so im new to the RC world, im wanting to buy a Hobbico Nexstar Select. the RTF model. is that good to use for the first year or so?i would be joining my local club ( centex modelers )
i think they do a training class using the same model, i figure i can practice and fly on my own while training.

any ideas?

If you use a club instructor you can learn on pretty much any trainer.

You may want to check with instructor first and see if there is a trainer he recommends. Also, if you ask around, there may be somebody in the club who is ready to move on and wants to sell a good used trainer.

Tom

The Nexstar is a good airplane and you will work excellent. Having said that, there are lower priced options out there. Some are RTF such as the Nexstar, some are ARF (almost ready to fly) and some are even in kit form (a box of wood parts).

Some of the RTF's are less money than the Nexstar and work just as good. You can often buy an ARF, engine and radio gear for less than the Nexstar too and it will work just as well.

One good one is the Tower Trainer from Tower Hobbies.<br type="_moz" />

our club uses the nexstar as a trainer and works great, however, we took all the "training aids" off, we felt their not really needed and you pay extra for them, especialy that AFS. unfortunately, right now there's not too many RTF trainers available, the nexstar and the hobbistar 60 http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...I=LXGHD4**&P=0 may want to look at it also and as said, check with the other members, might pick up a good used one cheap or piece one together

i did see the tower trainer, looked enticing for the price. its just something to get me off the ground and start flying. im looking at both. but if i can find  someone with a used one that would be great.

As noted, very few RTF trainers are actually available at this time.
Between the Nexstar and Hobbistar I would choose the Hobbistar. It costs less and in my opinion has a better wing design. It has less dihedral than the Nexstar and has a semi-symmetrical airfoil. After you are flying solo it will be easier to do basic aerobatics compared to a flat bottom wing. Since you will be training with an instructor these 'performance' characteristics should not cause you any issues.
Until you can take off and land without the instructor taking control, I do not think fying on your own is a good idea.

i meant with the flight sim. lol sorry didnt add that in..

i think i might go with the tower trainer. if i cant find one used at a decent price..i think ill just buy new. im also wanting to start a non profit squadron, just a friendly bunch of guys who are enthused about RC flying. i would never want to trump the centex club.. but im sure once i get soloing.. itll be a breeze.. i dont think id want to do aerobatics until im confident enough to land and take off..PERFECTLY

Ask around Centex about a good used model. If nothing is available, I think the Tower Trainer is a good choice.

My first instructor actually had me do a loop on the first or second flight, and an aileron roll a few flights later. We mostly practiced flying the pattern and and not 'over controlling' for a good while but he wanted to throw in a couple of easy things to make it more interesting. I think he also wanted me to know that the plane was not going to instantly crash if I did get it upside down.

He eventually taught me: Immelman, Split-S, and Cuban 8. The trainer did not do them as smoothly as his pattern plane but it did them.

I have tried to use RealFlight but it just does not work for me. Many people consider it a great tool but having the entire lanscape and horizon on a 19 inch monitor does not give me a perspective that I can deal with.

i would probably agree. its a good practice tool though.

im in contact with centex, seeing if anyone has one. to bad ther isnt a state specific forum.

Also a good idea to find out what radio systems they use - the instructors, that is. Nothing worse than showing up with a brand no one link up to as a buddy box.

well the one im looking at getting i think is a 6 channel futaba. or a 4 channel i dont remember which.

any Decent, cheap radios to use? im looking at getting the Tower Trainer. so im sure they can hook up with it.

The Tower Trainer RTF package is one of the best values in trainers out there, IMHO. I've trained many students on this plane as well as learning on it myself. It's a good bargain for an overall package and flies well. As others above have said, the Nexstar is a good flier but you are paying for a lot of extras that most instrutors will end up removing anyway, so why would you want to pay for them in the first place?? If you get the Tower RTF the radio that comes with it is a Futaba with a Tower label on it. This radio will hook up to most Futaba equipment and it's a pretty safe bet that most flying fields are going to have somebody with the buddy box and cable to use with it. It's hard to go wrong with this plane.

Ken

i appreciate that, im currently looking for a used one, but then again, id like to put my own time in on a new package.

if i cant find one by pay day, im getting the tower trainer new. then ill be joining up to fly with Centex and some area clubs. even started one of my own..160th RC squadron.

im very very intrested in this hobby..beats the hell out of sitting around on the computer all day.

As a side note, the Tower Trainer RTF is VERY easy to put together. Last year I was trying to get a new student ready to fly but just couldn't get a time set to get over and help him put the Tower Trainer plane together. So finally I told him to get a good charge on the batteries the night before and bring the entire plane package to the field. 30 minutes on the tailgate of a pickup truck at the field and we had him ready to fly. We ran two tanks of fuel through the engine to break it in and then had him in the air the same morning!!!!!

Ken

I believe currently the Tower Trainer RTF combo is out of stock (pretty sure due to the engine...those haven't been in stock for a few months). Another good option for you is the Alpha 40 RTF by Hangar 9. Comes with a 5-channel Spektrum transmitter and receiver. Priced pretty close to the Tower trainer, and Hangar 9 makes an excellent plane thats ready to go in 20 minutes. The engine on it is awesome...very beginner friendly. The only caveat with this plane is you want to make sure your instructor also has a Spektrum radio (or you can pick up another 5-channel transmitter for $50 or even cheaper on ebay). <div></div><div>If you want a little more "building" experience, get the Tower Trainer ARF with an OS 46LA or Thunder Tiger Pro 46 (my choice) to keep costs minimal. Top it all off with a 4-6channel Futaba and you're good to go.
<div></div><div>Otherwise, as was already mentioned....definitely try to find a used trainer first (Craigslist maybe). I'm not sure about your area, but they definitely pop up every few weeks around here. That really is your best option because hopefully you'll be ready to move on to something else within a few months...</div></div><div></div><div>Lots of luck to you!</div>

Tiger trainer for $200 obo on craigslist...
http://austin.craigslist.org/tag/1940933545.html

I would definitely recommend the Tower Trainer. Even if you buy the ARF, and then ask around at the field is someone has a used 46 sized engine they aren't using, you could be up and flying on a very cheap budget. I still have my tower trainer and its been a blast to fly, and it will even handle most of your basic aerobatics, and flies inverted really nicely when balanced properly. I've upgraded my trainer to a Magnum 52 4 stroke engine, and its nice, quiet, goes slow when I want it, yet pulls enough to do whatever aerobatics I wanna do.......

Have fun and welcome to this hobby... it will get addicting really fast.......