building my first kit and wanted something cheap but nice and definatly easy to build. anything i should know about this kit?

any other really good kits for a begginer out there sport/scale

I've looked at the Contendor and it seems fairly straight forward. There may be some better first kits out there though. You might take a look at the Sig Four Star or GP Rapture. Both are solid performing sport planes that show you some basic building techniques but aren't overwhelming at all.

The Contender is a nice kit and makes for a good looking plane. It is not a trainer nor a good first plane. Good Luck, Dave

The contender is easy to build. But, it can be a handful to fly. I would reconsider the choice of this plane for a second or third plane.

Good luck
Frank

I built this Contender this past year. I have not flown it bymyself because I am still on the trainer. (I don't get to go very often) However, I have flown it 3 times on the buddy box with my instructor and it flies exactly where you point it. It is fast (I have OS .61 FX on it) but, I fly it at about 1/2 throttle. My instructor and another very accomplished pilot
both have flown it more than once, and they like it very much.

Under search type "top flite contender" and you will find my build thread and several others.

I think you would enjoy building this kit. Just take your time, pin the spars down good (I pick really straight stuff for spars) and I recommend using just plain old yellow wood glue. Good Luck, whichever kit you decide to build. Attached are a couple of pics of the finished job.

The first kit for fly and build is Carl Goldberg Tiger 2, Contender is avery nice for build but is not for beginers pilot.

Try the Four Star 60. Place the kit in a large bag, add glue and shake. Out will come a great flying, lazer cut plane.
john

I built the CONTENDER,good kit, however, read the manual carefully and be certain you fully understand each step.
This was not my first build and I came across two or three steps out of sequence.Could have caused problems if I were completely new to building.
Good luck

Peppy plane that's a blast to fly. VERY strong structure. Build is pretty straight-forward (carving the cowl is a little different from most kits) and covering is more difficult than some with the odd angles - especially if you build the optional wingtips.




Honestly, probably not a good first kit but it could be, I suppose, if you take your time and bring questions here ASAP for assistance. This forum is like having an engineering consultation service on call. The wing is very simple and the fuselage is easy to build square and true. Probably not a good choice for a first or trainer airplane unless you have a good instructor with a buddy box. You have to bleed speed and the apron flap is a bit much to expect a learner to remember and work with; and coming in steep can be hard on the landing gear (and backing blocks). Instant one-way retracts.

Love the plane, though. Looking back I would not have done the upswept wing tips.