Hi guys,
I've been lurking around here for quite some time and figured it was time to join the club. I have not felt the need to post any questions yet because it seems everything I need to know has already been asked and answered many times. Your patient tutelage as caused me to (1) get an AMA card, (2) join a club (3) get equiped (Avistar and 7CAP) (4) find an instructor (5) go have fun!!
A little about me:
My earliest recollection of model aviation is sitting in the basement with my dad under a bare light bulb and spraying water (i think) from an old perfume atomizer on to a newly tissue covered wing. I remember how amazed I was that a strong, tight structure evolved from this fragile assortment of sticks and paper. When I saw that big plane take to the sky and fly free, I was hooked for life.
I grew up flying various CL models, got a private and instrument rating along the way, but only had one experience with RC aviation. In the mid 80's I decided to give RC a try and had a great time building a trainer. I figured my wealth of experience was all I needed so....well.. I guess we all know how that one ended.
Well, here I am. I survived anyway, and am ready to give it another go. The kids are gone, the house is paid for..well almost.
I'm having a great time with this newly rediscovered passion. I thought coming in that scale warbirds were my calling. Now I'm not so sure. My focus seems to be leaning toward scale aerobatics. My Avistar is awaiting a tail wheel conversion. I'll continue to train with it over the winter when I can. My winter project will be a CG Chipmunk fitted with an OS 91 Surpass. This bird I think will be a good fit for me to explore some advanced aerobatics and also double as a primary warbird trainer, just as its full scale cousins did.
So thankyou for all the help you have given me so far and for all the help I don't even know I need yet. It's a great ride.

Hello and welcome; It sounds like you're a lot like most of us here, some early history, maybe a private pilot, finally some time to exploit flying aspirations. I donb't know the avistar, but I have gone through 4 or 5 trainers, and still find lots of fun in them. The Chipmunk is a great plane, but learn to use your rudder first. I think you'll fit in just fine.

Kickstand,

Welcome to the club. I built the CG Super chipmunk last winter. I haven't flown it yet but plan to next spring or summer. I just started flying in March and now am pretty good, but not enough to endanger my precious Purple Chippy. The kit I got was a very old one that the store owner said had been on his shelves for 5 to 8 years. It was a kit that was manufactured before Lanier took over CG. I have heard that the laser cut kit is not as good as the old die cut kits. This may have just been an isolated incidence. I would get one. Mine was fun to build. I covered it in Worldtex Fabric, and then painted it. Here are a few pic's if interested.

Gibbs

Welcome Kickstand. Sounds like you've done your homework. Those early sessions with your dad will certainly help when you start building.

KickStand,
Welcome to our nightmare, dillusional sickness, black hole, and so on. Your Avistar is a great aerobatic plane just waiting to bloom. Remove the stock ailerons and replace them with some 2 inch aileron stock. Make the inside 14 inches on each side flaps. You will have 4 servos in the wing. Use KLET plastic hinges and pin them with tooth picks. This will make a good solid platform that will allow you to wring her out. Short field take offs and landings will be easily accomplished. Your Avistar will perform like never before! Good luck.

Welcome to RCU. The Chipmunk is a great plane. It is one of the best kits ever made and fly's just as well. If you have any questions, do a forum search and if you can't find an awnser, just put up a post. The forums are full of talented RC folks and an awnser to your question will not be long in coming. Good Luck, Dave

NCIS, The finish you put on your model is exceptional. I can only hope mine turns out half as well. I'm planning a custom scheme as well. With all due respect to Mr. Scholl, another copy of his plane is not needed. The only Chipmunk I ever seen in real life was the Frank Ryder Oreck XL version. It looked like a real underdog sitting amoungst the high powered modern aerobats ,and past and present warbirds assembled at Willow Grove that year.

Hey Kickstand and Welcome..NCIS awesome Chipmunk man very nice covering looks Great and Kickstand goodluck with your Chipmunk looks like there fun to build not for me though im an ARF kinda guy

Welcome Kiskstand. There are a few guys in my club who still believe Monokote and Coverite will never catch on and cover their models with silk or tissue - some up to 90" wingspan with gas engines.

You might want one more step between the Avistar and the Chipmunk, but I suppose you'll know when the time comes. Just be sure to have an experienced low-wing flyer trim it out for you. Don't try to maiden her alone.

In the mean time, enjoy yourself.

Another "Welcome!" and another one who will say that the CGM Chipmunk w/ 91 surpass is a winning combo!!!!

One word of caution though, an all-black color scheme like that can be very difficult to get a good orientation with. Think about throwing some good contrast into the design. A combination of light and dark colors is much easier to see from the ground

NCIS, Minn is right about throwing some contrast in the design on your purpl plane. It looks great sitting in front of you but trust me it will have a very vague look in the sky and the purple will muddy out at a distance. I have a plane with the purple covering and it was very hard to see before I added some Neon yellow bands to the wings. Other than the color, good job!!

I've got to throw in that they are absolutely correct too. While dark colors look great on the ground, the plane just becomes a small little "speck" in the air that is next to impossible to see, or tell which way is up. Bright contrasiting colors make for a much easier plane to fly.

Ken

The bottom of the fuselage is watermelon and the wingtips are pink. The ailerons and elevators are watermelon. The top of the fuselage is royal blue and pink. Outside in the sun it is very easy to see. Plus I don't fly my planes until they are a speck in the sky. I keep them close and fly about 40' to 50' high. Most of the time I'm at about 15' to 25'. Can't get disoriented at that height. Our field is small so maybe you can get about 250' to 350' away from you in each direction. I understand what your saying but I think this plane other than the purple will be easy to see. Remember my daughter picked out the colors and scheme. I'm stuck with it and I'll just have to make the best of it. The covering is not purple, it is painted Solartex. I still think it's sharp looking.[8D]

Gibbs

I have an Avistar and a 7CAP too with a Thundertiger .46 Pro engine. It flies great. You will love yours!

Thanks for all the encouragement and advice guys. I'm sure I'll change my mind a hundred times before I get around to actually covering it. Thats half the fun of model building. I get to day dream and sketch and plan all day long (hope the boss aint listnin...heh) Point taken with the contrast.
CharlieP...I think I'll heed your advice and slip a low wing trainer into my hanger. I'm going to a swap meet next Saturday morning . At this time of the year, there should be a nice selection of previously owned planes on the block.