I think SPADS are cool! They are definately a plane for me!

I know a kid built this election sign. It cost me all of maybe 13 bucks minus engine, radio and servos..We do build from election signs, because 1. We can, 2. They're cheap, and 3. it's not looks we're shootin for most of the time 4. They're fun!!!

Thanks Tattoo!


But I say go for the balsa trainer..join that club..then meet all the kind folks there flying SPADS-and meet the ones flying planks - you'll have to decide for yourself which path you take-but the option is there and we gladly give it to you.

The trainer you have in mind is not a bad trainer at all btw, it's fine. We just love our SPADs and have been in your shoes. That's kind of pricey for my blood-for a trainer-even equipped, personally I would shop around or even get one online if you decide to go that route(Fully equipped plane).

As far as bashing the SPAD site, or SPADs : that's cool to each their own-but Tattoo does nice work on his site-and our sites are not commercially motivated in any way.


Good Luck with your new hobby-

Well, well, well!

1st of all, my apologies to Tattoo about the website; It was not my intention to degrade anyone here, but that's just me, I am very picky when it comes to websites me being a former webmaster. Sorry again.

I agree with GhostBear, I am just gonna check out the field and if I see that it's worth the $100 a year I will join. I will see what kind of trainers they are using, and by this I can make up my mind on what to buy.

I have no esperience on building anything, not with Balsa wood or election signs, like they say. Tatoo, is there a RTF version of your SPAD's?

I don't want to build anyting yet, I am a computer geek and I am not good on building things, yet.

If you are not good at building things yet this could be an expensive endeveur you are undertaking. I personally am always fiddling with my planes. There is a very good chance that you will need to repair your plane during your learning process. You might want to try a SPAD or kit instead of a RTF for the simple reason that you need some repair skills or else minor crashes may require the purchase of a new model. Just a thought

Imcruz,

Let me state my opinion on a couple of things:

LT-40 ARF building difficulty -

Not really that hard, I had almost zero experience. Mine flew the first day I took it to the field, there were a few on-site adjustments. My comments on intimidating were based on building a kit, not an ARF.

LT-40 "fragility" -

I personally think this argument is vastly overstated. I had one "crash" in six months of flying. And it involved a six foot high dirt pile at the very end of the runway. The damage involved a broken nose "cheek" and a cracked motor mount. Took me about 2 hours to fix (including glue drying time). Simply put, if you use common sense and fly within your limitations, I don't think you're very likely going to crash a trainer.

Of course, if you try to fly inverted at 3 feet off the deck the second flight, you might want something indestructible.

GB

Give it Time ghostbear give it time!!!

Crashem,

When I read through a lot of these newbie threads, I feel like the newbies are being given the impression that when you go to the field, EACH flight ends in a pile of balsa sticks that you have to go home and fix.

In my (limited) experience, of the five guys in our flight training program last year, only one had a major crash. He hit the same dirt pile I did, but was going much faster. He's spent the winter rebuilding the fuse on his bird.

On the other hand, the "experienced" pilots in the club dropped birds like flies. Flat spin into the ground, knife edge into a tree, you name it.

So I don't disagree with the adage that "Its only a matter of time till you have a crash."

I just don't think that the risk during a conservative, instructor-led training program is that high.


GB

Ghostbear,

Just want to clarify a few things

The potential exists for newbie's and experienced pilots alike!

One out of 5 thats a pretty good rate.


Aerobatics can challange both the pilot and plane

I would also agree with this statement..

However if you read my comment you would see that I was addressing Imcruz's statement that he is not good at building things yet... One thing I have learned is that if you have the skills neccessary to build or repair your model these little setbacks (crashes) are not such a insurmountable problem. The only way Imcruz will aquire the skills neccessary to build repair a model plane is by actually doing it. Thats why I suggested a kit and or SPAD kill two birds with one stone if you will learn how to build and repair what your going to fly. Otherwise the alternative is buy a new ARF plane after every crash. Sounds pretty expensive to me.

I agree with Ghostbear. I have never seen a trainee crash. But I have seen a bunch of "experienced" flyers bury their planes.

Also, there is so much help to be found one does not have to have "building skills" to actively participate in this hobby. Saying so is misleading.

I was really looking at the RTF version of the LT-40, but yall have me thinking now reading all of these posts.

How hard is it to build the LT-40? how much time would it take me to build one with only 6 hours a week of building time?

I agree that if I build it from scratch it would be a lot easier to fix it if I damage anything.

Model building is not that hard. the instruction with most trainer kits and the LT-40 in particular are an execellent resource. It might take you as much as two or three months with 6 hours a week. As they say the experience is priceless don't let building scare you as I said before basic building skills are something that you will allways have a need for.

Imcruz when I started in this hobby the only ways you got a plane were you built it yourself or bought it from a club member who built it there was no such things as ARF.

Thats also why SPAD's are so attractive to some because the construction times are much lower.

What ever you decide remember its a hobby and the point is to have fun!!!!

These boards are a great resource but remember that all replies are opinion. "You gots' to pick and chose"

lmcruz, Welcome to the obsession...I mean hobby!

The instructions and laser cut parts in the LT-40 kit make it almost impossible to "F.U.B.A.R". Also the LT-40 is a sweet flying plane! The most important part of building is having an absolutely flat surface to work on! And do each step in sequence.

Also We (the on line community) Are hear to help!

Regards
Mark

I am currently building the LT-40. It's freakishly simple. All the pieces fit together, all you need to do is line up the lines and glue it.
In 6 hours one day, I got both wings glued up and glued together. The fuse takes a little longer because epoxy is involved. Ca glue dries really fast, so it'll go together in no time.

Ptgarcia,

Maybe where you live that is true. But please define your defination of "help" It's one thing to ask for advice in repairing a plane its another not being able to do it your self and require "help" after every mishap.

As corny as this sounds I believe it best describes why learning to build is an important aspect of this hobby.

"Give a man a fish and he eats for a day. Teach him to fish and he eats for life."

Not having any "building skills" and relieing on the kindness of others will make you unpopular at the field in time.

Yes, but that's not the point. Some people drive to the flying field in a Volkswagen Dune Buggy. Some drive a Cadillac.

Is the guy who drives the Caddy crazy because he can drive something that's much cheaper?

I would bet that the Caddy was not the guys first car.

I don't care what the guy flies. This is a great sport build and fly whatever you want. I fly SPADs because I love to fly and experiment. If I try something new and it does not work, it cost me little time and money. If it does work I enjoy the feeling I get for making something my own. Either way I share my results with other people that enjoy building SPADS. Its great that you have the time and money to fly your CADDY, but we are just tring to give other options to those who can't afford the time or money or are just bored with the hobby and need something new

nukes

Imcruz,

In case you haven't noticed, you have ignited the never ending wars between:

Kit vs. Arf
Balsa vs. Spad

Hopefully you can glean what YOU want from all of the ardent posts. I think a few trips out to your local field will be invaluable.

Anyway, I think you mean ARF (almost ready to fly) not RTF (ready to fly), an RTF has the engine and radio gear installed. I don't think there is an LT-40 RTF. The LT-40 ARF comes covered, but you have to finish the wing, flight control surfaces, tail feathers, landing gear, set up the fuel tank, install radio gear, add decals and a few other things. I found this to be plenty of "building" for my tastes (the first time out).

It took me about six weeks to get my LT-40 ARF ready to fly. I probably put from 3 - 10 hours a week in on it. Wife, kids, job, and modeling skills all intruded upon my building time.

I'm currently building a 4*60 kit and I still go pretty slow. I use mostly wood glue because I am still afeared of messing up and like the extra time. I fear CA because balsa is fragile and it sets up too fast for my taste (most of the time). The SIG kits and instructions are good, but I find them somewhat lacking since I am used to computer manuals. The 4* kits plans have many pictures, but they don't always show the step in question and they often reference parts but don't describe them enough for my tastes (so you have to deduce which piece it is). Quibbles, mind you, but something to be aware of.

Also, you, being a misbegotten heathen could be flying tomorrow. Here in Ohio we are still months away from moderately decent flying weather. So you need to ponder what's more important to you, building for a few months or flying in a week or so.

Anyway, have fun.

Tim

Thank you Ghostbear!!!!!!

This is exactly why it is important to learn to build with a beginner kit..

I've said this before and I'll say it again.

Trainer airplane kits are designed to teach TWO Skills basic flying and building. The 4* kit is the next step up in both the learning and building departments.

Anybody remember why certain college classes had prerequisites???? Couldn't take spanish 401 unless you had spanish 301.

Its the same thing with building kits You don't try a skill level 2 or 3 kit if you haven't mastered skill level 1!!!!

ARFs allow you to skip the beginning building skills that are explained when you build that type of aircraft and assumed in the instructions associated more advanced models.


Again build or buy its up to you. Just don't think that building/repairing skills are not important

It's your loss, so I'm not sure why I'm wasting my time on this response, but I think there is something important to be said here.

Your attitude is causing you to miss what the Internet is all about. HTML took off like a rocket because any KID (of any age) could put up a web page. Over the years, the professional artists and web-page designers have gradually changed the commercial pages to be glitzy and aesthetically pleasing. That's great if you're a big company with lots of money.

What if you're not a big company? Maybe you're just a person with a big heart, a lot of friends, and a teensy bit of money. You'd be Tattoo, one of my Internet heros. You could use this technology, and a lot of time and sweat, and build a huge Internet community. You could help people all over the world find happiness in RC Flying. THAT is what the Internet is all about!

Now, after putting your heart and soul into it, and your friends' heart and time and soul and labor, someone on the forum says, "Well I'm not even going to read your web page, because I don't like the aesthetics."

What would you say? Personally, I'd say that is the height of disrespect. But not Tattoo. Oh no. My Internet hero always responds, but always with a touch of humor, lightness, and respect. That is why he has built such a huge following.

Do yourself a favor. Read some of the SPAD pages. Understand that Tattoo did all the plans with nothing but MS Paint. Get involved. I doubt the Spad webmaster would turn down an offer of assistance.

It's not THEIR web page, it's OURS. If you have ideas on how to make them better, I'm sure the webmasters would like to hear them.

Well said. I am tempted to spend a good 30 minutes coming up with a retort of my own, but that would be redundant, and to tell you the truth, if close-minded folks who are so willing to dish out harsh critism over something they know little or nothing about decide not to fly Spads, THAT'S JUST PEACHY WITH ME. They may not deserve the absolutely liberating feeling of that first flight anyway. BTW, you may (or may not) want to have a peek at the April issue of R/C Report, coming out within a week. There's a 7 page article on a plastic, childish, ugly plane that many might know as the DPS. Head for the Hills.

Good luck IMCRUZ, hope you can make sense about these issues. I built the LT from a kit, taking my time over one winter. I learned a lot about building. I flew it with an instructor and it flies wonderfully with a .32OSFx or with a .46OSFx. When the rudder fell off, a weakness on the plane, I repaired it a day. But I wanted to learn to fly, not repair planes, and live in fear of the smallest mishap being a disaster, so I built an Airmadillo. It is easy to build in a day, is relatively cheap, and is VERY DURABLE. Then I built a SNS, easily doing it in a day, and my flying experiences will never be the same. The possiblities are endless, materials cheap, and the support phenomenal! Jump in and buy an Airmadillo for a trainer (beware for it is really a Spad in disguise) if you want to build something from a kit, or jump in to the greatest ride ever and build a Debonair. An inexpensive .40 LA will pull either, and you will be grinning like you never thought possible when your creation actually flies.

Well, I just got my AMA # and I am planing on checking out some clubs in my area. Depending what I see and like I will go from there. I am not a Balsa or a SPAD guy, I am actually nothing, all I want is to have fun flying on a good trainer.

I am not waisting my time on a response to Pinball or FrankC29 since I already gave my apologies to Tattoo, plus you don't need to be a huge company to have a nice website, just a couple of hours to make it sell the goods. It's actually called marketing and advertising. It works for Burger King, I always end up getting a whopper after one of there commercials.

Anyways, I appreciate all of the info you have all provided me. I am doing my research and I will keep you all posted.

Sometimes people get their panties in a bunch over nothing. My simple mind just doesn't understand this. Good luck, lmcruz, and enjoy the hobby.

If you're an IT guy, sure, a couple hours. If you're a regular guy, than no, not a couple hours. Hiring someone to make things slick costs money, and would add nothing to the Spad site but perhaps a membership fee. I'll take the homey, cozy, rough-around-the-edges Spad site anyday over a comercial, slick, eye-pleasing pay site. Whoppers are not free. Spad plans are. Regardless I wish you luck, and hope you find success with whatever plane/club you choose. That's what it's all about, enjoying the hobby. Just add fun and stir.

Thanks FrankC29,

I am actually checking the SPAD web right now; doing my research for when the time comes.

I am excited I found this message board; I now know that I am not alone on the hobby.