Second plane plan. Comments please.
 

I'm currently flying a Nexstar. I'm just recently solo, so I'm in no real hurry to do this. But I was looking into ideas for my next step in this great hobby. And at a moderate price.

First off, I know i'm going to want a 6 channel reciever. I was looking at this one. For some reason I like Futaba. Even though I've never used anything other than my Skysport. :eek:Programmable, and under 200.00! http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...I=LXCZR6**&P=0

Then for the plane. I'm considering the 4 star 40 of course, and the Super Sportster 40. Both of them are priced the same for the ARF. The Super Sportster though has more of the realilistic look that I like. Any comments or comparisons on these choices? How do they compare to each other? Would one or the other make a better second plane?

And then I'm going to need an engine. I was thinking of taking my O.S. .46 FX out of my nexstar, and using it in my new plane. From what I've heard, this engine will work great in a more sportier plane. And then I was going to buy the O.S. .46 LA to put in my Nexstar. This should be an ok arrangement. Correct?

All this should cost me about 400ish. Can u guys think of anything else I'm going to need for the ARF?

RE: Second plane plan. Comments please.
 

Sounds like you have a good plan.

I think you'll notice a little less power in the Nexstar with the LA engine, but the plane will still fly fine, albeit underpowered compared to the FX.

I know the 4* makes a very good second plane. I don't have any experience with the GP Super Sportster, and I haven't ever even seen one fly. So I'll leave that to someone else.

RE: Second plane plan. Comments please.
 

I suggest flying the wings off of the NexStar. When you can no longer learn anything from the trainer, THEN is the time for a second plane. That way all you have to learn is what the differences are in the new plane.

Surprising as it may sound, MOST trainers are quite capeable of performing basic aerobatics - Hammerhead stalls, loops, rolls, inverted flight (do this one AT LEAST 3 mistakes high ).

The 4* is an excellent 2nd plane as well as the Tiger II and World Models Rambler.

For the engine, I would suggest instead of the 46 LA, getting a TT pro 46. The cost difference is minimal, but the power difference is VERY noticeable.

For a radio, I like the 6XAS over the 6EXA. You may also want to look at some of the HiTec radios. They are compatible with Futaba and less money.

RE: Second plane plan. Comments please.
 

Yet another suggestion -- keep the Nexstar/FXi combo & put it on floats -- it is a very nice looking model & it would make a great float plane (remove the AFS stuff to save weight).

Buy a TT .46 Pro & put it in whatever your next choice is. If you buy a 4*40, be be sure to skin the wings with 1/16 balsa sheet up to the mainspar (top & bottom). The stock wing is too flexible.

Don't buy a .46 LA & put it in the Nexstar -- it will be a serious pig.

RE: Second plane plan. Comments please.
 

As in anything engine related, ask 10 people for an engine suggestion and you'll get 12 opinions (2 of them will change their minds).

For budget minded engines with good power:
Evolution 46NT - easy setup but just a bit heavy
Super Tigre G51 - very good power and comparable weight to a 46, finicky carb adjustment to get set right
Mecoa 46

I have both the Evo and ST and think they would both make for fun flying on the Nextstar. I haven't owned a Mecoa, but a few guys at the field have one and they seem to like it.

Duke

RE: Second plane plan. Comments please.
 

I own a MECOA .46 Tomcat & the break-in is painfull -- it doesn't run well out of the box. Once you get it run-in, it is OK, but not spectacularly powerfull. Same for the GMS .47 (another bargain price motor) -- long break-in, somewhat fussy & good, but not outstanding power with the standard muffler. I put on a GMS tuned muffler & that woke it up considerably -- equal, or a hair better than my TT .46 Pros & my OS .46 FX with stock mufflers.

The TT Pro & the FX are pretty evenly matched, & with the stock muffler baffle removed they out power the GMS with its tuned muffler. Add a GMS muffler, & they both blow the GMS away.

The MECOA also benefits from the GMS muffler, but it can't match any of the others for power. However, it is tough & long-lasting.

My favorite .46 engine by a wide margine is the TT Pro -- I have 5. I no longer have the GMS or the FX, but I kept the MECOA for "severe duty" applications.

RE: Second plane plan. Comments please.
 

bodypilot,

I have both of those planes (just bought the Super Sportster). I have a OS46Ax and a 11x7 PAC prop on both at the moment and they both haul around the sky well. There really isn't all that much difference between the two. Personally I think the Super Sportster is a little faster and rolls well right out of the box. I made several minor mods to the 4* 40 and it really made the plane come alive. I sealed all control surface gaps, added faom tape to the wing saddles and increased throws to the max the surfaces will move. It now rolls faster plus they are more axial than the SS, knife edge flights are dead on from half throttle on up and on and on...

I only have 5 flights on my SS and even though it seems as good as the 4* I still like my 4* better. Probably because it was my second plane and now has close to 40 flights on it. After looking at the control surfaces on the SS and the amount that they will move in relation to the 4*, I feel that this plane will be much better after I increase the throws. I normally do this after I have flown a plane for a few flights and have become accustomed to takeoffs and landings with it.

Basically, I guess I am saying to go ahead with either of them, both are nice planes, good and sturdy and with a small amount of tweeking with really come alive. I would first fly the wings off the Nextar, change it to a tail dragger, put floats on it, change the color or whatever you want. I still have my Kadet and have since converted it to tail dragger and recovered it to better suit my color choices and added a 12.25x3.75 prop and it became a totally different plane. With less than an hour of work, I can (and have done it) changed it back to a tri gear and reverted the prop to a 11x5 for training my daughters.

I would leave the 46fx in the nextar and get another for the second plane (or the os46ax), if funds are not much of a problem, but then the thuder tiger pro series engines are supposed to be really good and are cheaper than the OS engines, although I only use OS and Saito myself.

RE: Second plane plan. Comments please.
 

Thanks for all the comments guys. It's looking as if the .46 LA isn't a good choice for the Nexstar. I'll look into some of the other engines you guys suggested. Because I definitly don't want to be under powered in any of my planes. But I'd like to keep cost to a minimum.

I have flown a 4* 60 on a buddy box. I made a few approaches and it seemed to handle as if it were on rails. It goes where you point it. And it doesn't have the characteristics of a card board box in the air like my Nexstar. Only problem I have with the 4* is everyone at our field has one. So just to shake things up, i'm gonna try out the Super Sportster. I'm looking at getting the arf and stripping it right away of the covering. My son wants me to get a blue airplane. And I don't particularly care for the trim scheme on there. I'm thinking a Navy blue top and a bright yellow bottom. You know with some yellow trim on top too. :D I can't wait!

Thanks again for all the words of advice.

Dan

RE: Second plane plan. Comments please.
 

I'm not sure if the Nexstar is heaver than the Avistar.. But my
LA 46 works great on my Avistar.. So if money is a problem I
think it'll be ok... But it will not compete with a bearing 46..
and you can get some pretty good ones for not that much
more...

RE: Second plane plan. Comments please.
 

Ok, after researching the engines you guys mentioned.... It's between these.

TT pro .46 $80.00 1.43 bhp 482g
Super Tiger G51 $80.00 1.48 bhp 522g
GMS .47 $70.00 1.47 bhp 475g

Do these brands compare to my OS46FX? Would they do good on a 40 size Super Sportster? Or should I put the O.S. in my sportster? And anyone have experience with a these engines? In comparison on ease of break in, starting, preformance, and reliability.

RE: Second plane plan. Comments please.
 

I have two TT .46s. One is the older straight needle, the other is the newer canted needle. Both run the same, great! I run mine on 10% nitro and have plenty of power and good idle. For the price, you can't beat them.

RE: Second plane plan. Comments please.
 

The Thunder Tiger 46 Pro is a very good engine, the Super Tiger is supposed to be, but I've heard a lot less about it. The GMS is an iffy proposition.

The OS 46 FX would make the Sportster a real screamer. I had one with an older OS 40 FP in it and it flew fine. I've also owned one with a 52 four stroke in it, and it has better vertical. I flew a club members with a 46 FX in it to trim it for him, and the plane was a rocket. Don't have to worry though, they slow down pretty well for landings. ;)

The RCU critics rate the OS 46 LA as a 50/50 engine. About half like them, half don't. The one I own runs fine and gives okay power for a low end engine, but if you can swing one of the better ones, I would.

Good luck and have fun!
Dennis-

RE: Second plane plan. Comments please.
 

My recommendation is to get a 9C Transmitter only and use your existing equipment from your trainer.

RE: Second plane plan. Comments please.
 

I can't possibly see me using 9 channels. And then I have no electronics for my trainer. I've got to have my trainer with me.

RE: Second plane plan. Comments please.
 

Just a quick note re. advertised hp -- all the manufacturers lie about engine outputs. Real world performance seems to bear no resemblance to advertised power. For example, the MECOA .46 Tomcat & the TT .46 Pro are advertised at the same 1.43 hp, but the TT is substantially stronger than the MECOA -- equal in fact, to the so-called 1.68 of the FX. The OS .46 LA is advertised at 1.2 hp (not very different from the 1.43 hp of the MECOA), but in real life it seems to have barely half of the power of the other .46's. Check with your friends about their favorite powerplants -- they will lie as well, but they may be closer to the truth than the manufacturers.

RE: Second plane plan. Comments please.
 

Definitely what I have found - the 46LA is pretty weak for its 1.2 bhp rating - couldn't even get a Hobbico Superstar up to takeoff speed on a grass runway that isn't cut real short!!:(

RE: Second plane plan. Comments please.
 

I have a 40LA on my AVISTAR, it will not take off on a grass runway of any length. I don't think a 46LA would provide any more power than the 40.

I would like to thank everone who contributed to this thread, because I had the same questions about a radio and engine. I am also considering a second plane, the difference is I want something a little bigger like a 4* 60. There is one at our flying field with an OS 61 It appears to fly very well and have very good vertical performance.

We have a very weird thing that happens with Futaba radios at our field, we call it the Futaba Zone, were when the model is over a certain part of the field it take a "hit". Every plane is different in the things it does, for instance mine takes up throttle, right rudder, and up elevator, for about a second. And it only happens to people flying with Futaba. Has anyone head of this happening with other brands of radios, recievers? This will influence my decision on which brand of radio to buy. [8D]

RE: Second plane plan. Comments please.
 

Hope you got the extended warranty with your field! :)

At the field I fly at Futaba and JR are the two prominant radio brands used and I have seen them both do "funny" things with different planes. More likely a case of receiver setup in the planes than the transmitters though. We do have a couple spots at our field where you swear the plane is acting funny due to the fact that our field is in a valley and we have a small dropoff at one end of the field that seems to be where strange things typically seem to happen. My strangest flying experience was a couple months ago when we had a tornado go through town on the same day. Everything appeared calm when looking at the windsock and trees but my plane bounced around like crazy. Flying was no fun at all! I landed and packed it up after half a flight. Sometimes you just can't tell what the air over the field is doing.



bodypilot,

I recommend the TT .46 Pro if you are watching your funds. I have two of them and they are great engines. The only real advantage to the two OS choices is a slightly faster break-in period since they come from the factory machined a little finer. Either way you will be making a good choice. BTW, if you are seriously considering the OS, why not spend an extra $20.00 and get a Webra .50. These engines scream and are very light. If you want to get a .46 size 3D plane down the road you will be happy you have the extra power the Webra has to offer. Remember, planes come and go while engines tend to stick around to fly again.

RE: Second plane plan. Comments please.
 

Agreed. I have the Midwest Aerobat and have been practicing the latest Sportsman Pattern schedule with it. Yea, a pattern plane is more stable in the manuvers, but the trainer handles them just fine too.