good first arf
 

I have a f-27 stryker and its battery is messed up. Ive had problem after problem with it and i am not putting more money into it for replacement parts.[:@] i dont think im going to buy another rtf plane. i would really like some suggestions for a good rtf plane. i would also like to know if i can use my striker radio or should i get a new one.:D

RE: good first arf
 

I think the main problem is that you bought a plane that's beyond your skill level to start off with. The Stryker may look cool, but it also takes a skilled hand to fly it successfully.

Check my thread above for "Good First Planes." While a beginner plane may not look cool, remember that you don't look cool either when you're crashing that cool plane and smashing it to bits. While a beginner plane may not do all the aerobatic stunts, remember that neither can you. You need a stable platform to learn the basics on.

RE: good first arf
 

No I can fly the striker fine ive alot of problems whith.

RE: good first arf
 

The GWS Beaver is a good first ARF. Good plane to learn landings and take offs with, fairly robust design, good stable flyer, and an easy build. It's a good value at around $40 with a motor.

The GWS E-Starter is a good one if you want ot move right to 4 channel, BUT it fly's better with a 350C motor than the 400 motor it now comes with. So you are best off to order a slope glider kit - no motor - and get the motor seperately.

The Formosa is the next step up in line, but only if you really can fly the Stryer VERY well.

Over all I would recommend the Beaver. Even though it is an easier plane to fly, you need to develop some building skill to get any of them to fly well. A good stable flyer will give you a bit more margin of error in the building process and still yield a flyable plane. The more advanced planes won't tolerate much error in the build and still fly well.

RE: good first arf
 

ALMOST READY TO FLY and EASY TO BUILD KITS - STARTER PLANES

You will need to buy a radio if you don't have
one, so you might want to read these articles on radios. Radios. The
articles are written for sailplane beginners, but all the info applies to
electrics too.

Entry Level Radios - If you have to go cheap
http://www.rcezine.com/cms/article.php?cat=&id=44

Computer Radios - The recommended path for almost everyone
http://www.rcezine.com/cms/article.php?cat=&id=65


ARF typically means you are not gluing balsa pieces together, then covering
with Monocote or some other shrink film. Below are ARFs and some are very
easy to build kits. In each case you must add your own radio, receiver,
servos, speed control, batteries and battery charger. They all come with a
motor.

Slow stick
Best flown in still to under 5 mph breeze
Can also be flown indoors in a gym or similar space.
The RTF Slo-V above is essentially a copy of this plane.
http://horizon.hobbyshopnow.com/prod...p?prod=GWS1040
Discussion Thread
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showt...hreadid=122951

Tiger Moth
Best flown in still to under 5 mph breeze
Can also be flown indoors in a gym or similar space.
Cool looking little plane.
http://horizon.hobbyshopnow.com/prod...p?prod=GWS1020
Review
http://www.backyardflyer.com/BY/articles/tiger_moth.asp

Tipsey
http://www.hobby-lobby.com/tipsy.htm
Review
http://www.hobby-lobby.com/pdf/gr6232.pdf
http://rcgroups.com/links/index.php?...at=198&id=3871

Magpie - Easy to build Foam kit
Has trainer wing AND an available sport wing
Master the first, then advance to the second.
http://www.mountainmodels.com/magpie.php
Video
http://www.mountainmodels.com/Magpie.wmv

Balsa Wood Kits - If you like to build with wood, these are highly
recommended.

Dandy
http://www.mountainmodels.com/dandy.php

Dust Stick
http://www.mountainmodels.com/duskstik.php


ELECTRIC GLIDERS

Have you considered an electic glider? Usually larger than the typical
parkflyer, they also tend to be quite stable and fly a bit slower, which makes
them easy to fly.

If you would like to try soaring with the birds, then an electric glider might
be a good choice. These planes are launched with an electric motor. They can
be flown around using the motor, like a parkflyer, or they can be flown to
height, then the motor is turned off and you hunt for thermals, just like the
birds.

They can do loops and simple aerobatics, but are really optomized for thermal
soaring. The Aerobird and the T-Hawk, which are often mentioned as first
parkflyers, glide and thermal pretty well, but they come with fixed props.
These planes include folding props which make the plane more streamlined and
so it can glide better than a fixed propeller plane.

Some are RTF which are fully built, include all the radio gear with everything
installed. Battery and charger are included with the RTF planes. Some are
ARFs where you assemble the simple package, then add your own radio equipment.
Some are available either way.

With these planes you get a good first plane, a good first electric and a good
electric glider. It may not have been what you were thinking, but it may be
exactly what you were looking for.

Ascent - this is a park glider ARF
It can be flown as a parkflyer or a glider
http://www.horizonhobby.com/Shop/ByC...ProdID=EFL1075
Review
http://rcgroups.com/links/index.php?...at=237&id=4233

Electra - 2M ARF
78" wing span - perhaps too large for a parkflyer, but a good first e-glider
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXDJB2&P=7

If you are not familiar with soaring, it is a lot of fun. Flights can be as
short as parkflyer flights, or can last for hours, if you find lift.

This article may be helpful in understanding lift and the fun that e-gliders
offer to the electric flyer.

Finding Lift
http://www.rcezine.com/cms/article.php?cat=&id=57

RE: good first arf
 

You already own a Stryker correct!!!! How is the fuselage on it etc?????? If there is nothing wrong with the fuselage etc then you might want to look into just replacing the radio gear,servos and motor with nonpropriety gear. Use a regular radio system such as something from Hitec. A set of hitec 55 servos. a Berg 4 dspII receiver a 25 amp speed control for a brushless motor and do some searching for the most commonly used brushless motors in the stryker. This will put your Stryker into a whole new level of flying aircraft.

I would not recomend using the ParkZone radio or any of its gear on arf models. If anything I would keep the ParkZone model and swap out the radio gear for something more widely used. You get much better performance.