Hey everyone,

I am planning on buying an Eagle II for a first plane. I plan on building it over the winter months. Actually, my wife will be getting it for me as a Christmas gift. I am going to get the kit so I can become more familiar with the building process. General Aerodynamics and Theory of Flight are not new concepts to me as a former Glider pilot and Aviation Systems Technical Assistant with the Air Force. So I'm not totally green!

The thing is...I have already priced the kit. I will buy the Radio in the spring. As I plan to build it over the winter I need to know what tools and supplies I will need in addition to my kit. I'd like to start to collect some of that stuff now. That way when Christmas comes, I can get right at it!!!

If someone could get me a list that would be appreciated.

Glues: 30 minute and 5 minute epoxy, with something to mix it on and with, brushes. (old plastic lids and wooden coffee stirrers, plus small plumbers' acid brushes.) Thin CA. (Not "Superglue".) You can substitute wood glue for the CA, but it adds time to the build.

Tools: XActo knife and extra number 11 blades. (Buy a box of 100, it's cheaper and you'll use them.) Razor saw; Kona or XActo. Kona is better. Steel straight edge, 18". A ruler will work but.... Sanding block and various grits of sandpaper. (80, 120, 200, 400.) Screw drivers, small and medium sizes, both flat and phillips types. Pliers, needle nose and regular. (At least one pair with side cutters for wire.) A good set of Allen or hex wrenches. (IMO, Ball drivers are a bit better if you can find a good set.) A "Dremel" type rotary tool will help a lot if you can shell out the extra dollars.

Covering tools: A sealing iron. A Trim iron will help too if you can swing both. A Heat gun made for covering. (Blow dryers don't really get hot enough.) More of those #11 blades for your XActo knife if you didn't buy the box of 100.

Check the kit contents. Most will have a list of extras you'll need to buy; like wheels, fuel tank (& size), fuel line, etc...

By the way. You should buy the engine and radio equipment when you get the plane kit. You'll need them all to fully build the kit. Buy an engine on the larger size of the recommended range.

In addition to the radio next spring. Some type of "flight box". (A tool box of appropriate size and design works well.) A gallon of 10% fuel. A fuel pump, manual or electric. A glow igniter with charger. Although not 'necessary', I highly recommend a 12 volt starter for the engine.

If you buy a 'self contained' glow ignitor and starter, and a manual fuel pump, you won't need to buy a 12 volt battery with charger, nor a "power panel" to connect everything. (And you won't have cords dangling around your prop when trying to start the engine.)

The single most important thing that I would recommend getting is an instructor to help you learn to fly. They are also the single least expensive item you can get (free), and the single best piece of insurance that all your hard work building that plane will not be destroyed.

Good luck and have fun.
Dennis-

DBCherry has covered the basics pretty well for you. I agree with what is said. In my area the Eagle 63 Old Version and the Eagle 2 New Version of this trainer are popular and a true kit for the novice. You will find the instructions very helpful to complete the plane. I have built a half dozen of these over the years with never problem one.
One word on power. As this is a trainer with a flat bottom airfoil the more power you give it the faster it climbs. the less power it starts descending. Over the years I have seen different people use all sorts of engines. For someone that is just learning a good reliable 40 size engine using a 10X6 prop seams to be the ticket with this airplane. Also use a spinner as recommended. Spinners do save engines on the unexpected bad landing. In the instructions you will find a few pages about teaching yourself to fly, DONT. Get yourself someone to teach you how to fly. This is a very forgiving trainer and treated properly will last a long time.

A Glue Tip Go to the store and buy some small round Zip-lock storage bowls. The ones with the blue lids. Get the bowls that are about 3 inches around. The bowls are made of quite thin plastic that is fairly flexible. Mix your epoxy in them. When your done, let the un-used epoxy harden over night. The next morning you can flex the bottom of the bowl and the hardened epoxy will "pop" right out nice and clean. The bowl is now ready to be used again!

Don't forget that you will need a flat building board, surfaced with something that will allow you to stick pins in it.

I'd suggest that you start reading R/C Magazines, for example Model Airplane is a magazine that has excellent articles. The other thing you might consider is the 300 page plus, Pilot Training Course manual from Radio Control Modeler, magazine. The manual retails for about $15.00 (American), and worth every cent. Click on the link (or cut and paste in your Browser)

http://www.rcmmagazine.com/e/env/000...m=products:ab7

Happy flying .........

Maple Flyer:

Also have you trainer go through safety training with you. some things I have seen new pilots do are very dangerous. these things are not toys and can do serious damage to your fingers, auto, child, and bystanders.
I've seen people start their plane's engine on a table just to have it fall off when they turn to put their started down, taxi out to the runway with the glo stick still on the motor, fly over the pits and over the parking lot. and on and on and on............ nothing worse than an avoidable accident the first day out.
I'm the safety officer for our club so I'm kinda funny about the safety stuff but without it people can get hurt.

Miloh.

WOW...I'm glad I signed up. Its amazing and encouraging to find that the people involved in RC's are so willing to help.

THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR THE INVALUABLE ADVICE!!!!

DBCherry - Great list, I am going to start getting what I need right away. I probably will purchase the radio and engine before spring. That way I can hit the feilds as soon as the weather improves. Thanks!

r1morris - Is there any particular brand of engine you use. I might go with the Thunder Tiger or OS 40 size engine. Is there a certain brand that is more reliable? Thanks!

Kota_air - Great idea, and the good news is, I already have some of the containers you're referring to. Thanks!

TomCrump - I am building a work bench in my basement out of plywood and 2x4's. Thanks for the advice, I will be sure to make it straight and level. Hopefully the plywood isn't to hard to stick the pins into. Thanks!

hnesitd1 - I'm a firm beleiver in reference material. Chances are, I will get the manual. Thanks for the link!

Miloh - I too am big on safety. Once I find an instructor I'll be sure to get him to review the safety aspects of the hobby. Almost every job I've had required great attention to detail. Sometimes people become complacent and that leads to being careless. Maybe some RC Safety Association would be in order here. Just to keep pushing the safety aspects. Maybe one of us could create a RC safety website and provide some reference materials for individuals and clubs. Do you know of any good publications, or perhaps you have already have done something up. Anyway, just a few ideas, let me know what you think! Thanks!

By the way, hnesitd1, Halifax is my favorite city in Canada. I am originally from Labrador myself. Just wanted to let you know how envious I am!

Maple Flyer:
Check this link and go to "2004 safety code"
this is the site for the Academy of Model Aeronautics.

It is recommended that everyone join AMA for the insurance. Our club is an AMA member club and we go by their safety regulations. it is also a requirement that an AMA sanctioned club has a safety officer.

Miloh.

I will check it out. Thanks again for the info. I'll just concentrate on getting my plane built and in the air. MAAC probably has something similar, so I'll check that out too.

Thanks All!!

Maple,
You're welcome. And I think you'll find just about everyone you run into in this hobby will be as helpful as possible. (Sometimes we get too helpful!)

Here's the link Miloh was talking about. You of course, aren't subject to the US club requirement of joining the AMA, but Canada has a similar organization.

AMA's site would still be worth checking out for the info though.

http://www.modelaircraft.org

Dennis-