Hi All-

I recently purchased this flight pack http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXMHB2&P=7 for my Sig Four Star 60 I am working on. This will be my second glow plane, I am currently learning to fly with my Great Planes PT-40.

I am starting to wonder if I made the right choice in terms of servos. Should I have gotten the digital servo flight pack instead?

Can I use a mini servo to control the throttle and save a little weight? I want to build this plane as light as possible.


I am also thinking about getting a 2.4ghz radio (I have a Futaba 4YF now), which would come with a flight pack. Would it make more sense to return this flight pack I just bought, and get the new radio now so I don't have an obsolete receiver down the road? I would love to have a 6 or 7 channel radio for my 4* so I can have flaperons.

Any advice would be helpful, I am confident in my building skills, just a little lost with component selection...

James

That flight pack will be fine for a 4*, and 72MHz radios are far from obsolete.

That said, if you are thinking about going to a 2.4 system, no reason not to do it now.

And yes, a mini servo will work fine on throttle.

Well I didn't mean completely obsolete, but rather obsolete for me when I get a 2.4, considering I will want all my planes to have 2.4ghz receivers. I suppose I could sell or trade my 72mhz receivers (I have 3 now) when I decide to buy a 2.4 system....

Thanks for the advice!

James

You can get a Futaba 6ch spread spectrum for $230. It would take you a while to outgrow 6 channels, and this is a great computer radio. Comes with 4 servos for $230. You would have to pay shipping to return what you bought you can get a discount on this radio at Tower, unless what you bought already qualified you for a discount.

I personally wouldn't want an 8 channel radio that wasn't a computer radio (can't mix any channels together, name/store your models, etc.)

You might also be able to find an 8 channel spread spectrum from somewhere else, diff. manufacturer (Airtronics $230/no servos)

There is nothing wrong with 72 Mhz radios, and no need to get rid of them just because you have a 2.4 Ghz system. I have 3 2.4 radios and 6 72 Mhz system, and I use all of them to this day. Why sell the radio just because it's 72 Mhz?? It will still fly your planes, and you don't have to spend extra money. Save it and use it to fly your planes with. There is no law that says you have to have only one radio.

Ken

Thanks Ken,

My plan was to hold off on buying a new radio until I really need more channels, and to see if the prices come down more on the 2.4 systems. I will keep this flight pack I bought and install it in my 4* and fly with the 4YF radio I have now... I need to save some money right now anyway, I've gone way over my budget for hobby supplies.

I also have a Goldberg Gentle Lady kit that my uncle gave me so maybe down the road the gear that comes with a new radio will go into that.

James

Since the flight pack comes with 5 perfectly good servos, and the 4*60 needs 5 servos, I would not buy a mini servo to save an ounce or so on a 7 pound model. If it was a 4 servo flight pack I might consider a lighter throttle servo.

I have a 4*60 awaiting its first flight. From everything I've heard about it, flaperons are totally unnecessary.

I agree, use a servo from the flight pack for the throttle. You will never notice any difference in the airplane by using a lighter throttle servo.

Sorry about this post I thought the flight pack came with a basic FM radio and didn't understand why you wanted a cheap multichannel radio when you already had a 4ch. Definitely no need for a new radio right now.

That flight pack is a really good deal, especially if you get a discount for being over $100. The servos are the 3001's which are nice.

As Ken said, this is a good step. You can get the 2.4 gig radio system any time and STILL use the servos with the new receiver. So, do what you must, and enjoy the Four Star 60. It's a great plane. One suggestion, though, on your maiden, do that with an instructor with the buddy box attached. Fly a few tanks with the buddy box system to get used to that low wing setup as compared to the high-wing trainer. They are quite different.

As far as the 2.4 Gig systems are concerned, don't get all concerned about brand names. Get what you feel is good for you, no matter what it is.. Futaba, Airtronics, JR, Spektrum, all are worth every penny they sell for. Check them out closely and buy what you like.

I have two Airtronics 72 MHz systems, an RD6000 and an RD8000 system. I also have a Spektrum DX7 2.4 GHz radio system. I love them all, they work just fine and do whatever I demand of them. Airtroncis has the new RDS8000 on the market now, and the price is very competitive. Very worth taking a look at.

Best of luck with the Four Star 60!! I'm sure you will like it. I had the Four Star 40 and loved it. I traded it with another guy in the club and he still has it and flys it. Great plane. (oops, I already said that )

CGr.