2nd airplane choice after trainer?
 

Hello everyone, i have been flying the hobbico nexstar 46 trainer for a few months and have really enjoyed flying this when i get the chance:) I got off to a great start with help from people here and at local club as well as youtube and other places. anyways, i have only had a few mishap but not any bad crashes just a few hard landings and one that broke some of the balsa wood where the landing gear attach but nothing serious and it has been fixed. I feel i have outgrown the this airplane and want to get more into the aspects of tricks. i feel nexstar is great airplane to learn to fly and fly around slow and learn the basics but not so much for advancing. i would like to know if anyone has any recommendation for what to do next. i would like a more aerobatic airplane that has some power for tricks but i notice the cost of these are very high new. is there anyway i can keep with the glow fuel equipment and engine, servo motors, reciever, and transmitter i have currently but just put into a different airplane so i do not have to buy all new?
many thanks, Alena.

RE: 2nd airplane choice after trainer?
 

Look at some of the Hangar 9 airplanes by Horizon Hobby. Most of them can be fitted for either gas/glow or electric. Maxford USA also has quite a selection.

RE: 2nd airplane choice after trainer?
 

ok thanks. compatible with the same engine and all?

RE: 2nd airplane choice after trainer?
 

Probably, although you may have to modify the cowl and/or engine mount to accommodate that particular engine. But those planes are made to modify, being ARF kits. The Maxford planes, even though ARF, assume you know a little bit about building.

RE: 2nd airplane choice after trainer?
 

i like the look of hangar 9 ultra stick. it says something about 5 servo i only have 4 in the nexstar. will this be a problem or is there a simple way around it?

RE: 2nd airplane choice after trainer?
 

usually the 5th channel is used for either retracts or flaps. You could always choose to NOT install the flaps. But, you can find servos online very cheap. For example, HobbyKing has mini servos for as little as 3-5 bucks a pop.

RE: 2nd airplane choice after trainer?
 

I would recommend a high wing plane with a flatter (less dihedral) wing. This will allow you to practice more aerobatics but still have a comfortable plane to fly and land. Something like the standard Stick (Sweet, Ugly, Big, Ultra, etc)  would be a good choice.


http://www.horizonhobby.com/products...Page-_-HAN1730

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...XBMM9&P=ML

You can transfer the engine and I think the servos are standard size so you should be able to re-use those. The radio is made for the Nexstar as it has that stabilization system that most don't use anyway. You could use that but don't use the stabilization system. The plane will come with a tank, motor mount and most hardware. You would need to get some servo extensions, switch, and misc material to complete it. Figure another $60.00 or so.
If this is something you want to stay with , you should start saving for a good transmitter system where you can program different models and have extra channels, etc...  
This isn't cheap but you don't have to spend a lot of money buying everything new either. Most of my equipment and planes were bought second-hand and some things were never used.  That's part of the fun  too for some in looking for good deals in the second-hand market.
Good luck .

RE: 2nd airplane choice after trainer?
 

ok thank you. i do not use stabilization. it is not built into transmitter i think only the reciever. it has a gyroscope on the bottom and it looks like it just plugs into the reciever so i can leave it in the nexstar and strip everything and put it in the new airplane.

RE: 2nd airplane choice after trainer?
 

Here are two that you might consider if you have someone to help you maiden them and instruct you. The Easysport is the gentler of the two, but the Dazzler is docile enough if you set the throws conservatively. All of your components should work in either one.

<a href="http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&amp;I=LXDTM8&amp;P=ML" target="_blank">www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p
</a>
www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p



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RE: 2nd airplane choice after trainer?
 

I just stepped up to [link=http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXBMM9&P=ML]this[/link] after my trainer and I love it so far, with the rates at about 50% of full throw on the ailerons and elevator with full throw on the rudder is flies really well almost like a trainer just a little more sensitive to controls and alot more aerobatic, it lands almost the same as a trainer also. If you keep the throws low at first it would be great.

RE: 2nd airplane choice after trainer?
 

The stick, since its glo powered would need 5 servos.

2 - ailerons
1 - rudder
1 - elevator
1 - throttle

You really cant get a better 2nd plane than a stick. You flying skills will improve more by flying this airplane than really anything else. Once you get past of it not really looking like any other airplane...guess they dubbed it Ugly Stick for a reason, huh?

That ugliness wears off fast once you start slamming it around the sky! I have 4 Sticks of various sizes and love them all. Flies like its on rails and lands like a trainer.

I prefer the tail dragger setup on mine just because it makes you concentrate more on your takeoffs which will prepare you better for more complex models down the road.

If you get a STick...you can rest assured you will be making a solid choice for a 2nd plane.
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RE: 2nd airplane choice after trainer?
 

To follow-up ,as stated by others , you will need an additional standard servo for most any new plane you get as most use (1) servo for each aileron connected with a "Y" cable for a 4-channel receiver. A standard Futaba servo 3004 is around $15.00 and you could put that on the elevator and use the other servos for the rudder, ailerons, and throttle.

RE: 2nd airplane choice after trainer?
 

Think about a Sig 4-star. They come in 40, 60, 120 size, so the 40 size would be good with your engine and servos.

Many think the 4star airframe is an ideal 'second plane'.

RE: 2nd airplane choice after trainer?
 

Great Planes Super Sportster 40 is a great second plane. It only uses 4 servos and a 46 would fly it good. I also have a Sig Kobra that is a great and easy flying plane but I am not sure if it would be a good 2nd plane or not.

RE: 2nd airplane choice after trainer?
 

The Goldberg Tiger 60 or Tiger 2 are fantastic second modesl; They're big enough to track well in gustier winds, have a low enough wing loading to keep it slow and gentle when landing, and both are aerobatic enough to do....anything!<div>
</div><div>I'd highly recommend them for those reasons.</div><div>
</div><div>Happy Flying!</div><div>
</div><div>Graeme</div>

RE: 2nd airplane choice after trainer?
 

get a 40-60 size big stik.........RON

RE: 2nd airplane choice after trainer?
 

It's a fair jump up but i'd recommend a decathlon.

RE: 2nd airplane choice after trainer?
 

I think that it should be a requirement for all second planes be an Ugly Stick.
Also a Super Sportster, low wing, is a good third plane.

RE: 2nd airplane choice after trainer?
 

yes i think i will look into the hangar 9 stick model particularly the ultra stick their site has. it seems to be reccommended here. and i dont really care if it is ugly because i dont want to have someting nice and crash it because i moved up from a trainer to something i am not comfortable with. i want to build and costomize my own airplane from a kit and cover it with my own colours but i would like to slowly go into that part and keep advancing so i am ready. the convesion will also help give me some knowledge on building im sure. i just need to have time to do it but it seems it will not take very long. someone earlier suggested a new radio and i also have been looking around on tower hobby. the 4 channel i have now is old and my biggest fear is having a run-away airplane that i cannot control. so i am looking into the 2.4 ghz tactic 6 channel. they want 150 dollars for that one i think it was and it said it was for intermediate pilots who want to move up. it seems a good deal and looks like it can be used for many airplanes and set up properly. i will check up on all the other sugestions for the airplane itself but so far from reviews and such ultra stick looks like it will be the one.

RE: 2nd airplane choice after trainer?
 

There is a ton of planes out there. The stick is a very good choice, if you are on a tight budget, try this one:

http://www.valuehobby.com/airplanes/stik-series.html

I have the .60 size and it's a great flyer. They are not pretty, but very good planes. Easy to fly and land.
This is a great second plane.

If you are looking for something sporty, the Sig 4star is a very good aerobatic trainer.

RE: 2nd airplane choice after trainer?
 

I opted for the Hanger 9 Super Stick 40 for my second plane. I have flown that bird for years and still enjoy it. There are a lot of good suggestions in this thread. You won't go wrong with any of the suggestions I have seen.

RE: 2nd airplane choice after trainer?
 

are these sticks easy to land? i noticed they are high wing like the nexstar but look much more sleek. i am assuming it lands faster than nexstar. and the ultrastick 40 claims it can be tail drag or tri cycle landing gear pattern which is probably the best config?

RE: 2nd airplane choice after trainer?
 

If set up properly, any of the Stick's can be slowed down and land almost as slow as the Nexstar, especially if the flaps are used. The biggest difference in flight, aside from the aerobatic capabilities, will be that the Stick will not level out or correct itself from a bank or roll like the Nexstar. The Stick will go where you point it, if you bank for a turn you will have to level it out, if you point it down, you will have to level it back out, etc. But you will find inverted flight and rolls much easier than they are with the Nexstar.

RE: 2nd airplane choice after trainer?
 

Sticks are pretty easy to land. Everything lands faster than a Nexstar, I think.
Sticks are high wing, fully symetrical airfoil, some have a slight dihedral and some don't. Can be aerobatic and docile at the same time.
I prefer taildraggers. Easier to land than tiicycle but slightly more difficult to take off, in my opinion. Tricycle gear are for trainers and jets.
</p>

RE: 2nd airplane choice after trainer?
 

If you go for the stick, start with it in tri-gear configuration than later convert it to a taildragger. Goldberg Tiger is also a good 2nd plane but if you need an ARF they currently come only as a kit. Sig has just released a new version of their Four Star 40 and 60. The new ARFs have a clipped wing and a slicker canopy than the similar kit versions. The Four Stars are taildraggers, the Tigers are tri-gear, the sticks can be either. All good planes, pick one.

RE: 2nd airplane choice after trainer?
 

I set my Super Stick up as a taildragger and had no problems taking off or landing. I think you would be fine either way. I fly with an APC 11X4 on a OS 46 and this combination allows the plane to slow down nicely for landings.

The Ultra Stick came out after I bought my Super Stick. If I ever retire my Super Stick, I will replace it with an Ultra Strick. With a Stick like these, you will have an airplane that is still easy to fly, but will perform aerobatic flight as well. I have no regrets picking a Stick as my second plane.

RE: 2nd airplane choice after trainer?
 

how time flys....i remember when the Big Stik 40 used to be 99 bucks

RE: 2nd airplane choice after trainer?
 

Kaos 40, Sig 4-Star 40 or 60, Look at Tower Hobbies online.

RE: 2nd airplane choice after trainer?
 

All of the above are good, BUT my fav in the EZ Sport. Very forgiving, inexpensive, and can do most acrobatics.

RE: 2nd airplane choice after trainer?
 

[quote]ORIGINAL: Alena23

yes i think i will look into the hangar 9 stick model particularly the ultra stick their site has. it seems to be reccommended here. and i dont really care if it is ugly because i dont want to have someting nice and crash it because i moved up from a trainer to something i am not comfortable with. i want to build and costomize my own airplane from a kit and cover it with my own colours but i would like to slowly go into that part and keep advancing so i am ready. the convesion will also help give me some knowledge on building im sure. i just need to have time to do it but it seems it will not take very long. someone earlier suggested a new radio and i also have been looking around on tower hobby. the 4 channel i have now is old and my biggest fear is having a run-away airplane that i cannot control. so i am looking into the 2.4 ghz tactic 6 channel. they want 150 dollars for that one i think it was and it said it was for intermediate pilots who want to move up. it seems a good deal and looks like it can be used for many airplanes and set up properly. i will check up on all the other sugestions for the airplane itself but so far from reviews and such ultra stick looks like it will be the one.

[/quote



I would recommend to install just the basic ailerons on the Ultra Stik for now as flaps won't be something you will get to until you get more experience. You can always remove them and install the quad flaps and two extrsa servos later on of you want.
All sticks have wide wings and will float to a degree but not as much as the Nexstar.
The tail dragger stik will be another small hurdle to overcome compared to a trike. You will experience the most trouble on taxi and takeoff but you will get it eventually.
The Tactic radio is a newer radio system from Hobbico and it seems to have some good features for the price but it could be a system that might be discontinued at a moments notice and not replaced. It hasn't been around very long so it's hard to tell as opposed to radios by Futaba, Hitec, JR, Spektrum who have been around ...some for a very very long time. It only has one receiver to choose from but it's only $20.00 and that's inexpensive. Would be a good idea to search for some user reviews from floks actually using that system before making your decision.

RE: 2nd airplane choice after trainer?
 

Take a shot at the new stuff... Look at the H-9 Meridian (Horizon). You can go electric or gas or nitro if you really like slime... It's a nice design.

I had many "Sweet Sticks" in my life, my current one is the Giant one, with a 1.6 electric. It has unlimited vertical (unlimited fun). But, if you are new, something more attractive and modern will do. Look at the Meridian:-)

Gerry
The sweet sticks are so much fun you really might think they might be illegal...

RE: 2nd airplane choice after trainer?
 

Alena,
If you feel like you are ready to advance then go for it, however I would recommend that you keep the trainer that you have and perhaps use the receiver and battery, but keep the engine and servos intact. To move onto a more advanced stage be sure that you can recover from unusual flight attitudes and be able to maneuver okay, especially when the plane is coming towards you, using the current trainer that you have. When you can do that, then move on to the more advanced trainer. With a more advanced trainer you are more likely to try things that may cause some flight situations that you are not ready for and by keeping the trainer you would always have a backup. Just a suggestion.

There are several planes out there that might suit you and a great next plane might be the AviStar ARF advanced trainer Elite from Great Planes or the RTF version. This is designed for the next phase of learning how to fly. The RTF version includes a 6 channel radio, servos, and the OS 46AX, so all that you would need was glow fuel and starting equipment. The larger engine gives you more power than the 40 size that you have and would give you the power necessary to perform the more advanced maneuvers.

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

RE: 2nd airplane choice after trainer?
 

Go for a U-CAN-DO .46 withan os.46AX or a good strung 4 stroke like a Saito 82 or heven go Electric ... But the U-CAN-DO can be flowen like a tamed down trainer and with a flip of a switch it will turn on a dime and give ya 24&amp;1/2 cents chnge right know .... the best thing is it can be flow.n so slow on landing that it almost backs up in a head wind. No mater what ya hoose have fun that is what it all about FUNFUNFUN.

RE: 2nd airplane choice after trainer?
 

I would also vote for staying with the current trainer and saving to buy all new equipment to keep the trainer intact. If you have had some bobbles then you still have a lot of work that you can do with the trainer. Thats not to say you could not handle a more advanced plane but really you may not need one yet. As for doing aerobatics Most trainers including your nexstar are capable of doing aerobatics. It makes you a better pilot to get stick time and fly what you have as opposed to stopping flying to get another plane set up. Once you have 2 complete aircraft together then you have a spare which is extremely usefull. My second plane was a tiger 2 which is a good airframe I like the escapade's, the sticks, and the pulse series. Ihave not flown a 4* but they seem very similar to all the other low wing trainers. I would work on what the trainer feels like in inverted and vertical flight though and see what it feels like to be stalling out at a high angle of attack and what holding that down elevator feels like when flying inverted. What does an inverted turn feel like what does the airplane look like, does it start dropping the nose in a steep inverted turn and feel the effect of feeding slightly more elevator into it. USEYOURRUDDERin turns and on lining up for landing. Concentrate on greasing every landing in a spot as opposed to landing just any old random spot on the runway. Learn how to balance your power and elevator to acheive a perfect glideslope for a percision touch down. These are skills that will serve you way more than learning how to make a loop. Here is the hardest skill to learn of any; fly a dead on straight line from one side of the field to the other. I see a lot of guys at my field that can do all sorts of things but fly in a good pattern or remain predictable. Mean while some of us can practice 3d manuvers while remaining in a pattern and not causing all sorts of headaches. Learn the skills that keep you flying when others will not like how to fly in the wind. The only way to learn how to fly in the wind is to fly in the wind. Every plane feels diferent in wind conditions. Trainers get real floaty and flippy while low symetrical wings tend to be less effected.

RE: 2nd airplane choice after trainer?
 

Like others have said, stick with your trainer for a while. Try doing basic pattern maneuvers, stall turns, split s, immelman turns,2-piont rolls, loops, when you can do all this smooth and consistant,then think about a second plane.;) When that time comes then a 4-star or a super sportster are both good choices![8D] Good luck with whatever you decide!

RE: 2nd airplane choice after trainer?
 

I would preorder the new and improved Sig 4 star ARF!

RE: 2nd airplane choice after trainer?
 

After 24 years of flying RC a lot , I would go with the style plane I have the most flights on, because it is enjoyable to flyA 60 size STIK
Built with a slight anheadral wing , which developed after years of testing high wing designs myself
A flat wing with no diaheadral would be my second choice
Do make it a tail dragger !
The one I presently fly is a GREAT PLANES 60 size STIK ,with an OS 75 AX glo engine ( animal power for a 75 size engine -and turns 1000 more RPMS than my other 75 or any of my very powerful 61 size engines -on the same prop)
The plane goes unlimited vertical and flys at slightly less than half throttle during normal flying ,as good performance as a 60 size plane gets
My Midwest 40 size STIK is my second most flown plane of my fleet of 24 planes ,ranging from 40 size to 1.80 moki engines( to 1/4 scale )
I would keep the trainner and build yourself a complete second plane
Always good to have a back up , if one should need repair
If you fly for long enough ,there will be times when you have not been on the sticks for a while
A very good time to take out the good old flying ( trimmed ) trainner for an easy breezy day at the field , and get the cobwebs out
The high wing trainner should have the wing built flat ( or some anheadral ) ,with no diaheadral for it to fly best and not be fighting against you to keep the airframe centered in the sky
Flying on rails is were you want to be
You do need to have a semi symetrical OR fully symetrical rib design to do aerobatics , which the STIKS do have
Only some trainners have that design
A flat bottom wing will not fly inverned flight , so aerobatics are limited
A lot of opinion from a lot of experience
Hope it helps you enjoy what you are doing next
My 40 size MIDWEST UGLY STIK ( one of the very first STIK kits on the market years ago ) was the second plane I built 24 years ago
It has been RESTORED and recovered , five times for the sheer love of flying the thing
I still have it and fly it from time to time ,it is a very forgiving design and one of the few planes that has been DESIGNED FOR RC flight
Included is my extremely modified PT-40 trainner kit
Webra 60 enlarged rudder and built a second fully symetrical wing for the plane
It too goes unlimited vertical and on rails
ENOUGH ALREADY !

RE: 2nd airplane choice after trainer?
 

Some of the responses recommended sticking with the trainer a while longer which is not bad advice. What happened to me in the mid 70's was the instructor put crape (sp) paper about 20' on his and my plane. He said to try and cut his and he'd ry to get mine. Obviously we got up a little higher than normal and went at it. This put me in a lot of different attitudes I'd never been in, besides being fun, it taught me to not get nervous when getting into different attiudes from which to recover. I was amazed at how this exercise increased my confidence. Then at some point I went on to my next plane, a midwest sweet stik, with a much better feeling for awkward attitudes which I found myself in and recovering from. FWIW

RE: 2nd airplane choice after trainer?
 

Worthless comment in a beginner's forum, unless you tell us why? Can't wait to hear.

Kurt

RE: 2nd airplane choice after trainer?
 

I just said in another post I want the new SIG 4star ARF as my second plane. SigPlanes.com is now taking preorders on the 4star 54 and 64 arfs. I plan on placing my order this week.After leanring on a Kadet, I flew a Four Star 60 last fall and absolutely loved it.