plane. It was very fast, responsive, handled the winds well and a blast to fly. It also like to land at about 20 mph which means it can't be used as a trainer!

Here is a few pics.

WoW!! Thats the same model I had! First flight was very scary because the kit was very old when I bought it and some of the balsa pieces were warped and the trim was all over the place. Once I got it trimmed out however the plane was rock solid. But like I said, it takes off fast, flys fast and has a fast glide on the landing path. Fortunatly the glide is very predictable and it flairs nice. The light weight also means once the planme touches down it will slow down and stop in about 10 feet if you fly from a grass field. [8D]

I was wondering if these 2 radios are the same

http://www.greathobbies.com/products...d_id=HIT156721

http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...I=LXANT6**&P=0

The one from Great Hobbies doesn't say it comes with a charger and the servo horn hardware like the one from Tower Hobbies. The pictures of the radio are slightly different as well.
I ordered one of these from the LHS for $160 CAD but if the one from Great Hobbies is the same I'll order from them.

Same thing at each. Radio and standard flight pack that includes 4 servos, reciever, transmitter, batteries for both, switch harness, charger and control horn assortment.
Pretty much a standard radio package.

GET YOURSELF A SIG KADET SENIOR KIT $75.00, AND MAYBE MODIFY IT TO A TAIL-DRAGGER. STAY CHEAP AT FIRST AND GET THE HITECH LASER 4. FLY THE KADET WITH YOUR OS 40 AND IF YOU KEEP IT LIGHT IT SHOULD FLY NICE AND SLOW AND BE A GREAT TRAINER. THEY TAKE OFF IN NO TIME AND LAND ALMOST STANDING STILL. YOU WILL HAVE ALOT OF FUN AND WON'T HAVE TO CHASE THE PLANE AS YOU WOULD WITH THE ZERO AT HIGH SPEEDS. STAY SLOW. GOOD LUCK

GIBBS

I am sure you will continue to hear this and I also know you don't want to listen to it, but please start flying with a trainer type airplane.
You have invested a lot of time in that Zero kit and it is just not the right plane to learn on.
Buy yourself an ARF trainer, since you have been building this kit it will be very easy for you to glue it together, use your LA 40 engine and radio gear that you are buying for the Zero and start learning to fly. Once you have mastered the trainer just take the engine and radio gear out of it and bolt it in the Zero.
Most of the ARF trainers are pretty similar and they all work pretty good.
The Tower trainer is cheap $69.99 easy to order another inexpensive option is the World Models high wing Sky Raider, it was $78 out the door at the local hobby shop. Either of these planes will get the job of training done in fine fashion.

Well, regardless if I buy a trainer or not before I fly the Zero. It's been hanging around for 12 years. It's one of those descisions where if I don't finish it now, I would have thown it out. I was tired of seeing it in the basement unfinished. Once fully assembled I can still take out the engine and rx and servos and put them in a trainer.

On another note. I bought some CA hinges for the flaps and such, are they the ones to use or should I buy a different style?

You'll get all kind of answers on this, but I have never had any problems with the CA hinges. Just follow the instructions. It's a good idea to drill a hole in the center of the slot so that the CA flows to the whole hinge and for extra precaution, you can pin them with some needles or toothpicks, although I have never had any fail on me.

-tychoc

I have used the CA hinges and the hinged plastic ones, my personal preference is the hinged plastic, having said that the CA hinges have never given me any problems. I agree with tychoc about drilling a small hole on the hinge slot to help the CA wick in and make a good bond.

Good for you to want to finish the airplane.
Everyone that suggests getting a trainer just wants you to be successful.
I did not mean to sound bossy.

I realize that and I appreciate all the advise. I didn't take offence chashint.
I think I'll just stick with the CA ones sincd I have them.

Again, thanks for the help

Before installing your CA hinges, read this:

[link=http://www.rcuniverse.com/magazine/article_display.cfm?article_id=55]Installing CA Hinges[/link]

I found this at Great Hobbies to recommend to you as a trainer
http://www.greathobbies.com/products...rod_id=HAN2625
at a very reasonable price too IMO
I've taught a couple of students on this plane and it flies quite well. Excellent trainer qualities and still has some performance.
By all means complete the Zero as it will give you something to look forward to.

Minnflyer, thats a big help thanks.