Returning to hobby
 

Gday all,
I started flying model planes in about 1999 when i was 13, it was my passion for a couple of years. i had an apache 2 trainer that i sold (bad mistake) once i got my second plane a super sports 40, then only a few weeks later i plowed the sports into the dirt and with nothing else to fly but a 2 meter glider and a flying wing sloper i ended up buying an ace simple series cub to continue my powered flying.
but, with about 8 months of flying practice lost between planes, i thought i'd be alright with the little cub. first mistake: i decided not to use a rudder, i thought it'd be fine with just ailerons, elevator and throttle. second mistake: at first i didn't install the prop with the sleeve/spacer, so the prop was off balance on the engine, this excess vibration for the breif time it was running was enough to break the glue on the rudder and jam it offset. third mistake: i though, oh yeah i'll slow it down and make it a little easier to fly by trimming in a bit of flap to the ailerons. hhmmm
result, it was rather scary to fly for the 10 seconds or so i had it up in the air and promptly landed it.
so with a few scares like that, and also going to high school, working, learning to fly full size, family seperation and moving home, my hobby was put on the back burner for a few years.
somewhere in all that i went out and bought a GWS tiger moth to fly around as i was certain i couldnt wreck that easily, problem was finding a calm evening to fly it, but its had a good run so far.
so i've been flying occasionaly in the last few years but it time to get back into it properly.

enough of the chit chat eh, sorry if i bored you.

i want to start again with an arf trainer, any recomendations, something cheap preferably.
and i also found another club in my local area that is smaller than my old one, and more focussed on fun than competition, great.

Cheers.

RE: Returning to hobby
 

A Hobbico Avistar, since you have a bit of prior experience. Alternatively, if you want to play safe, a Hobbico Superstar is also very good.

RE: Returning to hobby
 

i would recommend the H9 Alfa trainer, it's about $310...you can buy it with the engine, transmitter, receiver, servos and batteries..all you will need is the field box and everything that goes with that.....or you can just get the plane itself if you have the engine, ect..., it's about $100

they also make the Arrow, it's still a trainer but it's a little more aerobatic than the Alfa and since you have some experience i'd say go with that..

http://www.horizonhobby.com/Shop/ByC...ProdID=HAN2450

http://www.horizonhobby.com/Shop/ByC...ProdID=HAN2625

RE: Returning to hobby
 

The above suggestions for a glow powered trainer are excellent.

If you want to go electric I suggest the EasyStar or the SlowStick.

The Easy star requires a larger area to fly in (minimum is football size field), however it will handle wind up to 10 mph with minimal problems.

The Slow Stick you can fly in a baseball field size area, however, it doesn't like any wind above 3 - 4 mph.

The SlowStick is less expensive than the EasyStar - EasyStar RTF is about $180.

RE: Returning to hobby
 

i would highly recommen the hobbistar 60. will fly with a motor as small as a .46 TT (will have a flight report with a .75 ST soon :)). realy nice flying plane and slows down to a crawl without stalling

RE: Returning to hobby
 

Yeah I have a hobbistar 60, very nice plane.

RE: Returning to hobby
 

The Midwest Aerobat is an advanced trainer that flies great with a 46 on it. It will fly slow or tear up the sky if you want. I have 2 of them and fly them all the time. Go to falcon-trading.com to see more info. ENJOY !!!! RED

RE: Returning to hobby
 

Since you already have some experience, I would definitely get a trainer with a semi-symetrical wing airfoil like the Avistar. Don't buy a flat bottom winged trainer (boring).

Good luck and welcome back to the hobby.

RE: Returning to hobby
 

thanks for the replys,
i want to stick with glow power for now because im all setup for that, and i recently bought a new carby for my super tigre .45, as the other one was obliterated when i nose dived the super sports. the rest of the engine is fine though.
Basically i want something that is easy to fly and can just cruise around with, either a flat bottomed or semi symmetrical high wing, 60-70" span to suit my engine.
I was looking at some of the trainers by phoenix for example, the boomerang 40 trainer, canary trainer and classic trainer, as they all sell for around $100 aud. or the skyraider mk1 trainer. some of the ones you guys mentioned i never see in stores over here, like hangar9 or hobbico etc.
thanks again.
Dan.

RE: Returning to hobby
 

i would also say avistar i actually had it out a few hours ago, the reason i like it so much is you can just relax and take it easy cruising at 1/4 throttle with a cheap .40 la or put the stick to full and do some inverted flight, rolls, loops and other basic manuevers, i will also add that this is my first plane and i am very happy with it, i learned to solo the 5th flight (but for the next few flights had a buddy box just to be safe) today was actually my first time flying alone and i had it deadstick about 15 feet high and about 10 feet past the end of the runway but luckily i was able to glide in for a nice landing, and i must say this plane glides very well. so i would highly suggest it , i personally wouldnt get a flat bottomed wing plane because semi-semmetrical you grow with a little more. well good luck

RE: Returning to hobby
 

thanks skater,
i few people have already tried to turn me away from flat bottom so far, and what you said makes sense so flat bottom is out of the question now. i think most ARF trainers are semi symmetrical now anyway.
speaking of solo, the first time i went solo was with my second aircraft, a golberg gentle lady on its maiden flight, but i knew i was ready.
Anyway I'll head out to the local flying field tommorow morning and have a chat to the guys there.
Dan.

RE: Returning to hobby
 

seeing as you can fly id forget a trainer and get a low wing trainer if that makes sense or a super sportster 40 or similar .ive read good things about the sig four star 40.theyre all docile when needed but capable of good aerobatics when your ready!!.also the travel air by black horse is a great low wing trainer and theyre cheap to buy only £50 here compared to super sportster £100.youll only get boredwith a trainer too quick.its just confidence you need as you allready know how to fly?.good luck!!.[img][/img]heres a pic of a great low wing thats very docile and does everything youll ever need ie great aerobatic plane its a acro wot !!

RE: Returning to hobby
 

Well i've decided i am going to get a trainer, as i still have my other planes, and i dont think i want to start back on one of them. plus it'll be good to have a trainer in my hangar.
i wanted to get a world models skyraider as i liked the colour scheme, but now they've changed it and it doesnt look that good anymore.
maybe a boomerand, i don't know, we'll see how i go tommorow [8D]
Dan

RE: Returning to hobby
 

Well the hobby shop only had one trainer in stock, a Black Horse Models Excel 2000 Trainer for .40 engines, tricylce landing gear [&o], rubber band wing mounting [&o]
But i bought it yesterday anyway, it seems like a good well built ARF, and for $105 AUD i thought i cant go wrong.
So i got stuck in and started making new landing gear mounts for a taildragger setup, basically i just mimicked the design and transpanted it further forward in the fuselage.
i also need to fahion up something so i can bolt the wings on instead of rubber bands. and attach a tailweheel assembely to the rear, i think the hobby shop has those.
i'll replace the EZ connnectors, simply because i dont trust them, they look suss, and i'll check over the pushrod assemblies and replace anything thats cheap and nasty.
also i'll double check that all the hinges are glued, i know some are because the glue got in the hinge workings of the tail feathers.

LOL i read throught the instructions and felt none the wiser, they didn't tell me anything i didn't already know :D

Cheers, Dan.

RE: Returning to hobby
 

glad you got sorted out mate!!,one question whats wrong with tricycle landing gear? its actually better if you intend taking off from grass!!especially if its bumpy lol;).black horse make good planes but check the hinges are pinned not just glued in ok?.

RE: Returning to hobby
 

Thanks mate,

Nothing wrong with tricycle setup, my super sports was a tricycle setup and i was satisfied with it, just my pesonal preference i spose, and i'll still be able to change it back if i feel the need to.
So far i've noticed that some of the hinges are pinned, thats a good sign, but i haven't had a decent look to see if any aren't pinned.

Any suggestions on what i'd need to do to make the wing a bolt down type instead of rubber band type?
i think what i'd do would be, glue a strip of thick ply at the front and rear of the opening and gusset that with balsa, and use 4 t-nuts underneath to bolt to. would that be enough??

Dan.

RE: Returning to hobby
 

that sounds ok to me but im sure someone else might be able to help you more on that one.my advice would be to have a look at someones?and copy that or have a look at some in the shop!!.but it sounds ok to me!!

RE: Returning to hobby
 

I stopped in at the hobby shop this evening and the fella sold me some wing bolt down assemblies, they bolt to the formers or side walls of the opening, and with some matching holes in the wing once reinforced should do the job quite well, perhaps some extra balsa gusseting on the formers.

RE: Returning to hobby
 

glad you got sorted out mate!!,good luck with her;) surprised to hear a brit wishing an ausie luck?.dont worry mate i wont be wishing your lot luck next week when the 4th test gets underway lol:D you had enough last week[>:]bet you lot were doing rain dances lol.hehe