Im thinking about buying a kit but this would be my first kit, so i wanted to know if any one has any suggestions on a kit that would be good for a begginer

Sig Something Extra is an outstanding kit for a first build. A joke running about this kit is that open the box, throw in a bottle of glue, shake, and pour the finished plane out!!!! It's well documented and is a very well designed kit, making it a great first build. And to top it all off you have a great flying plane when you are done.

Ken

The Carl Goldberg Eagle 2 is a good kit, I liked building mine, The Tiger 60 is also a nice kit.

I'll second that Somethin' Extra

A great kit that would not only allow you to learn good building techniques, but would be a great flyer when done, is the Hobby Lobby Telemaster .40.
It's a truly timeless design, and is such a great airplane that it's available in literally all sizes and kit or ARF choices.
To build, the one you want is this one: http://www.hobby-lobby.com/telemaster40_3890_prd1.htm

It would be easier to make a recommendation if we knew how much flying experience you have

I was just at the LHS and he had a new SSE kit in stock. $149.00 . Did they go up that much ?
The 4 Star .40 and .60 are good first kits and the wood in them is above most other kits manufactures . The 4 Star series is hard to beat for an overall build/fun plane and a few easy mods really improve the performance . The SSE is also an easy build , but at $150.00 , makes it a little steep for me.

I stopped by my LHS yesterday for the first time in several months. The stock of kits has gone down by about 75% over just a few months ago. No SSE's, the only Four Star kit was the 120, no Dazzlers, a couple of LT-40 kits, a couple of warbirds and a Cub. These guys probably had a hundred kits on the shelf a year ago.

I almost bought their last Sig Fazer kit, but I didn't. I'll probably regret that soon.

And yes, $149 for a SSE kit seems high, but if they were ever discontinued, I'd probably pay a lot more for one.

To the original poster, my first kit and second plane was a Four Star 40. It's a great intro into building. If anything, it's a little too easy.

You could always build a control line kit, just to get a sampling of what it takes to build.

There's plenty around and most are really cheap, especially the knock-offs. (old kits made new.)

One that comes to mind is the "All American." An absolute easy build for a 51" model. Find them at auction!

Be fun to fly also! CL is great!

Charles

It's good to ask this question, and I see there have been a variety of answers. I don't really disagree with any, but I will point out one thing that hasn't been mentioned.

Building, like flying, is best learned with good instruction. The best instructions in building are included with trainer kits. Like the Sig Kadets, the Telemasters, and the Eagle. Tower, Great Planes and others surely have good first kits that include good beginner instructions.

I suggest you choose a kit that comes with good instructions. Sig kits are extra good.

My 2¢ worth,
Dave Olson

Dave made a great point that the best trainer kits have instructions that really teach you how to build. Both the Sig Kadet series and Great PLanes PT series are like that . They have a lot of upfront detail about how to decide what type of glue to use for different parts of the build, why hardwood or ply is used in certain areas and balsa in others and teach techniques like how to apply sheeting around curves, how to build washout into a wing, the order to cover, what tools to buy, etc. The GP instructions even teach you how to build a workbench, and Sig typically includes a entire separate manual on the basics of flying. I assume the Eagle and Telemaster are similar.

Kits for more advanced subjects typically assume you know basic building techniques just like you know the basics of piloting (holdover from Pre-arf days).


No matter how much experience you have and what type of flying you do you might want to build a trainer first... even if you are a pro pattern pilot or have years of time flying warbirds. At worst you build it sell it to some beginner and then build what you really want to fly.

just my $0.02

-Jeremy

Sig and Great planes are two great places to start. Good luck and post your build!

It's a funny thing about kits, I attended two swap meets this winter, Tryed selling a SSE new in the box with the clear wrap still on it for $80 bucks and no one would look at it, while I sold a couple ARFs for a respectable price-100 Plus. Go figure! I had a Senior Telemaster kit that most looked at and ran because of all the wood- the question is "where are all the builders".
I know- I know it's a swap meet. Just something to do in the winter-sell ARF's

I started with the sig midstar. Now I'm building a sig somethin extra. Heres a pic of the progress. I must say I sheeting the turtle neck and put the cutouts back into the sides and fiberglasses. Probably a bit heavy for this airplane............

GOODLUCK!!! Post your build!

I suspect the reason that your kit didn't sell was the fact that you can get the SSE kit through your LHS for around $80 bucks.
When I go to a swap-meet I'm looking for bargains, and stuff that's discontinued.

If you like electrics, Mountain Models kits are amazingly easy to build. I have heard the same about stevens aeromodel products. I have the Mountain Models Etana. Built in 3 sittings. Took longer to cover than to build. It is nearly a .40 size electric and flies awesome on a 200W system with 3s2100 lipo. Their kits are more like puzzles. Just piece together, then add some glue. My first kit was a Great Planes Slow Poke 40 Sport. I really enjoyed the build. It took me close to 6 months to complete it since I could only work about one hour per night. There was a bit of shaping and sanding with that one, but it actually felt like building. Unfortunately, I still haven't flown it even though it has been completed for about 3 years! Once I discovered electrics I just haven't wanted to deal with driving to the flying field (30 min) and lugging all the equipment and dealing with engine tuning. I really want to fly the beast though! Maybe I'll convert it to brushless?

Hey Acina. I don't have a real good answer for you, but I will let you know some of what I have learned since I joined RCU. Listen to what some of the "Veterans" give for Information. They are here to help. After reading tons of threads, I bought a SIG 4*60. (My first Kit) I have finished one wing, and I can tell you I am enjoying this to the limit. This is a kit that is recommended by alot of builders as a good first build. There are also a ton of threads on this build, which does help. Read, Read, Read and ask.