Hi every one,
Well as stated Im new to the hobbie, Ive allready purchased a hobbieco superstar select .40, ive allready sent for my AMA licence. I havent spent any time in the air yet, but have flown on a simulater several times with good luck (Very fun). My question I guess would be after the time comes when Im ready to move onto my 2nd plane, and off the trainer what would be a good choice to try, or what is reconmended? Im leaning towards a kitt so it would give me something to work on, plus give me more respect for the plane as I have spent time building it. I was thinking something as a .60 biplane as those are problly my most favorit planes. Should I wait on that one and try something else, or push forward with my thoughts? Any opinions, or thoughts are welcome please.

Scott

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 12-20-07) [/link]

Hope this helps

Ken

Very nice!! I have one of those. I bought it as a club trainer but seem to gravitate to that plane for pure fun and relaxation. Great plane to learn with.

Now, do yourself a favor and get a buddy bo and an instructor to help you go throug the training. The simulator is fine, but it will not get you through the necessary first few flight trining you really need. You want to learn to fly without destroying that fine aircraft.

As far as a second plane is concerned, the list that RCKen developed is a great place to look over and see what you want to fly next. My second plane was a Tiger 60 with an OS 61 SF engine. Great combination. The plane is a great second because it is very stable and large.. which is a good combination because you can see what it is dong and how your inputs work with the plane's response. That goes with any larger low wing trainer type aircraft.

Remember.. find a good instructor and work with him to get qualified. You won't regret it.

CGr.

I would think the biplane would be a 3rd or even a 4th plane but not a 2nd. I think that the CG Tiger 60 or the Sig 4* 60 would be a better 2nd plane. Either of those would be a good kit to build while learning on the trainer. You are planning on using an instructor aren't you?

Most certainlly, I really want to do this the right way on the first attempt. I dont know how long I should stay on the trainer, but was thinking a few months. Now I guess it would be up to me as to when im ready to move up. I dont want to rush things, but looking to find a new project plane to work on. and during that time I can locate the engine and recievers and servose needed to complete it. Hopping to have new plane built and flying by mid summer, or sooner.

Good luck and welcome to the addiction

Thank you, I cant wait till the time comes so I can get some real air time. This is a very exciting hobbie with a lot of neat, cool aircraft in it. So what would be a good 2nd plane thats not too difficult to build, and has a good reputaion for stable flight?

why the warning off the Bi plane .

I am also a novice ( hence the name) and have bought a GP super stearman.
I did this because I like the plane and don't have the space to have a full size one.
I wish to have it as an absolute replica and so want to do a rotary engine to gain the visual effect.
Does anyone know how many cylinders they had?

Also any other hints on assembly would be appreciated.

At the moment the aim is to build
after that I will learn to fly

Aussie Novice

Check out the Pulse XT.

IMHO it makes a great second plane that you will never tire of.

You can purchase it as the PNP version so you can merely plug in your receiver, set up your radio and go.

It will transition with you to acrobatics but is docile enough on landing to be no problem.

Biplanes are great, don't get me wrong. I feel that all real planes have two wings. But, in the context of this forum dealing with beginners biplanes aren't something to consider. A biplane should only be flown after the pilot has some good experience behind him. Biplanes require some flying skills that simply take some time to develop. Probably the biggest on is landing. A biplane literally has to be flown right down to the ground. You can't land it like a trainer where you chop the throttle and "float" it in. If you do that with a biplane you are going to be bringing it home in a bag because you'll stall it on approach. Another problem with biplanes is perception. Because of the 2 wings of the plane it will appear "boxy" in the air. This can make it difficult to tell which way the plane is oriented at times, which can lead to a crash if you think that the plane is right side up and when it's not.

There are other things to consider as well, but this gives an idea of what we're talking about. I recommend that pilots wait until at least their 3rd or 4th plane before getting a biplane.

Ken

Follow the link RCKen provided in post number 2 and scroll toward the bottom for a list of 'second' planes. Any of them will have good flight characteristics and the ones that are kits will be straight forward builds. Pick the one that looks best to you and you really can't go wrong. Ken spent a lot of time creating the list, and he didn't include anything that should be out of reach for a first time builder.

Thanks rcKen, Now are the warbirds something that should wait aswell? There are alot of planes I like, but with that I do understand there will be a limmit to what I need at this point, so I geuss thats why Im asking now what would be good? Are there such things as trainer 2's, and 3's? What I mean is ok you train on this one for a while, then next is samething with a few modifcations and sofourth?

It can be 7 or 9 depending on the size and horsepower.
http://crunch22.blogspot.com/2006/07...ey-radial.html
I don't think there are 7 or 9 cylinder radials for models
http://www.hobbyhorse.com/fa325.shtml
Here is a hand-made 9 cylinder http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1rjRmTV9qE
As you can see they are pricey.

The only warbird I would consider as a second plane is the Hangar 9 P-51 PTS which is not available in a kit.
As far as 3rd plane goes? That is impossible for anyone to say because by that point pilots skills vary way too much to judge.
You may be ready for just about anything or you may need smaller steps, it is all up to how fast YOU advance.

You asked this same question in someone elses thread.
I posted the link to a build thread 40 pages long that will answer all your questions about the GP Super Stearman.
As already stated it is by far not something a beginner should even consider trying to fly. I have one, it is about my 7th or 8th plane and second Bi-plane.
Please go to this thread to ask questions about the Super Stearman:

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_17...tm.htm#1723916

The Hangar 9 P-51 is available as an ARF though. http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products...ProdID=HAN2375

I understand and acknowledge that everyone who has contributed to this thread is being helpfull and answers are all very good, but as a new flyer the word trainer brings up connotations of an plane that will get people flying and do little else. I have been flying for a number of years and the thing I have learnt about "Trainers" is that they can be very versatile aircraft. They will do loops, barrell rolls, immelman turns, cuban 8, figure 8 flying and will spin pretty well if you have the control throws set fairly wide open. Have also seen experienced pilots do circles of barrell rolls and really throw these planes about. The modern trainer is both strong and versatile as long as it is treated with a certain amount of respect. If you buy good quality gear whether it be a radio or engine or plane and you are prepared to be patient you can learn most flying manouvres on them. The World Models World Star can be a tripod or it can be a tail dragger just depends which way you set it up. It is also set up to install flaps aswell as ailerons if you want to go down that road later on. If you have a good quality motor like an OS 46ax or Thunder Tiger Pro 46 they can be used in a number of models, they have plenty of power and are extremely reliable. Buy a radio with lots of model memory, they are not much more expensive than a radio with only 3 model memory and the few dollars extra for the more versatile equipment will pay dividends in the long run. For the record I sold off my standard trainer type aircraft and now use a Taylorcraft with a 120 OS four stroke in the nose as my principal training plane, is big, noisy and most importantly for me and my slowly failing eye sight very easy to see. So don't let the term "Trainer" bog you down, you can do just about anything with them in the early stages, throw them all over the sky and they do perform very well.

Thats a sweet plane, thats one id like to have soon, but I think that a person could loose respect for a plane if they didnt build it them self, I dont know for certain but I think that if you spent weeks building one you tend to be a little more caucios. Thats just the way I think of it.

"Welcome to the addiction." Very fitting.

I'm only a little more aged in this hobby than you. I started last April building my first plane. Finally got it flying in August. (Long story) And was about ready to solo when the weather turned against me.

When I first went to the airfield, I saw a Shrike there. I could hear it scream by. I have a good ear, I could discern the difference between the motor scream, and the wind noise. I thought. "I gotta get me one of them!" Another day, Doc brought out a beautiful Pitts Special and I thought. "Forget the Shrike, I gotta get me one of those!" And so on, and so on.

My advice. Build/fly your trainer. Then build/fly your second plane, be it a 4*60, Tiger 60, or Pulse, or whatever. Where you want to go with your 3rd, 4th or 5th plane will probably be a moving target for a while. Once you've gotten good at your second plane, you'll probably have arrived at a good idea what you want for a 3rd plane. THEN open your wallet.

FWIW, my first plane is a Sig LT40. My second trainer is a Senior Telemaster (on the building boards now) My next build, a Mid-star 40, then a 4*60. I figure I'll be doing good to be able to fly them well by the end of this next summer.

Scott, welcome aboard! This is a great ( though at times it can be frustrating ) hobby. One thing you might want to consider as you move from your trainer to more " advanced " planes. I know I`ve been glad I kept my Avistar in flying condition, even after I acquired and started flying other planes. It`s always good to have a backup for that inevitable day when that second or third plane reaches its unexpected and unknown " expiration date ". Also, you may find at times that you just want to relax and " just fly ".

Thanks TideFlyer, Hey guys while I was looking thru some of the other forums here on this site I came across a sig four star 40, now I like that plane and would like to try to build that one. Does anyone know who actully makes it? and where can I get one at?

The Sig Four Star 40 is built by Sig Mfg.. They are available through Tower Hobbies, and should also be available at any hobby shop that sells models. They are about the most popular models for second planes, and for good reason. They are easy to build and fly great. They come in 40, 60, and 120 size, in kits and ARF form.

I built a 4*40 for my second plane and I love it. I hear the 60 is even better. Go ahead and build one, you won't regret it.

Found one thanks a bunch, well thats the one im going to build. Now what colors? Is there any perticular colors that are easyer to see in the air versas something thats hard to see? I think I would like to go blue/white trimmed in either red or orange. I geuss the possibilitys are limitless arent they.

For colors, what you really want to look for is contrast. Generally you try to keep the top lighter than the bottom, and also include some directional cues, like diagonal lines, sunbursts, etc..

Using different colors, such as red/blue may look good on the ground, but up in the air they will look the same. I really like checkerboard on the bottom of wings and stabs. It gives great visibility that you are looking at the bottom rather than the top.

My Four Star is all red with just different decals on the top vs. the bottom, and orientation can be tough on a cloudy day, but there is nothing prettier than True Red Monokote in the sunshine. If I ever recover it, I'm going to checker the bottom.

Cool thanks, How hard is it to cover a plane with monokote? I assuming it takes practice right? Allso can a person buy balsa wood at a lumber store? instead of the local hobbie shops? I placed a bid on ebay for a set of plans for a Carl goldberg sky tiger .40 for $1.50 and won it. I would like to find a place to get the wood at a good price with out over paying for it, something local would be better.