So I am wanting to buy a second plane and start to build it while I am still learning on my trainer. What do you guys think of a Great Planes CAP 232 for a second plane and a first build plane?

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXJ578&P=0

Let me know what you think.

it mite be a little too much for a second plane, it says "good 2nd low wing" I would look at the trainer list that was made for this forum and look at the second plane list. a four star 40 would be my first choice or a stick, sticks are great second planes. that cap should be 3rd or 4th plane, just my opinion

The Cap 232 you linked to is a nice setup with a DA-50 for power. However, its a large stepup from the trainer your now flying.

A good second airplane would be something like an Ugly Stik still high wing airplane capable of doing some nice aerobatics. A lot of pilots keep a Stik in their hanger as good utility flier for windy days and knocking around its fun to fly. The Cap could possibly be a good follow on airplane from the Stik.

Good luck with your quest there are a lot of nice airplanes to choose from.

Steve is right. Take a look at the review that Minnflyer did on the Goldberg Protege. I have one and love it. This too would make an outstanding second plane. Although it's a high-wing plane, it is one capable plane and flys very well, and lands like a trainer.

Mine is powered by the OS .75 AX. The review suggests an OS .55 AX. Either way, you got a winner with that model.

And a third consideration would be the Goldberg Tiger 60.. this is a low wing plane and is equally as good for all the reasons already mentioned. Power that with an OS .75 AX or though, at a minimum.

(Yeah, I favor the OS engines, and there is a reason for that. I've tried many different engines and always come back to my OS engines as being the most reliable and easy to start and maintain).

CGr.

Well if thats what you want, get it. "When" you bring it back to the house in a garbage bag, then maybe choose a Stick or maybe a Four Star. There is a learning process here. Would rather learn these mistakes on a $1500 plane or a $400?
The bigger they are, the harder they fall.

Lots of varibles of course but generally its a very poor choice simply because you are skipping too many rungs of the skills ladder at once. Folks who tend to skip many of the rungs will at some point suffer the consequences.

I think Tower Hobbies might be a bit generous listing that plane as a good second low wing.
My opinion is any Cap 232, sport scale or not, is way out of your league for now as far as a second plane.
Steve Steinbring:
Am I missing something or did you just recommend a 50cc gas engine for a .40 size Cap?

The 232 requires a few advanced piloting techniques to fly properly and safely. You will find this airplane too difficult to fly and will likely have an accident sooner rather than later. I would choose something from RCKen's list of 'second' models. A low wing conventional gear model is a good choice, but not THAT one.

Be patient. You'll be able to fly the Cap like a pro in a few summers.

Allfat,
Whatever plane YOU choose as a second plane, get an accomplished flier to check it out, trim it, and put you on a buddy box with it until you are confident you can take off, fly and land it and he/she is in agreement with you. Best of luck to you.

Missileman,

MY Bad! I clicked on Great Planes rather than other link that Allfat had listed. It took me to a 27% Cap 232 with a 50CC listed for $750.00 quite a leap, nice setup though.

Still think a Stik or something similiar would be a good choice, I still keep an old Sweet Stik flyable as a knock around bird. The 40 size with a .46 would be a good setup and kind on fuel.

This plane is no bigger than my trainer. It has a 58" wingspan which is about the same as my trainer. And the kit is only $100, so it probably will not even cost $400 to put together.

And correct me if I am wrong, but I was under the impression that larger aircraft were actually easier to fly than smaller because the wind effects them less. And with the dihedral built into the wings, I think it would be fairly stable.

And I have a computer radio, so couldn't I just decrease the throws on the control surfaces to make it a little more docile while I am still learning how to fly it, then ramp it up when I am ready for it?

I was planning on not flying it myself for the first time, I do not think that I am ready to maiden any planes yet. But I think that I am ready for a sportier plane than my trainer is, it is a little sluggish in the air.

But keep the comments and suggestions coming.

A CAP232 is just not a second plane. It has some spirited responses to inputs that may be just to much for someone that has not yet flown a low wing trainer yet. Understand that they don't fly the same as a high wing trainer at all, and are much faster in just about every aspect of flying than a trainer is.

You asked, we're answering. We're trying to be honest with you and save you some grief and a few $$$. Sure, you can get it if you wish, build it, then put it aside and fly something more reasonable for a few months. THEN if you feel confident, go ahead and give it a shot.

What will happen is this: You will fly your intermediate low-wing trainer type for a few months then fly the CAP232 and say, "What were those guys talking about, this thing is a piece of cake". Or, if you choose to fly it without experience with such an aircraft, it will go like this: "Wow, man this thing is a hand full. I hope I can land it" or "HEY.. can you help me land this thing? It's to much for me!!". I've helped a few guys that did just that, and the plane, not a CAP232, but a Something Extra in one case, and it was a bit to much for me at first till I flew it a few orbits to get used to the way it handled. Then I landed it and told him that it was way to much for a beginner...

Well, you get the picture, I'm sure.

CGr

Sounds like you already have your mind made up!!
You are right about size but only to a point, aircraft design is just as big of a factor as size if not more.
Your trainer and a good first low wing plane will usually drop the nose if you stall the wings . That may result in a hard landing but the airplane will most often survive. The Cap 232 will drop a wing and roll to one side (known as the Cap snap) the results are usually a garbage bag full of splinters.

ditto to all of the advice, just because it is the same size does not mean it will fly the same. the biggest thing, besides being a low wing, is the airfoil on the wing itself. your trainer had a wide, flat bottom, very stable airfoil with alot of lift. the cap has a thin, symetrical, tapered wing. it needs alot of speed to make lift. that is the worst combonation for a new pilot. the add also says " a good second low wing" that means a good plane after your first low wing. it doesnt say " good second plane" I would spend that hundred and get a stick. then a four star 40. IMHO a high wing intermediate plane should be mastered before a low wing period.

Alright, gotcha.

I guess I misinterpreted Tower's little note there to think it was a good second plane, I did not think about it like that. Thanks for the advice guys!

What about an electric or a glider?

There's a lot of GREAT glider kit's out there, and almost any nitro/gas plane can be made electric. For example, take a look at this baby:
http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/s...idProduct=5139

and a great glider kit:
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXSK13&P=0
or
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXDJC3&P=0
or
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXFG09&P=0
and maybe this, but it's kinda small:
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXM399&P=0

I agree that many of the write-ups for planes are misleading, making you think that they are OK for a second plane. I'm looking for one too, asking many of the same questions, and finding out that some planes marketed as 'intermediate' or 'stable low wing' planes are really for advanced pilots.

BTW, i can give you some links for radio gear to be able to build any of the glider kits i linked to for under $200, with the cheaper kits aroud $150.

GREAT receiver, works with ANY 72Mhz FM Tx:
http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/s...idProduct=5781
Small size, low weight, 1+ mile range.


AWESOME servo's for an incredible price:
http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/s...idProduct=5502
http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/s...sp?idProduct=2
http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/s...idProduct=3743

i wouldent recomend a cap 232 because they can be very hard to fly. As a second plane i would go for a black horse speed air 40. This plane is a low wing and will let you fly it as a trainer or as an aerobatic plane. This is capable of doing all aerobatic manovers.

So I decided on the Sig 4 Star 40 kit to buy. I am planning on purchasing it from Tower Hobbies since none of my LHS have it in stock. Thank you for all your help guys, I can't wait to start the build.

You should do well with the Sig. That's a first kit for many folks. After you've learned on it, you could go to a 3D plane to practice tight and quick maneuvers, like a Hangar-9 Twist. My experience indicates that the Twist would be more forgiving because of the thick airfoil, yet more agile because of the larger control surfaces. When you feel you're up to it, you can put the old engine on the Cap 232 and give it a whirl. On RealFlight G4, the Cap was trickier for me than a lot of other planes, including the Ultimate bipe. It would snap to no end and I had to watch my airspeed when landing.

NorfolkSouthern

Yeah, there are a couple guys with Twist's at my flying field, and they seem to like them a lot. They are not great 3D pilots, but I think they got them recently so they are still learning how to do stuff with them.

Great choice with Fourstar, it was my second plane/first build. Mine had magnum .52 4-stroke.
I will soon celabrate 10 years in the hobby by building another one! Best of luck!!!!

There are good copies of the $149 Four Star for $99 or even $84. You can leave the name brand behind and get really good flying from these, called low wing trainers. Dolphin ARF and Sky Raider Mach ll both fly as well as the Four Star 40. In fact, the Dolphin has a better floating characteristic that can get you to land with half the airspeed of the Four Star, and it will take a better beating, from my experience.

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXLGM8&P=ML

http://ecsvr.com/abm/shopexd.asp?id=1958

You can always read the user ratings here on RCU that have written from direct personal experience what they thought of their plane.
You get building tips, and learn the weaknesses of each plane that they encountered before you plunk down your money and go it alone.

Thanks for the tip, but I want to do a kit build, and not an ARF.