New to R/C Flying
 

Wondering if anyone can help with some advice regarding starting out with glow aircraft.
I would rather spend the extra money and get a better engine, radio ect. that I can interchange with on future planes as I progress.
Looking for a plane that I won't get bored with that trains well and can do some decent maneuvers after I have progessed.
Thanks!

RE: New to R/C Flying
 

The best way to start out is with one of the trainers on the market. I recommend the LT-40 by Sig because of its large size and completeness of the kit. It is available in kit form or as an arf. If you have the time, I recommend building, so you will know how to make repairs as needed. Also, you will accumulate the tools you need to make repairs. Damage is going to happen, and you are going to need to know how to repair to stay in this hobby. As far as an engine, the most reliable on the market seems to be the OS FX series. This engine would easily work in a second plane once you have mastered the trainer. As far as a radio, I would suggest a Futaba 6YG. It allows you some room for growth with your future models, and costs similar to other four channel radios. You can look all of this up on www.towerhobbies.com Currently they are offering some nice sales on these products. $20 gift certificate on radio purchase, $15 off order over $150, etc. Let me know if you have other questions.

RE: New to R/C Flying
 

Epoxy,

Your best bet is to spend the money on a good transmitter that has multiple plane memory, mixing, etc. There are many good ones on the market. I personally like Futaba, but Hi-Tech and others are just as good. This way, when you get a second plane, you can set up that plane differiently than the first (throws, servo directions, mixing, etc). This type of setup will grow with you for years to come.

As far as a plane and engine, I strongly suggest a good trainer. Chances are by the time you've soloed, and flown around a bit, the problem of getting tired of the plane will solve itself, as these planes are designed to learn basic flight, and take a beating! Your receiver, servos and engine will all be transplantible. If you belong to a club, take a look at what others are flying. Fly that trainer until the wings fall off and you can take off, land, fly in wind, crosswind landings, perform slow flight, slips, and all of the other basic flying skills proficiently. You'll thank yourself down the road for learning the right way the first time.

Another thing to consider is training. Be sure to see if your instructor has a compatible buddy box for the transmitter you choose to buy. The buddy box is basically another transmitter connected to yours that you will learn on. your transmitter is operated by the instructors, and he will have a switch that toggles your inputs on and off. This way, the instructor can take over control of the airplane at any time, thus saving you a rebuild every time you make a mistake. This is especially true when attempting a landing for the first time. For instance, Futaba radios need a futaba compatible buddy box and a trainer cord that connects them together. Ask around at your club to see what others recommend.

Good luck and have fun.

RE: New to R/C Flying
 

I appreciate the advice. If I were to go the RTF route, what system do you know of would be worth investing in?

RE: New to R/C Flying
 

Also check out the spad forum and www.spadtothebone.com for some options on planes, check with your local club and see what brand of TX they support on buddy box before you buy

RE: New to R/C Flying
 

If RTF, think about the Arrow (309.99 at Horizon Hobbies)
Its semi-aero.

I strongly agree withMad Scientist
I bought a JR Quattro(also the radio included in the Arrow) when everyone at the field flies Futaba!

I'm in deep doo doo...

RE: New to R/C Flying
 

Absolutely check with the local club's flight instructor(s) and buy compatible equipment! If you don't, I would highly recommend buying a compatible transmitter on your own to use as a buddy box.

Do NOT attempt this on your own. Glow planes are fast and can be dangerous. People have been killed when hit by a glow plane. [:o]

RTF is a great way to get started quickly, and learning to make minor repairs won't be all that difficult. However, we up here in New England are quickly running short of flying time, so your best bet might be this:
1) Find the local club and find out what radio equipment they use.
(This site has a page to help find a club: http://www.modelaircraft.org)
2) Join the AMA (see the above site), because you will probably need to join AMA in order to fly at a club field. AMA provides liability insurance, and today, it's all about liability!
3) Buy your equipment, but make it an ARF trainer, an OS 46 FX (or Thunder Tiger 46 PRO, or an Evolution 46), and a computer radio. If the club uses Futaba or Hitec, get a Futaba 6EXA, or a Hitec Flash 5, or Hitec Eclipse 7. (The numbers designate the number of channels usually.)
4) Get a flight simulator. FMS is a free Sim that you can download from the internet. You'll need an interface to connect your transmitter to your PC.
(Here's a link to a guy who makes them. $22 shipped I believe: http://www.mattclement.freeservers.com/fms/fms.html)
The Great Planes "Real Flight" simulator is probably the best available, but it's around $200.

Spend the winter assembling your ARF trainer, and practicing with the simulator. You'll have a huge leg up come spring. In the meantime you can attend club meetings and get to know the great group of guys you'll be flying with! :D

Welcome aboard, and good luck however you choose to go. Just take your time. Patience is one of the most important things to develop in this hobby.
Dennis-

RE: New to R/C Flying
 

Oh, here's a list of things I had written in response to someone else's question. It's essentially most everything you'll need to get started. (It may contain a lot of duplicate info. Sorry for that.)

Material for Building (or assembling an ARF):

Glues: 30 minute and 5 minute epoxy, with something to mix it on and with, brushes. (old plastic lids and wooden coffee stirrers, plus small plumbers' acid brushes.) Thin CA. (Not "Superglue".) You can substitute wood glue for the CA, but it adds time to the build.

Tools: XActo knife and extra number 11 blades. (Buy a box of 100, it's cheaper and you'll use them.) Razor saw; Kona or XActo. Kona is better. Steel straight edge, 18". A ruler will work but.... Sanding block and various grits of sandpaper. (80, 120, 200, 400.) Screw drivers, small and medium sizes, both flat and phillips types. Pliers, needle nose and regular. (At least one pair with side cutters for wire.) A good set of Allen or hex wrenches. (IMO, Ball drivers are a bit better if you can find a good set.) A "Dremel" type rotary tool will help a lot if you can shell out the extra dollars.

Covering tools: A sealing iron. A Trim iron will help too if you can swing both. A Heat gun made for covering. (Blow dryers don't really get hot enough.) More of those #11 blades for your XActo knife if you didn't buy the box of 100.

Check the kit contents. Most will have a list of extras you'll need to buy; like wheels, fuel tank (& size), fuel line, etc...

By the way. You should buy the engine and radio equipment when you get the plane kit. You'll need them all to fully build the kit. Buy an engine on the larger size of the recommended range.

Some type of "flight box". (A tool box of appropriate size and design works well.) A gallon of 10% fuel. A fuel pump, manual or electric. A glow igniter with charger. Although not 'necessary', I highly recommend a 12 volt starter for the engine.

If you buy a 'self contained' glow ignitor and starter, and a manual fuel pump, you won't need to buy a 12 volt battery with charger, nor a "power panel" to connect everything. (And you won't have cords dangling around your prop when trying to start the engine.)

Then, get a few props of slightly different diameters and pitch. The engine directions should give you a range of appropriate sizes for your engine. One or two extra glow plugs should last you through the learning process.

The single most important thing that I would recommend getting is an instructor to help you learn to fly. They are also the single least expensive item you can get (free), and the single best piece of insurance that all your hard work building that plane will not be destroyed.

Dennis-

RE: New to R/C Flying
 

Oh, here's something I wrote in response to someone else's question about what he'd need to get started. Some of the info you already have is duplicated. Sorry.

Material for Building (Almost all of it is also needed to assemble an ARF):

Glues: 30 minute and 5 minute epoxy, with something to mix it on and with, brushes. (old plastic lids and wooden coffee stirrers, plus small plumbers' acid brushes.) Thin CA. (Not "Superglue".) You can substitute wood glue for the CA, but it adds time to the build.

Tools: XActo knife and extra number 11 blades. (Buy a box of 100, it's cheaper and you'll use them.) Razor saw; Kona or XActo. Kona is better. Steel straight edge, 18". A ruler will work but.... Sanding block and various grits of sandpaper. (80, 120, 200, 400.) Screw drivers, small and medium sizes, both flat and phillips types. Pliers, needle nose and regular. (At least one pair with side cutters for wire.) A good set of Allen or hex wrenches. (IMO, Ball drivers are a bit better if you can find a good set.) A "Dremel" type rotary tool will help a lot if you can shell out the extra dollars.

Covering tools: A sealing iron. A Trim iron will help too if you can swing both. A Heat gun made for covering. (Blow dryers don't really get hot enough.) More of those #11 blades for your XActo knife if you didn't buy the box of 100.

Check the kit contents. Most will have a list of extras you'll need to buy; like wheels, fuel tank (& size), fuel line, etc...

By the way. You should buy the engine and radio equipment when you get the plane kit (or ARF). You'll need them all to fully build the kit. Buy an engine on the larger size of the recommended range.

Some type of "flight box". (A plastic tool box of appropriate size and design works well.) A gallon of 10% fuel. A fuel pump, manual or electric. A glow igniter with charger. Although not 'necessary', I highly recommend a 12 volt starter for the engine.

If you buy a 'self contained' glow ignitor and starter, and a manual fuel pump, you won't need to buy a 12 volt battery with charger, nor a "power panel" to connect everything. (And you won't have cords dangling around your prop when trying to start the engine.)

Then, get a few props of slightly different diameters and pitch. The engine directions should give you a range of appropriate sizes for your engine. One or two extra glow plugs should last you through the learning process.

The single most important thing that I would recommend getting is an instructor to help you learn to fly. They are also the single least expensive item you can get (free), and the single best piece of insurance that all your hard work building that plane will not be destroyed.
Dennis-

RE: New to R/C Flying
 

Is it possible to transfer equipment from RTF models to future ARFs or kits?

RE: New to R/C Flying
 

Yes it is.