Hey guys, just got into the RC hobby by buying a small EFlite coaxial heli. Been getting the hang of it pretty well and now I'm ready to move onto what I wanted in the first place, a nitro plane. I've been searching around the forum and looking at a few diff models to start with. I've got it down to pretty much 3 options.

Hobbico Nexstar, Tower Trainer 40, or option 3. Buying everything separate. I was maybe leaning more towards option 3. That way I would be able to get a decent radio and engine that I could move to a better plane later. I also wanted more than 4 channels so I could add a bomb door or camera later. Either way I will be trying to buy everything from tower hobbies so I can take advantage of the 3 payment option.

What would you guys recommend to do? I will try to find an instructor but it's not looking good as far as location goes, might go with a simulator.

Any input would be greatly appreciated...
Dustin

Welcome Dustin, I am not sure where about you are in TX, but it would be well worth the time to at least visit a field, to see the planes in action and get some ideas. I personally like buying used stuff from people that have tried the hobby but did not get the right training at the start and got frustrated and is now selling everything. There are a couple of great threads at the top of this forum that will give you some great advice. I would recommend looking around for a few days, read as many threads as you can and get as much knowledge as possible.

Welcome again

Jon

Radio:
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...=LXRXF5**&P=SM

Or, same thuing in a 2.4GHz version:

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXSFY3&P=SM

Engine:
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&P=SM&I=LXFMD5

Airplane:
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXPY56&P=0

Find a club here for instructions:
http://www.modelaircraft.org/clubsearch.aspx

In my opinion the Tower Trainer is one of the best bargains out there for a trainer. If you go with the RTF (Ready To Fly) version you can get it for $279 with usually a $20 discount from Tower Hobbies. It will come with plane, engine, and radio and you can have the plane put together and ready to fly in about an hour. It'll take you longer to charge the batteries than it will to put the plane together.

As far as an instructor, where in Texas do you live??

Ken

If you happen to be in Houston, TX, our club ( Houston Sport Flyers) .... www.houstonsportflyers.com ... is having a " Swap Meet/Sale " at our next meeting ( second Saturday in February). It would be a good chance to talk to a lot of guys and maybe even get a decent price on what you want. Rich

Airframe: Tower Trainer .60 Mk II ARF - http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXCAS1&P=0

Engine: Thunder Tiger Pro .46 two stroke - http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXKF97&P=0

Radio System and Servos: Futaba 6EX 2.4Ghz FASST system w/ S3004 servos - http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXSFY3&P=0

This would make a very nice flying trainer package that is better than any off-the-shelf RTF deal at Tower Hobbies.

Order the engine and airframe together but seperate from the radio system so you can double up your discounts. Join the Super Saver club for $9.99 and you won't have to pay for shipping. Use coupon code 014J6 for a $25 instead of $20 discount (must be Super Saver member).

Good luck and good shopping!

May I suggest option 4?

Since you want to order from Tower, scroll down to "Build Your Own Combo" and bring up the Tower .40 Trainer. Then you can choose which engine, radio, and Glow Starter you want to add.

If you order this way, at least there are a few dollars savings from ordering everything seperate.

I am down towards galveston. I was looking at that kit but it only comes with a 4 channel radio. I was hoping to be able to get a better radio and engine for later down the road. If I put a setup together what all do I need besides the radio w/servos, engine, and plane aside from the necessary starting equipment(glow plug, starter, fuel, etc...)? I take it I will need a prop, spinner, and the linkage arms for the servos? Is it going to be difficult programming and getting everything setup?

Thanks
Dustin

I am the newbie around here, but...I can tell you that the club members that are using 2.4Ghz systems ( many different manufacturers have them now) are happier when they don't have to worry about someone else on the same channel. Lots of opinions going both ways, but many would no longer start with a 72 MHz system. Rich

Read my post. It will come with all linkages in the ARF. Also has the spinner. The radio's that are listed in the Build Your Own Combo have the servo's that you will need. for all 4 channels. You may want to get some spare props. If you get any of the .46 engines, the 11 X 6 props work fine. Stay away from the LA. You may also want to pick up some spare glow plugs. Also needed are 30 minute epoxy, thin CA, blue thread locker, and a hobby knife. Also good to get a sealing iron and hot glove to smooth out the covering.

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...0p?&I=TOWA1110

If you need the field equipment this is a good setup.

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXL419&P=0

Also good to have is a 4 way wrench and any hand tools that you used to build the plane.

Started building my order based on the comments(thank you). This is what I came up with.

Qty - Tower Part# - Description
________________________________________________
1x - LXFMD5 - OS 46AX ABL 40G Carb
1x - LXCAS2 - Tower Trainer 40 MkII ARF
1x - LXSFY3 - Futaba 6EX 2.4GHz w/4 S3004 Servos
1x - LXPT38 - 2oz CA Thin Glue
1x - LXPT47 - 30 Minute Epoxy 4oz
1x - LXL287 - Hobbico Extension 6" Futaba J
3x - LXZ971 - Master Airscrew 11x6 G3 Nylon Prop
1x - LXL387 - Hobbico 4-Way Wrench
2x - LXCB26 - OS A3 Glow Plug Hot
1x - LXL405 - Hobbico Starter Stick
1x - LXJUJ6 - Tower AA Slim Glow Starter
2x - LXRXC4 - Tower Power 10% Fuel Quart
1x - LXFAW2 - Tower Hand-Crank Fuel Pump

$539.41

Is there anything not needed, anything I missed, or anything that should be changed? I want to get everything needed to build and fly. Didn't know if I needed fuel line or anything else.

Thanks for the replies,
Dustin

You will need fuel tubing:

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXK129&P=ML

You might rethink ordering quarts of fuel from Tower Hobby, it's about the most expensive fuel on the planet. If you have a local hobby store within 50 miles of where you live, they probably sell glow fuel in gallon jugs for what Tower will charge you for 2 quarts.

You might buy the smaller bottle of CA (1 oz) and the bigger bottle of 30 minute epoxy (9 oz). You'll only need thin CA for hinging the control surfaces, and CA goes "bad" after it's been opened relatively quickly. You'll use more 30-minute epoxy joining the wing halves together and attaching the control surfaces. 30-minute epoxy will stay usable for years just sitting on your work table with the caps on the bottles.

Pick a larger capacity glow ignitor. A rechargable unit with a higher capacity battery will give you more starts per charge:

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXLN89&P=SM

Overall your list is very good. You could use a field box to carry your starting equipment and field tools with you. You will also find an electric starter and battery very handy compared to trying to break in a brand new engine with just a chicken stick.

What you've put together should work well for the most part. Good luck and good shopping!

Thanks for the replies guys. I ended up buying everything from a local shop I never knew existed. Been trying to find an instructor but no clubs or individuals have e-mailed me back. Hopefully I won't have to wait too long to try it out. Got it all together this weekend and got the engine broken in.

Ended up getting:
Hobbico Superstar 40 Monokote
OS .46 AX
Futaba 6EX 2.4GHz
APC 11x6 Props
OS A3 Glow Plugs and Wrench
Gallon Jug Cool Power Fuel
Manual Fuel Pump w/Can Fittings
Hobbico Rechargeable Glow Starter
Starting Stick

Engine started right up after I figured out how to hold my finger over the muffler and spin the prop to prime the engine. Ran a tank of fuel out at full throttle varying the valve setting. Then put a little more in and taxied around my driveway to test it out. There was alot more fuel all over the plane than I expected. Does it get covered like that every time?

Dustin

Dustin, You are on your way. Congrats on success with the engine.

Good Luck in the future

Just wanted to post an update on my progress. I ended up finding a club less than a mile from my house in a private section of a large park. Great group of guys that have been training me. Yesterday I finally started landing and had about 15 rough landings with 4 smooth ones all without damage to the plane. Today I had a few more landings and on the next flight they pulled the plug. So now I have succesfully soloed on 2 flights. Feels good to come so far after something seeming so difficult. Just now soloed, but I already have full field gear and 3 planes, only flown the trainer so far though. I think I'm hooked.

Welcome to the Hobby Dustin!

I'm glad you joined a club, as you found out you get lots of help not to mention the insurance.

Keep practising!

[color=#FF0099]Yes, it does....welcome to the joys of Glow fuel.. You can find entire threads on which spray cleaner or homemade mix to clean your plane with at the end of each day. Very important though since some coverings don't hold up well at the seams from the exhaust seepage. Now you can add paper towels and some sort of glass cleaner or simple green solution to your field kit.

I've been told that the "color" of the oil on your plane gives you insight to your engine and it's performance...I should probably look up a thread on that myself.

And welcome to the "addiction"!!!!!

Bev

You can help the fuel problem a little by getting a diverter tube. (about $4 at your Lhs). It's just a plastic tube that clamps on the muffler and diverts the exaust away from the plane. Doesn't totaly cure the problem, but it definitely helped on my Avistars.

Yeah I'm glad I joined a club, great bunch of people willing to help any way they can. Nice to have people willing to put up with teaching me to fly. I've been using cheap windex to clean the plane, seems to work well and they plane isn't as messy as it was. I also got one of the exhaust deflectors.

I just went outside and ran the engine at full throttlewhile holding it on a full tank til it ran out to see how long it took. It was right at 5 min 30 sec. I'm using the OS 46AX and the 270cc tank the superstar came with along with green coolpower 10%. I'm trying to figure out how long to set my timer on my 7C for. I want to have enough fuel to make one or 2 passes if I mess up with a landing approach and I don't want a dead stick til I get landing down perfect.

I know there is more resistance on the ground especially at a dead stop and I won't be at full throttle all the time in the air. What do you guys think would be a good time to set my timer for with this setup?

If you fly partial throttle with the mixture set correctly it should fly 10 min

Yeah, sounds to me like his mixture is still way rich, I'm getting 10min+ on my Venus with .46ax at WOT using 15% Omega. Getting 8min+ at WOT with my Avistar and new Magnum .46 that is just broke in. While breaking it in I was only getting 5 to 6min. These times are on the bench not in the air.