Hi, I just got my wing with a Alpha 40 trainer, and now I would like to buy something more "acrobatic", since I love old warbird plane, I was wondering if someone knoes about this model:

http://www.zhobby.com/pwa60arfp40a.html

Do you think it's a good choice or not?

Thanks!

Pierre

I'm interested to hear as well. I've wanted a P-40 since I was a kid.

Hmm, not much wing area for 5.5 lb. plane and its a no-name brand plane. I would check out othes before taking a chance on this one. [8D]

I'd worry about a firm that advertises a "Nitro Gas Engine Radio Controlled RC Airplane". It's not gas, it's glow fuel, may or may not contain Nitro (that's car RC talk for "glow fuel"). "Radio Controlled RC" is redundant so they don't understand the "RC" concept, perhaps? One bullet point says "fiberglass cowl and bellypan" and "balsa-and-ply construction" and another says "fiberglass fuselage". Which is it? If it's glass and that smooth it's not 5.5 lbs unless it is paper thin. One hard landing or a sod caught wing tip and the wing root is toast. How do they work out the wing and fuselage warpage if it is pre-molded fiberglass sleeved on a wood frame? That's labor intensive. How is the wing attached? Does it come off for transport? Pretty sophisticated if the belly pan is attached and it is bolted in place. I'd bet with small metal bolts for that price. Big step up from a trainer. No ground clearance - that drop tank is history first hard landing on grass. Itty bitty wheels, too. No shock absorption in those same hard landings. Tapered wings with little area = fast landing required with stall tendencies. Bad medicine for a second plane.

How do you get to the engine to start it or adjust the mixture? I don't see an access port, or muffler for that matter. Looking hoakier by the minute.

Interesting way they solved the complicated canopy frame structure, though.

Looks too good to be true for $139. Let us know.

Hummm, from what I see from your advice I'd be better off not buying this one. thanks!

I saw this one at Great Hobbies. not the same price but maybe a better choice...
http://www.greathobbies.com/products...rod_id=HAN2850

Pierre

Let me save you some expensive tuition from the School of Hard Knocks. Don't buy anything with retracts for your second plane, and don't buy a scale warbird until you've become good with a low-wing sport airplane.

The landing gear on almost every scale planes is delicate (especially on grass - imagine landing a real aircraft in a field of mature wheat for a comparison). Things happen very fast when you're near the ground with a low-wing warbird and a moment's hesitation or a mistake will destroy the model and leave you with a smokin hole in the ruway.

Put $1 in a jar everytime you grease in a landing with your trainer. Everytime during landing or approach with a trainer that you say "whoops" or "oops, wrong way on the sticks", take $1 out. When you have enough money in the jar to buy a warbird - go for it.

For a second plane take a long, serious look at a Sig FourStar, a Kangke S/K 50, a Goldberg Tiger 2, a Great Planes Ugly Stik. When they're up in the air you won't care that they don't look like P-40, and they'll stay up in the air and return again where a P-40 model may not.

I like your idea to put a 1$ each time I it the grass! I know your advice is a wise one, when you say I shouldn't buy a scale warbird, but they are so nice! I don't really want to fly a Stick because it's too ugly. At least I want to fly something that I find good looking!

I looked at the plane Fastsky suggest in a previous post, and I like the Phoenix Super Decathlon. There is also the something extra that look nice. http://www.greathobbies.com/products...d_id=SIGRC76AV

Thanks very much for your advice, it's really appreciate!

Pierre

The Somethin' Extra is a fine plane. You would be very happy if you made this your next plane!!

Ok, I did the responsible thing. Now let me add: Never let anyone squash your dreams. I see "kids" who have been alive less years than I have been flying who can rip a Cap 232 or Ultimate around WAY better than I ever could or probably ever will. Some are just naturals - true in any activity. With simulators and generations now born with game controllers in their hands the rules have changes. ARF's are so good that you don't have to be a good modeler before you can be a good flier. And radios? Sheesh! Digital trims, endpoints and mixes make a lot of the difficult trim and stick techniques obsolete.

The Somthin Extra is a dandy plane. One you will not soon outgrow. Remember: keep it two mistakes high.

Buzz,

Let me add this. I'm in the same position as you, I started learning on an Alpha 40 in April and moved up to the H9 Pulse XT 40 as my second plane. It makes for a great second plane, it flies like a 4* that everyone recommends so highly as a second plane, but I think it looks better. See for yourself:
[link=http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=HAN4100]Pulse XT[/link]

I can attest that it makes for a great second plane. I too want to move into warbirds, but from all my reading here, warbirds can be delicate creatures and can be finicky in the air (higher stall speed, tip stalls, etc). For your second plane, and first low wing plane, you want something that is forgiving and allows you to adapt to the higher performance, not to mention getting use to a tail-wheel configuration. I know it's tempting to move into warbirds, but I would recommend getting good with aerobatics and greasing landings with a more forgiving plane first.

If you want a warbird, try to find one that KINDA looks like one but doesn't have a scale wing. They're out there and they fly much easier (forgiving) than a true scale plane does.

I guess I will go with logic and choose a low wing plane more accurate for a newbie like me!
the Pulse xT look not to bad at all..

Thanks you everyone!

One more note on your first warbird when you get to it...pick one with a widetrack landing gear like a P-47. Leave the narrow-track birds like the P-40, ME-109, and Spitfire for your second warbird.

That's something I wouln't have think about. You have a good point. I'll take note of this one...

You might give the Hangar 9 PTS P51 a try. It doesn't look to bad, Fly's great with the trainer stuff on, Cooks really nicely with the trainer stuff off. ARF Version about $120.00, RTF Version about $399.00.

I' havn't flown a wardird yet but I have 2 with retracts ready to go for Saturday. I have experience with an untrimmed spad. so with what ever pllane you have (Even a trainer)you should try this: 1. Spend hours on the sim. 2. try some landings with faster throttle 3. add some weight to the middle of your plane (check cg front, back left and right).

retracts very, robarts and cj scale are usually fairly strong but i have no current experience with struts, i do know you need very smooth landings with all of them.

hope this helps Dave trimmer

Buzz,
Just my 2 cents, I agree with you the Warhawk is one of the baddest WWII planes out there, however, its got a little tail and double tapered wings. The Spitfire, ME 109, P-40 and others with that little tail and double taper wing fly a little squirley. If there is a WWII trainer that you like, for example the Texan would be doable for your second plane. That Pulse or the Something Extra would be a great next step. They will fly nice and easy when you need it, and they will do just about all the tricks! JMO


PS As far as Retracts, if they say "Robart" on them, your good to go, tuff stuff.