I'm looking for suggestions of a CHEAP tail dragger to practice with before going full into warbirds - somethnig challanging. This is a plane that I'm going to push hard, crash and repair often so I don't want to put many $$ into it. I prefer electric, kit/ARF/RTF doesn't matter.

Any short coupled biplane would do the trick. The Pitts comes to mind.....

A FourStar would be a good choice. Several sizes to choose from too.

Definitely NOT a short coupled Biplane. Warbirds are much easier to fly!

I will second the 4-star.

There's a kit from Great Planes, the Cap, 40 size. Probably serve the purpose. They also sell a P51 kit (has the UltraSport wing) that might be just what you're looking for.
Good luck,
Dave Olson

thanks - I'll be building a scale AT-6 over the winter and want to be ready next spring to fly it.

You could try a Spadflyer. Look in the S.P.A.D. threads. They are cheap, Spadflyer.com has a kit for about $50 but it is for a .40 glow. I bought one and loved it.

i usually recommend an ultra sport to prelude a war bird. It's a little easier to fly than a war bird and a simple retract set-up if you choose which is great practice to learn setting those up as well.

Me too, but it is not a good electric conversion

cost for the ultra sport?

$99.99

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXJ583&P=7

There is also the Ultra Sport + which would make a better electric conversion:

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXCZR8&P=7

You may also want to look at the Mustang 40 which is basically an Ultra Sport dressed up to look like a Mustang:

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXJ571&P=SM

all, thanks for the links. Its been a long time since I've into this hobby and I appreciate your posts. After I fly the AT-6 I plan to scratch-build some time of larger ducted jet or multple glow engine, but that's a while away.

Ducted jet and muli-engine planes are way different than anything with one screw up front, jets need airspeed to keep aloft and multiple engine aircraft need rudder and alerion cooridination to fly nicely, and if an engine goes out on either, you have to be very quick to rectify the situation. Just a heads up, but the US .40/.60 from GP is excellent and the GP mustang is very nice taildagger warbird too, (the wing is based on the US 40 wing) Just to let ya know.