in my experiance. Futaba Radio gear is best (just for the record I use Spektrum)
I like hitec servos (out of the brands I have used they come with the best selection of arms, and I haven't had one fail)
OS engines are the best quality provide easiest breakin and hold a tune better then other engines I have used.
I know you didn't ask but... for RX switches I use Airtronics with Z plugs (cheapest price and compatable with my gear)

Radio - JR because I started with it and liked it and haven't gotten to crazy programming stuff yet so I wouldn't know the difference probably. I have heard Futaba's customer service is a bit better, but do not know for sure.

Servos - Hitec or JR is all I will use. Servos is a definate get what u pay for situation. I do not think I can bring myself to pay for high end futaba servos yet, but all high end servos are $$$$$[X(].

Recievers - Hitec or JR, because that is what works with my tx

Engines - You get what you pay for to a point. OS engines are great but you pay for it. This isn't a best bet for ur money forum but I like my big Super Tigres. They have quirks but once you are used to them they are awesome and not to mention cheap. Gas DA or DL but not really enough experience to comment.

Batteries - Anything as long as my voltwatch is connected so that I know what is going on and I can change if necessary. Voltwatch is an 11 dollar safeguard for so many issues!

All my simple short experience but you asked

I agree, BigDan. I couldn't hit a golf ball to save my life. But I'd wager the Taylor Made would out last the $39 driver. I'd wager the $39 driver would be out of "angle" a lot faster than the $1000 driver, and the shaft would out of round quicker too.

I also agree many times you're paying for a "brand name." But the brand had to do something right to gain fame.....it doesn't happen by accident. But it does help when Tiger Woods uses your products!

You can hit the ball better with a more expensive driver. Miore expensive drivers have bigger sweet spots, more consistency and longer distance. Check golf tests they do all the time on robots that swing the same every time. The problem is that most people are not good enough to notice a difference. They think a 400 driver will fix their 40 yard slice when their money would be better invested in swing lessons. I do not think I have ever seen a driver that cost $1000. The brand new Taylormade R9 is $300 or so I believe. Correct me if I am wrong there but sets of irons may cost that much but not drivers.

Here it is..... $1000

http://golf.about.com/b/2008/01/30/t...and-shafts.htm

You can buy the most expensive set of golf clubs on the market and it won't lower your score no more than 1 stroke for 18 holes.....that is, if you're lucky!

You might be able to swing without missing the ball with those $1000 big headed drivers but if you don't have the correct setup and swing to go with it, you don't know where that ball will end up!

You might be right about the $39 driver won't last as long, but, you can buy a whole bunch of $39 drivers compared to 1 of the $1000 drivers!

And swing lessons are a waste of money and time too unless you take about 5 lessons a week and hit about 500 balls everyday....like the pros do. Long time ago I had a $49 fuzzy zoeller driver with the smaller head and I was playing a couple guys that had the Big Bertha $500 big headed driver when they first came out. My ball went 280 yards down the middle and the other 2 dummies? One ended up out of bounds and the other idiots went so far right in the rough he couldn't even find it! lol

I know one thing......my little futaba 4yf 4 channel radio will fly my planes just as well as some of those $2200 radios will too!

LOL, I still play with the used set of clubs my folks bought me as a High School graduation gift, back in '74, although I just acquired a set of carbon fiber shaft, metal head clubs I may use. I got these "cast off" clubs to use the shafts for making SPAD Draco flying wing tail booms, but I'm thinking I may try playing with them first. <grin> Carbon ski pole shafts are stiffer and better for building airplanes anyway.

While it's not as easy to knock that golf ball up the fairway, those old clubs still carry some great distance and surprise the heck out of other players who comment on my antique clubs. I also like the fact that they don't have that silly "Tink" sound that metal woods make.

Best of the best: In my opinion, find something that meets you budget and style. Personally, I love TT Pro (up through the 46) and Super Tigre engines (75 and bigger), as they are the best "Bang for the Buck". I have a Magnum and an OS in the 60 size range too.

Jack

I do not think that driver ever actually sold for that but your right. You are dead wrong about swing lessons though. When I was younger I took them once a month or less for about a year maybe a few after that. They shot my game up to a whole new level. Not only did it make my swing better but it taught me how to fix something in my swing later, which I still must do. And as I said buying a more expensive driver will only make a difference to good golfers, buying a new club will not save you from hitting a slice. It will help you be more consistent in your ball flight IF you have a good mechanical swing. It may only save you a shot or two but thats the difference between an 80 and a 79. Big difference there. If you are not a good golfer use the cheap stuff. As long as you have fun!

As for the radio's, what the thread was actually about lol, The more expensive radios have better features and just like the golf club you need to be a good enough pilot to tell the difference, plus you get dual rates, mixes, etc. You only need those depending on your flying type so 4 channels work but there is a reason they have better tx.

That driver selling for $1000? Several places were selling them at that price when they first came out! And that's a fact!

Now back to best of the best. Earlier I stated OS engines are the best. I decided to change that to Super Tigre engines now. With ST I can sharpen up on my dead stick landings, I want my mufflers falling off, and I want a noisy engine. And I also like an engine that will actually outrun an OS size for size even though OS over rates their horse power they list on their engines. And I want to sharpen up on my tuning skills with ST.

Best bang for your buck? Super Tigre! They carry a 3 year warranty compared to OS's 2 year warranty!

Anyhow...get what you can afford. All engines run, some just run better than others!

Can't wait for RCU's new forum to come out.....

RC Golfers Forum!

Here’s my list:

Engines:
4 strokes: YS (though you are at the point of diminishing returns)
2 strokes: OS by a mile.

Servos: Airtronics for high end servos. The best for value would be Hitech.

Radio:
Helix / Airplanes: JR > Futaba. I would rather have a 12x or 9303 than either of the high end Futabas
Gliders: Airtronics and JR. The 9303 has been an extremely popular sailplane radio and the new Airtronics 10g was made with glider pilots in mind.

The best of any catorgory is what I have. Not because it's the best, but it's best because it's what I have.

When I first started, my instructor was giving me some static, "I fly JRradios, I guess your Futaba 9capSuper is OK, but Iprefer JR radios" Then it was "Iprefer synthetic Oil" "Ismell Castor when I was haveing some tuning problems. "I prefer O.S engines, but Y.S are really top,I don't know about the Magnum". I finally put a lid on the comparisons, "Look, this is what I have, so lets fly it."

I really like the O.S four strokes, I've got two Saitos, a 45 and a 150, and both are very good engines. I've got a Thunder Tiger 91 four stroke, never started it. I've got several Magnum four stokes, and they are good running engines also. A few O.S two strokes and some Thunder Tygre two strokes thrown for good measure. Which one is best, the one I have tuned and am flying at the time.

I now have three Futaba transmittes, a 9C, 9C super and a 10C. A couple months back I bought a bunch of stuff from one of the ex club members who was moving on. Two planes, a 33% and a 25% that were loaded with JRservos and receivers. He threw in a JR tx to boot. I found that the JR servos would work with my Futaba RX and TX, but the JRreciver and TX wouldn't . Igave away the TX and traded two JRreceivers for one Hitec Futtaba compatable. Ilike the idea of everything I have being able to fly on one TX. I started with a Futaba and I'll say this, I'm not sorry, they have been very good. I'm familiar with them and their setup and I'm happy. You will find others that fell into the JR grove and are just as happy with their setups.

I'll repeat the first line of this post, The best of any catorgory is what I have. Not because it's the best, but it's best because it's what I have.

Don