Hey there,

I am looking to get back into r/c aircrafts. Anyways, other then my radio(which needs a charger and I also need a battery for the receiver which I misplaced as well), everything else is junk(engine, plane). The radio I'm thinking of storing though and getting a computer radio (Optic 6 or the Futaba 6channel one)

Originally I was going to get an RTF with the engine and radio included but because I want to get a better radio I'm looking at going with separate purchases(engine/radio/aircraft). The RTF's come with everything needed for the plane but I'm wondering this:

Do ARF's come with the extra parts needed like Pushrods and all of that?(in other words, is it a bring your radio, servos and receiver as well as the engine and drop them into the plane, connect everything and go?)

I know this plane seems to have it all:

[link]http://www.greathobbies.com/productinfo/?prod_id=TTT4523[/link]

Although I like that plane, I'd prefer something like this from hangar 9:

[link]http://www.greathobbies.com/productinfo/?prod_id=HAN2625[/link]

But the trouble is I live out 5 hours from the nearest hobby shop that carries anything and about 8 hours from the shop these links are from and I'm worried I'm gonna order things and be missing all sorts of stuff. Plus my budget is already way past my original plan when I thought my engine would be good to go and didn't have to get a new one.(went from about 200 bucks to about 400 or 500 bucks now) and I still need a few accesories. In other words, if the only ARF that comes with the needed hardware is the Thunder Tiger I might get that but I really like the Arrow from Hangar 9. If anyone knows of other kits out there that come with the hardware but without the engine and radio(ARF not RTF) that would be great.

I've put together a list of planes that make good trainers and second planes. All of them on the list are proven planes that are well suited for successfully letting students learn to fly, or advance to a second plane. Check out the list here
[link=http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_4537845/tm.htm] Looking for a trainer- what's available. (Updated 1-19-07) [/link]

Most of the links I have provided for this planes will be either to Tower Hobbies or Horizon Hobbies website, both of these will have notes to tell you what is included with the plane you are buying. But as a good rule of thumb most ARF's on the market today will include everything to get the plane flying, with the exception of the engine and radio. For the two that you listed they have a link on those pages for items that will be required to finish the plane and get it flying.

Hope this helps

Ken

You mentioned the Futaba 6 channel. I assume you meant this one
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXHYK7**&P=

You are at a fortunate time as you can also consider this Futaba 6 channel at a bit higher price and latest technology.
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0161p?&I=LZ2504
Of course you may wish to buy through a Canadian supplier.

Although I have a Futaba 4 channel controller sitting around(the old one) I think I'm gonna go with the Hitec one just because of the good words I've read about it(optic 6) and because I can get it on a great price at about 60 bucks off right now. Still not sure about the aircraft yet though.

I'm on the fence on whether or not to get the arrow from Hangar 9. The one thing I've read about the Tiger is that it comes with the connecting rods preinstalled with only a need to put the servos in and the engine. I also saw that it has bolt on wings. The advantage to the Arrow is it's the semi-semetrical wing and I guess that will allow for a little growth. I believe my first aircraft(the one I no longer have because of a mishap(crashed it into the forest cause I thought I was over clear field but my depth perception was off and going under the treeline when that's happening is not a good thing) was semi semetrical. Actually it kind of reminded me of one of those sticks with a tad of dihedral...

I have no experiences wit the Tiger but it is probably a good plane from the looks of it.

I HAVE taught several students to fly on the Arrow. It flies well and is as easy to handle as any other trainer. The wing does allow a bit more agility when you are ready for it.

I'd recommend the Arrow but either would be OK.

Yeah, I just talked to the guys that I'll be flying with and they recommended it too over the Tiger. I also went to our local hobby shop and although they aren't much of a hobby shop(mostly into radio communication products, they just so happened to have a Hitec Optic 6 that the owner got for himself but his heli needed a different one because it came with the standard servos and he wanted micro servos so he's giving me a great deal on it at 250$ CAD. It's a little more than the 199$ I was looking at but this one comes with the spectra synth and the servos as well as the batteries.

I also am going to go with the OSAX .46 engine for the setup. Can you recommend the correct size prop for this plane? Also if and which spinner I need?

An 11x7 Master Airscrew is a great prop for this plane. I like having my students use Master Airscrew props because they can take the rough beating that a student training dishes out and not break.

Ken

I was thinking a zinger or something wooden. I had a master airscrew on the last plane without a hitch but the one guy I fly with doesn't like em and prefers wooden. he's had a lot of master airscrews break on him. but good 11x7 sounds good. 10x6 work too? how about 11x6? Actually if someone has a primer to explain prop choices I'd love that. Oh btw, if anyone has any other online reading about anything in the r/c aircraft hobby I love reading. I can read hours on end. Primers, tutorials, things like that.

11x6 would be OK and would actually be easier to slow the plane for landing. A 10x6 is simply too small and would underload the engine. 10x6 would be better for a .40 engine.

Didn't notice the wood prop part of your question til now.
NO! Not at first, wood props break way too easy at the slightest touch with alsmost anything. You'll be buying a lot of props until you get your landings down. Once your landings are reliably good a wood or APC prop will be fine.

I still use MAS props, I'm just not all that worried about a little loss of efficiency due to flex.

Ok, thanks for the advice, I'll check out the MAS props to start off. I'm going to go ahead and post the question for primers and tutorials or guides in another thread and keep that seperate from this thread. It's kind of deep in this thread and I doubt many will see it.

I guess I got it narrowed down then:

Hitec Optic 6
Hangar 9 Arrow
OSAX .46
11x6 MAS prop

Do I need a spinner? and if so what size do I need? Maybe a particular model if possible so I buy the correct one.

The manual
http://www.hangar-9.com/ProdInfo/Fil...625-manual.pdf
recommends a White 2-1/4" spinner.

You should get a plastic one
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXK214&P=ML
or
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXE132&P=7
would be 2 examples that would work fine.

Thanks Bruce.

Is there anything else I'm forgetting here? I can't think of anything other then the usual accessories like fuel, glow plugs, starter, etc... But for the aircraft it self, I'm not remembering anything else. The kit comes with the pushrods, clevis, all of that. Even the fuel tank comes with it. The radio comes with receiver and battery as well as the servos and such. I guess that's it right?

I hate plastic spinners and always get aluminum now. They're a tad more expensive, but I find they hold the prop tighter and are nicer to look at.

If you choose to go aluminum, get a Great Planes or Tru-Turn spinner with the correct adapter.

Great Planes:

Spinner - http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXK231&P=ML

Adapter for 46 AX - http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXK235&P=V

Tru-Turn:

Spinner - http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXKD64&P=7

Adapter for 46 AX - http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXKE02&P=V

I'm guessing the adapters for the 46FX will work with the AX.

Just browse thru the manual posted above and see if there is anything mentioned that you can't do or don't have.

You can NEVER have too much fuel tubing laying around either. Looks like the surfaces are pre-hinged so that's a plus. Make sure you check them well, don't trust the factory. They've been known to sleep through that task before.

You can use alum spinner if you want, up to you. I never have. But I'm cheap.

BTW - if in doubt about spinner adaptors, ask them
[email protected]

Depends if it was a midweek built plane or a Monday/Friday plane hehe

Yeah... I can't wait to get started and for this snow to go away now. We had little snow this year until about a week ago and now we're getting it just about every day. We've gotten a foot at least in this past week GRRR

All in the timing.

Reading your thread I find no mention of how you get the fuel from the jug to the tank! You will need a device to do this. Hanger 9 has a hand pump that is inexpensive. You can go electric but this then requires another battery and charger! It never ends!!!

Phil

That was PROBABLY in "usual accessories like fuel, glow plugs, starter, etc... " in post 14 Phil but it never hurts to make sure.

Good to hear from ya Phil, we may have decent flying weather Sunday for a change.

haha... yeah you're right, I didn't mention it but I kind of did include it in the accessories. Thanks for pointing that out(I have one anyways, a hand pump that works really good)

If you haven't used it in a while give it a test. The seals may have gone bad or it may have otherwise gone bad. Test with fuel of course.