I am looking at getting an R/C airplane sometime in the near future. I've been in the R/C car hobby for about 10 years now and would like to get started with planes. I already know i would like to go with gas/glow power. And i'm thinking i would start in the .40-.60 range. This is my dilema, I am planning on starting with a trainer but once i get experienced enough flying it i would like to be able to convert to floats. For whatever reason Float planes are the biggest attraction to me right now. I like the warbirds but i think it would be a lot of fun to have a plane that can fly from the water. I was hoping i could get some advice or suggestions from people with more experience than me. I had thought about getting a Piper j-3 cub and learn on that and when ready make the conversion to floats, but my dad advised against starting with a cub. He used to fly R/C airplanes but hasn't for around 15 years now. I also have an alternate objective of getting him back into flying also. thanks for any help

Yeah...don't get the cub for your first model.

Get a kadet or a senior kedet.
Get a .50 size engine for it...so this way when you go to floats, you'll still have power to spare.
A kadet is bigger than most trainers with plenty of wing area for lift.
A senior kadet ..while still in the .40 size range has a big wing....80"

I dunno.. maybe look into those Balsa USA model, later (North Star). It's jet looking but you can fly it off of water.

Maybe look around for some retrieving boats plans too...this way you can send it out to retrieve your airplane
if the engine dies or something. You can probably make it out of PVC pipes and some lite ply.

So something like [link=http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXFG11&P=SM]Sig Kadet LT-40 Trainer Kit [/link] with a .50 size would work. Also would [link=http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXHU91&P=SM]Top Flite Cessna 182 Skylane Gold Ed Kit[/link] be a good choice for a first plane, i know it isn't a trainer but to me it just looks like a nicer bersion of a trainer.

A lot of guys convert their trainers over to floats for water as well as snow operation. So, get a good, reliable trainer to learn RC with then, when ready, add a set of floats and enjoy it. The benefit you will have is that you are already familiar with the aircraft performance, although it will change slightly with the addition of the floats, it will still be the same plane. Another benefit is the wing loading. It will help to have a plane that is smooth, lands slowly and comfortably for you.

Save the warbirds for after you gain a couple of years of experience. They are not trainers and do not fly like them.

CGr.

yes it would work perfect.
Something like the OS .55 or supertigre .51, like he said so you will have the extra power
needed to lug around heavy floats.