RE: Few new questions
 

I agree with everyone who's saying buy a used one from your local club don't forget all the extra gear. It will be less money and you will be flying very soon. If you can't get enough of it, all your priorities will change and you will make plenty of time for building one.

Landon

RE: Few new questions
 

Kit, arf, you've got good advice. Pick one. LT-40's are great, kit or ARF. The RCM trainer (at hobbypeople) is a good choice ARF. Just pick one and do it.

One post I saw causes me to make another recommendation, though. Set your control throws on the low side. If you get an instructor who wants to crank them up, tell him I said to keep the control surface travels at the low end of suggested, at least until you're flying well. I find that I forget (and other instructors, too) that what seems to me like ordinary throw is a bit much, just waiting to screw up a student. Students tend to overcontrol at first, anyway. Cut the throws down to the low side, so you can actually move the stick a little when turning and climbing. That will make the learning process easier.

Good luck!
Dave Olson

RE: Few new questions
 

Wow, a lot of posting done, I'll reply to the main ideas.

I'll start by saying one of the first things I asked about clubs is swap meets, and the guy I have had the most contact with says that his club doesn't have swap meets but he gets information on when a lot of local swap meets are, but I'm kinda thinking I don't want to buy used, its less mine then and more somebody elses because their work got put into it, not mine.

So I think im going to go with a kit now, I've heard good about kit and ARF, so that pretty much brings it down to personal preference, which is a kit. Im leaning more toward the LT-40 because it seems a lot of you have flown them or seen them fly, and regard them fairly highly. It looks like a good plane, comes highly recommended, and since its only $80 for the kit as long as I don't damage radio or engine eqiupment in a crash its cheap to rebuild too.

Another quick question: Tower recommends getting a CG machine and deflection meter with the plane, but im wondering if I should just buy that when I get the radio and engine stuff in it because I fail to see the point of checking the CG on a plane when I'll have to do it again once everything is inside of it, am I right, or should I get it now and save myself trouble later?? The total cost of the kit plus all the building material it says i'll need is about $150 and some change, which is still within my price range.

I also found out that Tower Hobbies now owns Futaba, and from what I've heard the tower radio's are the exact same thing with a different name, and more importantly, cheaper price tag on them. I can save myself somewhere around $30 by going with a Tower transmitter, and think I am going to do that.

RE: Few new questions
 

You are making a great choice. The LT-40 is a great plane and pretty durable. When you get your kit, do search on here for suggested mods.

As for the CG machine, while it is nice, you can just as easily build your own. The deflection meter is not at all necessary for the LT-40.

Good luck, and if I can be of any help drop me a line. I built my LT-40 last winter, and will be re-building the wing this winter.

Victor

RE: Few new questions
 

"Tower recommends getting a CG machine and deflection meter ..."

My suggestion would be to hold off on the CG machine & deflection meter. I think you can set the CG close enough on this plane without a CG machine, you'll see how when you read the instructions. Same for setting throws.

"...Tower Transmitter...."

I don't have a problem with that. Should last you a long time. This spring my first student used a homebuilt LT-40 with a Tower transmitter. He's built a second plane now, working on aerobatics.

Good luck, and get busy!
Dave Olson

RE: Few new questions
 

Actually I just looked again at the tower transmitters, and though the transmitter is cheaper it doesn't come with servos, so the tower radio is only $4 cheaper if you buy the servos with it, looks like I'm stayin with futaba.

Also what covering do I need to buy, and what kind?? Can anyone explain to me the process of covering the airplane and how/why its done, and how people manage to make their planes look good from a thin sheet of plastic?? Does the covering get painted after, and if so how would I go about doing that??

RE: Few new questions
 

I have the CG machine and like it a lot. If you can swing the $$, get it, but you can build your own.

RE: Few new questions
 

You will get different opinions on what type
of covering to use but the most common is monokote
and probably the most wide used. The best thing you
can due to prep your self for covering is read the instructions
for the type of covering material you chose. Ther is some tips
on this site under the tricks and tips thread. Great monokote
jobs come with experience(Doing a few monokote projects.)

Most covering is put on by a covering iron that can be purchased.
Some people use a iron plus a heat gun( I use both) you realy
dont need both. The covering has a addhesive that is heat
acctivated and makes it stick and it all so has shrinking abilities
which aid in tightness.

You can paint monokote but most people dont.

RE: Few new questions
 

I'm going to order the iron and heat gun from tower just because it tipped the price a little over $150 which gives me either free shipping or a $15 discount (not sure if the discount will work though because I got it through their RC car/truck enthusiast mailing list). As long as it won't create too many problems and isn't too hard to do I would like to paint a little bit on it (some lettering on the wings and vertical stabalizer)

RE: Few new questions
 

check out the Sig kadet senior kit it has a large wing span and it is easy to land. :-) very soft landings

RE: Few new questions
 

Well, I'm a Newbie and haven't soloed yet[&o], but thought I would add my .02.

I've got an Avistar 40 ARF with an OS 46FX, which to me is a great combination. One of my club members has a Hobbico Superstar 40 w/an OS 40LA that is just a "LITTLE" under powered. Nice thing about the Avistar is the semi-semetrical airfoil, nice and stable at 1/4 to 1/2 throttle, but you give it a little more nitro and it will do loops, hammerheads, cuban 8's with no sweat.

Also, it's not too hard to convert it to a tail dragger later on if you have the notion to. I crashed mine once, repaired the wing, got a new fuse and now am rebuilding the damaged fuse into my second plane, which will be a taildragger. This is a great learning experience for anyone. I've also learned how to use Monokote by reading the tips from both their website and here on RCU, had to to repair the damaged wing.

I use the Futaba 6exa radio which is very nice for a beginner. It came w/4 BB servos and all associated hardware. I have also invested in a buddy box to help teach me and to also be able to let my Son and Daughter fly if they want to with an instructor close by. If your club has this, or you can get one, it's a great way to learn.

In the end, get what you feel would fit you and your circumstances (learning curve AND checkbook/wallet). Doing a kit is a great experience, but if you don't feel that you'll have the time, get a good ARF.

Have fun, I am!:D