need help finding a trainer
 

im looking for an Electric trainer that is wood and not Foam. The place i want to go has a really low cut grass Runway and they said Foams have a hard time. Today i went to the local hobby shop and they had a "Hobbico NexSTAR Mini EP" for 269. they said they jsut got the plane in and basicly have never flown it. i need to stay under the 300 mark if possible and want electric sincen itro costs more.

on a different note i was looking at craigslist and i came across this ad http://syracuse.craigslist.org/tag/1343239451.html its a Very new Sig NeoFun trainer completely built with Norvel .061 r/c engine and Futaba SkySport radio installed but when i try to research it on the net i cant seem to find anything about it. what do you think?

RE: need help finding a trainer
 

First question. Do you have flight experiance?

RE: need help finding a trainer
 

Why does Nitro have to cost more? This is a great trainer in glow 62" wingspan. [link]http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXCXF4**&P=ML[/link]

RE: need help finding a trainer
 

well i was concidering fuel and whatever else i needed where as an rtr electric is basicly ready to go and no i do not have any experience other then about a month on flight sim where i can fly a plane trainer with no problem. I have signed up for a Local Club that has a Grass runway and they said Foam planes wont work and they have alot of people that are willing to buddy box if needed.

the reason i asked for electric is because i wanted the "Ease of use" without having to tune but was told byh my hobby shop that tuning is very easy compared to my trucks.

RE: need help finding a trainer
 

It's very easy, and your instructor (and other guys at the field) will give you all the help you need. Even with the Electric your probably going to want more batteries than the one it comes with (and probably in higher capacities), unless you just want to wait on the one you have to recharge.

RE: need help finding a trainer
 

so how is the plane you recommended at tower hobbies? is it a good trainer? im assuming nitro will be better then electric because of Wind? i dont mind nitro at all i have nitro rc cars and trucks and was told planes are a hell of alot easier then trucks

RE: need help finding a trainer
 

One of the moderators here has recommended it numerous times (RCKen or Minnflier.. I forget, maybe they'll chime in) for those looking for a good trainer RTF package on a budget. It's actually made by Hobbico for Tower (look at the Hobbico SuperStar and you'll see its the same plane), the Tower Radio is made by Futaba.

With the Tower Trainer this is an upgrade you may consider, the wire struts can be a little "bouncy". [link=http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXNM65&P=7]Dubro Landing Gear[/link]

RE: need help finding a trainer
 

what about that link i posted to craigslist about the sig neofun. any good or is it Discontiinued.

RE: need help finding a trainer
 

The Neo would probably be ok, just keep in mind that larger planes are easier to fly and are more stable in wind (because they are heavier, lighter planes, foamies especially, can get thrashed around in little more than a decent breeze). For 60 bux more I'd get the Tower. Plus Tower has a $20 off coupon code for an order of $199 or more. So you could get it for $239

RE: need help finding a trainer
 

kool. im gonna order it right now what kind of fuel should i snag and where do i find this coupon code.

RE: need help finding a trainer
 

oops, lol apparently it's $149 or more, my mistake. I think you'll be glad you got the larger plane (in the short run AND the long run). Another good thing about the Tower, they sell the individual parts in case of an accident, wing halves, tail feathers, fuselage. So if you should happen to have an "accident" just buy what you need.

[link=http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXENM3&P=7]Wing[/link]
[link=http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXENM5&P=7]Tail[/link]
[link=http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXENM4&P=7]Fuse[/link]

We'll await your first flight report!

RE: need help finding a trainer
 

If you go to the Tower main page it's right at the top. Code # 010BJ. Type that code in the box that asks for an "ad number" on the order page at the bottom and it'll take the $20 off.

RE: need help finding a trainer
 

thanks i just saw that. my ? about the fuel whats good fuel to snag. all i have is car fuel and wont work on planes

RE: need help finding a trainer
 

Oh, fuel. Tower recommends anything in the 5% to 15% Nitro content and 18% Lubricant content. I'd go with 10% Nitro to start, your local hobby shop should be able to provide you with any fuel needs. The Omega (pink) is pretty good stuff, its 17% lubricant but it's a Castor, Synthetic mix and will be fine. The downside of buying fuel from Tower (if you absolutely can't get it locally) is if you want gallons you have to buy a case (4 - 1 gallon jugs)

[link=http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXJA86&P=ML]Tower 46[/link]

RE: need help finding a trainer
 

I recently bought the Tower 40 trainer. Love it. I have a OS .46 AX on it but the included engine will be fine, I imagine. Rich

RE: need help finding a trainer
 

i was wondering if anyone can answer me this i already ordered the tower trainer. i talked to the guy about the Sig NeoFun trainer completely built with Norvel .061 r/c engine and Futaba SkySport radio that i meantioned above. I met the guy today and we flew the plane and it flew Great. the plane is in damn near perfect condition almost spotless. He said he is Ill and needs the money and would lower the price to 175.

How hard would it be to find Parts for the plane since i cant find it anywhere online? it seems like a deal and marty at my hobby shop knows this guy personaly and said hes a great guy and the hobby shop said they still carry parts for the plane but if i wanted to order parts online how would I?

RE: need help finding a trainer
 

If you think you want to cancel the Tower Trainer.... better call them ASAP. I tried to cancel one item from them four hours later, and they already were packing it! No problem to return it, but it cost me shipping. Rich

RE: need help finding a trainer
 

nah im keeping the tower i was concidering the other trainer for a extra just incase one may happen to be down.

RE: need help finding a trainer
 

You WANT a bigger plane at first.

Go with the Tower. The Neofun is a tiny plane.

RE: need help finding a trainer
 

Probably $150 would be closer to what its worth depending on how old the radio is and the how much use is on the plane/engine.

Repairing the plane is a matter going to the LHS and getting some balsa/covering. Airframe parts can be order through Sig, but balsa and covering will be a lot cheaper.

Then engine is another question. Norvel has been out of business for a while. Parts are out there, but some may not be cheap. The good news is the Norvel is a great little engine that should last if you run a good 1/2A fuel with plenty of castor oil and take care of it. The 1/2A forum is where the Norvel guru's are, so hop over there and read up on it. Glow buttons are getting hard to find, but there is the Galbreath head conversion that uses turbo plugs. Make sure you get all the spare parts/Norvel specific wrenches from him you can.

I'd say go for the NeoFun. You can always hang it on the wall until you get enough experience with the Tower Trainer, then start flying it. Tell the guy all you can come up with is $150 and wave the cash in his face. He he really is needing the money he'll most likely bite. If he wants to sit at $175, tell him you'll need another week or two to get the extra and see what he does. You can always go up if you start low, not the other way around. If he sells it, you can always build the LST 1/2A Trainer (stickie at the top of the 1/2A forum with plans posted somewhere in the thread).

Hogflyer

RE: need help finding a trainer
 

hes already starting to debate weather or not he wants to sell it so i just said forget it. this plane is in perfect condition and the hobby shop owner who is an expert on planes said the norvel 61 engine in his plane has been WELL taken care of and will go for along time to come but as you can see he removed the link because he didnt want to part with it. from what the hobby shop owner said was everyone wanted this guys engine something about its a very hard to find russian made engine.

ill just stick with tower its a bigger plan anyways. the only thing i dont like is the color of it and i wish it would cooler looking like a world war style

RE: need help finding a trainer
 

Those bright colors are there for a reason, to help you with the planes attitude in flight. If you stick with planes the warbirds will come later. Fly your trainer and when you get proficient, move to a low wing "trainer" type plane like a Sig 4 Star or Goldberg Tiger. Some people have a natural affinity for flying and move faster than others. Already having experience with land vehicles gives you a leg up on a lot of people. Enjoy your Tower Trainer, it's a good plane.

RE: need help finding a trainer
 

when i asked gy uncle about planes he recamended a cub cudet

RE: need help finding a trainer
 

Cubs usually don't have a lot (if any) wing Dihedral which is where an Airplanes "self righting" characteristics come from. All High wing airplanes are not created equal. Cubs usually aren't recommended as first planes because of that reason. The exception is the little SuperCub foamy, but it has no Aileron control unless you modify it yourself and add some. It has to be flown on calm wind days tho or you'll be fighting the wind, its pretty nifty the first time you see it flying backwards tho. :D

Edit: Some Cubs are modified by the manufacturers to include some Dihedral to make them more beginner friendly.

RE: need help finding a trainer
 

Not that it matters now, but, here are the SIG pages for two versions of the Neofun model.

http://www.sigmfg.com/IndexText/NFN100.html

http://www.sigmfg.com/IndexText/NFN101.html

You'll enjoy the Tower trainer. People ask almost daily what the "best" trainer is. I'm not sure the question can really be answered. ARF/RTF trainers in general are pretty similar. If it has a decent manual (Hangar 9, Hobbico, Sig, Tower) it is probably plenty good.