Nexstar Select RTF is a bit of a misnomer...
07-28-2010 | 08:17 AM
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From: Dubbo, New South Wales, AUSTRALIA
RE: Nexstar Select RTF is a bit of a misnomer...
G'day
Yes, it is great but NOT what you need for your first plane. What have you seen that you are interested in?
A trainer should be able to fly relatively slowly (to give you time to make mistakes), tough (so that when you bang it into the ground you don't totally destroy it) and not too difficult to build (so you won't make too many mistakes).
It should also be relatively stable and able to fly its self to some extent so that usually means a flat bottomed wing (or at least semi symmetrical), and it should be a high wing design too.
Planes in the "40 - 46" class with a wingspan of about 60 inches are usually a good place to start though bigger will be better if you can afford it.
The Sig Kadets are great planes (as are the Great Planes PT 20 and 40). The Sig LT 25 and LT 40 are very good trainers for younger learners and are available as kits and also as ARFs. The Kadet Senior kit version is great for older learners and the ARF version is good too but not as stable as the kit version which has no ailerons and more dihedral (bend in the wing) which makes it more stable.
I like four strokes in trainers because they are very easy to use and they don't mine plodding round at half power and less but the OS two strokes are good too. The LA 46 is particularly good in trainers as it is simple and tough. The AX series are great engines too but are less happy when you bury them in the ground. An LA usually just needs a good wash but an AX may need new bearings if the prang is bad enough. Four strokes also do not handle prangs well and often need some parts replaced. Usually carby parts.
Chinese two strokes are cheap and mostly OK but I would not suggest one to a total newcomer unless he has plenty of help available. The four strokes are better but all Chinese engine I have met benefit from having some castor oil in their fuel mix.
My final suggestion is to go to a club and be advised by what the people there tell you but be careful your trainer is not suggesting a plane that HE will like to fly. I was caught like this and ended up with a plane that was too small, too fast and too maneuverable for me to learn on easily. It was not until I discovered the Great Planes PT-40 and Sig Kadet Senior that I really started to learn. After all, it is you that needs to learn to fly the plane - not your teacher.
Have fun. It is a great hobby. It must be. I have about 40 engines and a similar number of planes.
Yes, it is great but NOT what you need for your first plane. What have you seen that you are interested in?
A trainer should be able to fly relatively slowly (to give you time to make mistakes), tough (so that when you bang it into the ground you don't totally destroy it) and not too difficult to build (so you won't make too many mistakes).
It should also be relatively stable and able to fly its self to some extent so that usually means a flat bottomed wing (or at least semi symmetrical), and it should be a high wing design too.
Planes in the "40 - 46" class with a wingspan of about 60 inches are usually a good place to start though bigger will be better if you can afford it.
The Sig Kadets are great planes (as are the Great Planes PT 20 and 40). The Sig LT 25 and LT 40 are very good trainers for younger learners and are available as kits and also as ARFs. The Kadet Senior kit version is great for older learners and the ARF version is good too but not as stable as the kit version which has no ailerons and more dihedral (bend in the wing) which makes it more stable.
I like four strokes in trainers because they are very easy to use and they don't mine plodding round at half power and less but the OS two strokes are good too. The LA 46 is particularly good in trainers as it is simple and tough. The AX series are great engines too but are less happy when you bury them in the ground. An LA usually just needs a good wash but an AX may need new bearings if the prang is bad enough. Four strokes also do not handle prangs well and often need some parts replaced. Usually carby parts.
Chinese two strokes are cheap and mostly OK but I would not suggest one to a total newcomer unless he has plenty of help available. The four strokes are better but all Chinese engine I have met benefit from having some castor oil in their fuel mix.
My final suggestion is to go to a club and be advised by what the people there tell you but be careful your trainer is not suggesting a plane that HE will like to fly. I was caught like this and ended up with a plane that was too small, too fast and too maneuverable for me to learn on easily. It was not until I discovered the Great Planes PT-40 and Sig Kadet Senior that I really started to learn. After all, it is you that needs to learn to fly the plane - not your teacher.
Have fun. It is a great hobby. It must be. I have about 40 engines and a similar number of planes.
