Need some input from you guys, what is a good inexpensive (<$50) kit to start a 11 year old kid out on? My nephew is learning to fly my trainer at the field and would like to introduce him to kit building for the experience. I would like one that would make a nice 2nd or 3rd plane for him to fly.

Would a Tower Uproar kit be a nice one to learn how to build?

DG

My vote is the Sig Somethin' Extra. Excellent kit to build, all laser cut. Excellent second or third plane, depending on pilot profiency. But, it's closer to the $80 mark. I don't know of ANY kits that are less than $50.

I would spend just a little more and build a Sig 4star or a Goldberg Tiger. They are more aerobatic but still have some stability. The Uproar is very easy to fly but it has a lot of neutral stability so where you leave the controls is where it stops. Now if he is a good and is trying to 3D the trainer, go with the Uproar.

That's the first time I have ever seen anyone say A 4* or Tiger is more aerobatic then an Up-Roar but all the planes mentioned are great builds and wonderful flyers.
I built so many Up-roars at one point I made templates of the parts and started scratch building them. It's an easy build and A great flying little plane. With the fun fly planes like the Up-Roar the plane is one piece so the wing doesn't come off and transport can sometimes be A problem. Any .40 to .46 engine will fly them very well, I almost always used the OS .46 LA engines on them, it was just A perfect match. Stock old standard servos work well in this plane. Nothing fancy, just A fun little plane for A kit price of under 50 beans. It was A great club fun fly contest winner too!!!

The uproar flies great. Another $50 kit would be the Tower Hobbies "Fun 51". The profile fuse and external tank make it an easy build.

Don't forget the GP Dazzler kit. It's a few dollars more, but the canopy and turtle deck design make it look a bit nicer in my opinion. I just bought this kit for my 11 and 12 year olds to build. I also bought the ARF so they could get an idea of what it should look like when they are done with the kit! There is a build thread on the kit right here on RCU. Here is the link...

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_43...tm.htm#4328658

Steve

I mean more than the trainer.

Wow, fast responses, thanks guys, I'm going to Tower to hit the buy button. Thanks again for the feedback and the link to the build, that will be a tremendous aid for him to be able to go on-line and read/see as he builds his. . I think an Uproar for him and ........ a Dazzler for me

DG

That's another reason I bought the ARF while they build - I can assemble the ARF for myself right away!!!


Steve

Great choices. The Dazzler is the same plane but A lot better looking. I have decked out A scratch built Up-Roar just to make something different. Fun 51, another Great Plane!!

How about a different perspective. I started my son with building the relatively cheap Guillows kits for rubber power. The basic building skills are learned for about $10.00 per kit. They are relatively quick builds and a blast to free fly. And when they crash to the point of distruction there is no great loss. My son developed an appreaction for the joy of building with less frustration.
Larry

I was just about to suggest a free flight model. Its a full build but will take a lot less time than an RC model. Also by the time you add an engine, radio gear etc to a model the price will be a lot more than $50. This way he will be able to build a model that will fly from bits of wood in a quick time. If he likes it then go from there.

Read her first post.

Hey Graybeard, I'm not her [sm=punching.gif] Thanks guys, I thought of that, but he wants to build one he can fly in a year or so.

DG