It's about time for me to start putting together my field box. Could some of you help me out as to what I need in it. I dont mean like glow plugs, extra props, etc. I see like starter batteries, and 12v batteries. What kind are they, and what kind of electronics do you have on them? Any help would be great!

Thanks,
Ben

Basically you want a 12 volt 7AH battery pack (Horizon or Tower) and you want a field charger that can charge 4, 5, 8 cell packs (glow, gas) or 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 cell packs (electric). Starter (glow) Glow Igniter (glow).

Don't waste your money on a power panel.
As far as brand, look below.

http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LC2120&P=1
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LC3757&P=1
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LC2273&P=1
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXL396&P=7

Thanks Geistware,

So I would need all 4 of those for sure?

For glow yes.
For electric, you don't need the glow igniter or starter.

I gave away my monster field box, and power panel mess years ago, and have gone to the basics. Makes life simple at the field. My battery is simply zip-tied to the starter...works like a charm. I've been using the same glow driver for 5 years...hasen't missed a beat. I've got a simple hand crank fueler...and it hasn't blasted me in the face or ruptured all over my box, and still works as good as it did when I bought it 5 years ago. Other necessities are your sun glasses, a small first aid kit, simple comon tools and your prop/plug wrench.

In my car there is another modest tool box full of props, plugs, small hardware trays, carb cleaner, repair items, etc...etc...but that box is only used if I need it, which is maybe one out of 10 afternoons of sport flying...or helping someone else. I always charge over night, and rarely use my field charger...but if I do need it, I pop the hood of my car and use the car battery.

I used to try and bring half my shop and half the hobby shop to the field...why? Because I saw everyone else doing it. It was like "whoever brings the most in the biggest box wins". There is absolutely nothing wrong with this if it's what you're into...but new guys also need to know that it's not necessary to enjoy a day of flying.

This is the box I use now:
http://members.cox.net/spad/pics/Tattoflightlinebox.jpg

Tatto said:
Other necessities are your sun glasses, a small first aid kit, simple comon tools and your prop/plug wrench.


After my first day of flight, I had enough experience to totally agree with this statement. Upon staging my plane, immediately after we (my instructor and I) fueled it, I applied the starter and got a face full of glow fuel. We had primed the engine a little to much and as a result the fuel shot straight out the carb and splattered all over the place. Had I not been wearing my stylish, yet protective, $4 safety sunglasses purchased from Home Depot, I could have been in some serious pain, if not worse.

Immediately thereafter my instructor asked if I had a glow plug wrench so we could remove the glow plug and empty the engine, and of course I didn't.

Bottom line... the sunglasses stay in the field kit, and a glow plug wrench will be added by next weekend. A nice shop towel will be thrown in for good measure as well.