I have been flying my little trusty Hobbyzone Supercub for a while now and it's time for a new plane. I am going to go with an aileron nitro trainer plane. Will I be able to, and is it worth re-using the electronics from one of the typical RTF trainers out there, or would I be better off buying a decent radio ( JR XP-6102-ULTRALITE FM AIR/HELI 6-CH RADIO+RX+SERVOS for just under 100$ shipped) and an ARF trainer and just buy the motor seperately. Looks like that would run about 80 for the plane, 100 for the radio and 60 or so for the motor. Seems a bit cheaper than the rtf as well. Unless I am missing something.
ANy advise would be greatly appreciated....

You are doing the smart thing. Ask your questions here before spending your money. You should get several replies which will enable you to make an intelligent choice. My suggestion is go all new.

Thanks for the reply. I plan to go all new. I have been into Nitro cars for a while and had to learn that the hard way. Bought a few off ebay and sometimes the sellers are not the most honest about there descriptions. Not to say everyone is like that, but some are...

It depends on what you plan to put it in. If it's another small electric, sure, why not?

But if it's a 40-size Glow plane, you'd better get a real radio!

Since you mentioned a glow powered aileron trainer, you need to be sure the receiver you are geting is listed as "full range" and not something designed for very small models that do not get far away. The fact that the description you listed for the radio says "ULTRALITE" concerns me but I'm not familiar enough with JR to know if it should.

If you cannot find the info, post the brand and model number of the receiver (before you buy anything) so someone can help you find it.

Usually, I recommend that people keep their trainers as is and upgrade to a better radio. The reason for this is because most of us seem go go back to the trainer once in a while just to get back to basics and to have a slow, relaxing flying session. If you remove the electronics from your trainer, then you won't have it to fall back on.

Now, in this case, you have an electric RTF that, as already pointed out, is probably adequate to that type of plane. If you want to move up to a full range glow powered plane, you really ought to go into the full range radio systems. There are a lot of them out there, best buy on the market right now is the Airtronics RDS8000 with the extra receiver, I believe. It will work with just about all servos, and is the state of the art in the industry. It is not advanced as some, but then again, it is not nearly as costly either.

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXVMG9&P=ML

The receiver is a R610UL FM Slimline 72MH Ultra-light Receiver
Here is the link:
http://cgi.ebay.com/JR-XP-6102-ULTRA...d=p3286.c0.m14
The rtf i was looking at was the tower trainer and the superstar. Not sure if you can just buy another receiver and servos for that radio and use it in another plane or not.......

The S241 servos that come with this are 9 gram sub-micro servos with 17 ounces of torque. The R610UL receiver is not in a case at all, it is just shrink wrapped. So, the receiver and servos are more suited for something like your SuperCub and not a Tower Trainer or Superstar. The transmitter looks like a very nice unit and is probably worth the 90 bucks by itself.

To buy the ebay radio, a full range flight pack, Tower ARF, and engine would cost at least $375.

The Tower RTF is $279.99 and there is a discount code for $25 off a $200 order. It does not come with a fancy radio but it is perfectly good for what it was designed to do.

I'd buy the RTF and start flying it. I'd work with an instructor for a while. Even though you're already flying the SuperCub, an instructor will be able to give you lots of help and advice about safety, engine tuning, trimming the plane, etc.

While you're flying the trainer you can figure out if you want to stay with 72 mhz radios or go to 2.4 ghz. You can decide how much radio you really want and then decide which brand and price point to go with. By the time you are ready for the next radio, there may be even more good choices and better pricing.

Makes sense. I have no one around to help with training. There are 3 of us learning together in a big field by our houses. We have had a few mishaps, but that's ok. The lhs likes us I'll look into the tower trainer. Is it possible to use that radio with another receiver and servos down the road?

You should be able to use the TX with another RX and servos down the road.

Is Dave your LHS guy? He's a good man.

If you need help with anything, training, set-up, engine stuff - blah blah blah, let me know. I'd be glad to help you guys out.

John from Hog Heaven hobbies in Sturbridge. THere is a classifieds ad for:

Hobbistar Select .60 RTF, complete new in box, sealed packaging. This is a new plane. Best deal right here. Futaba 6EX PCM1024 6 channel radio with 6 model memories, 127DF FM receiver and 3004 bb Futaba servos factory installed, never ran .65 LA engine, $399, or $375 for the club members online, so I'll beat it, $325 shipped, take the $50 savings. Money order/check is fine, Paypal we split the fees 50/50.

40 Tower Trainer .46 Select Trainer, Tower Pro .46 ball bearing engine, Tower (Futaba) radio on channel 52, 127DF FM 7 channel receiver, standard factory installed servos, complete. The box is rough, will pack securely. A box cutter slit the wing covering, but it's been covered with a Tower decal. Not a big issue, but that's it's cosmetic flaw, you can add your own learning to fly. $260 Towers price if you gave them $15 a year to get free shipping and coupons, so I'll beat it, $220 shipped, $40 savings on top of discounts.

Seem like decent prices. Is the Hobbistar worth the extra $?

Thanks again!!!

The bigger the plane, the easier it is to fly (.60 size vs .40).

My recommendation is the Hobbistar and it's supplied equipment.

BTW, Hog Heaven is the best place around, I go there 2x a month. I thought your LHS was Hubbardston Hobby Barn- (Dave).

Quite lucky the place is only about 20 minutes from my house. John is a great guy and they usually have whatever we need.
Not so sure the wife will like the 325 price, but it does seem like a nicer radio and with that I can re-use it with another plane down the road. I'll see what happens. If not, is the tower plane decent enough for 220?

The Hobbistar would be my first choice. I like 60 size planes. The 220 deal for the Tower trainer is also an excellent deal.

I'll keep you posted as to what I get. Still also need some flight field stuff as well like the started and stuff.

I am surprised no one picked up on the fact that the Super Cub transmitter is only 3 channels.
You absolutely have to have a new transmitter to fly a typical aileron trainer as they are almost always 4 channels.
Since you do need at least 4 channels you might as well opt for at least 6 channels so in the future when you want to fly that new plane with flaps and/or retractable landing gear you won't have to go out and buy another radio.

I think I've decided to get the Tower trainer. I figure it's just us 3 out there flying and no one is really that good Would rather Walk away with a broken 200 plane than a 300 dollar plane. I hear it is completey different than my cub so it'll be w ahile before I think of another plane...Who am I kidding, my uncle, of of the 3 of us already has 6 planes and we just started getting into this about a month ago. Difference is his kids are grown and I have 3 little ones so I'd like to do the smart thing. If I start getting serious, we'll look into another radio. The one that comes with thee rtf's I'm looking at should be ok for now.....
Thanks again!!!

And the thing is even if you crash it the engine and electronics are likely to survive so all you would need, if it is not repairable, is a $70 ARF to get back in the air.

Very true. Thanks.......The only other thing I noticed yesterday while we were flying was the the cub's rudder is on the right, where on the 4 channel trainers it is on the left and ailerons on the right. Going to be weird to get used to. Kind of odd they do that with the 3 channel trainer planes.....
Other than the rtf plane, fuel and a starter, is there anything else I'll need? I'm sure the guys I fly with have stuff, but I'd like to be all set myself....Do the rtf's come with a receiver battery pack, or is that something else that I would need?

Actually it will be easier to transition since you turn a 4 channel plane primarily with the ailerons, it should feel natural to you already.
Until you start doing aerobatics and coordinated turns you will not need your rudder in flight. Only for alignment when taking off or landing.

I didn't know that......Thank you.....A little nervous, but more excited. The gentleman selling the 2 trainers also has a few used trainers. That's the thing about this hobby. Way too many choices and decisions....

I ordered the Tower trainer from a very kind gentleman here on RCU. Hopefully it'll be here by the weekend so I can spend some time assembling and getting her ready.....
Thanks for all the advise and input on this...

Dave,
Thanks for the nice compliment.
John
Hog Heaven Hobbies

Sorry Mike,
I called you by the wrong name.
John

Hi That wasn't a prob I down loaded your Instument decals will be using them alot I hope. There was some one on this site a couple of weeks ago looking for similar But I couldn't find them on my computer to help them out as I had transfered them to disc I will be getting in touch in the near future. Mike (alias John).