RCU Forums - LT-40 Kit questions?

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RE: LT-40 Kit questions?

Thanks for your comments Zor. I appreciate it. I know everyone in here is willing to help. I was looking at getting a Hitec Aurora 9 seems I've read a lot of good things about it and it is a fair bit cheaper than say an 8FG. Plus Hitec RXs and servos and stuff are cheaper as well. I was even considering whether it would be cheaper to see if anyone at the club was interested in buying a new Aurora 9 for themselves and I could chip in $100 or so as a bit of a gift for teaching me how to fly???

The club is a good 45min drive from my place and unless I go down there every weekend, it's going to be hard to find out who will be teaching me. But after talking to the guys on the weekend, it sounds like most of the instuctors use Futaba and one of the guys I spoke to definately had a buddy box for his Futaba. It's just the extra initial and then ongoing costs that are leaning me away from the Futaba and towards the Hitec. I was hoping that with my sim, I'd be "good enough" to be able to learn without a buddy box. Maybe I'm being a little over confident? I am also considering taking a lot of peoples advice and spending $100 on a cheapy ARF trainer to learn on before I put my LT-40 in the air?

Too many decisions. And too much money to spend. It's all getting too hard. I might just give it all a miss? Nah - Just kidding! That's the main reason I'm not rushing into this. I'm very slowly getting some tools and equipment together so I can justify all the spending. I reckon I'll spend close to $1500 before I go solo. If my missus finds out she is going to spit it big time! I know I could have done it cheaper but I don't like buying cheap crap and I really want to build my own planes!

RE: LT-40 Kit questions?

Hi wazzbat,
Red writing are comments by Zor.

Quote:

ORIGINAL: wazzbat

Thanks for your comments Zor.You are very welcome and hope it is helpful. I appreciate it. I know everyone in here is willing to help.Youhave to make your own evaluation of what is helpful and what is just opinions. I was looking at getting a Hitec Aurora 9 seems I've read a lot of good things about it and it is a fair bit cheaper than say an 8FG.It is better carry a ton ofload in a 3 ton truck than3 tons in a 1 ton truck. You have been given suggestions for you to evaluate. Better be part of thefriendly group at the club than be entirely on yourown. Talk to these fellows and get along with their general guidelines.Plus Hitec RXs and servos and stuff are cheaper as well. I was even considering whether it would be cheaper to see if anyone at the club was interested in buying a new Aurora 9 for themselves and I could chip in $100 or so as a bit of a gift for teaching me how to fly???

The learning process is where the difficulties might arise. Being part of a group (club) is very advantages for a beginner.

The club is a good 45min drive from my place and unless I go down there every weekend, it's going to be hard to find out who will be teaching me. But after talking to the guys on the weekend, it sounds like most of the instuctors use Futaba and one of the guys I spoke to definately had a buddy box for his Futaba.What is referred to as a "buddy box" is the slave transmitter (a box) The connection between the two units is just a wire but many think there is a box involved.It is just two wires withproper plugs at each end.It's just the extra initial and then ongoing costs that are leaning me away from the Futaba and towards the Hitec. I was hoping that with my sim, I'd be "good enough" to be able to learn without a buddy box. Maybe I'm being a little over confident? A simulator can be helpfull but actually flying a model at the field is quite different. Another big difference is the fliers nervous system. Hee Hee !!!. I am also considering taking a lot of peoples advice and spending $100 on a cheapy ARF trainer to learn on before I put my LT-40 in the air?
One way or another, models need some mainenance just like full size airplanes. You will appeciate help on maintenance as well.
Too many decisions. And too much money to spend. It's all getting too hard. I might just give it all a miss? Nah - Just kidding! The reward is usually proportionnal to the efforts put into anything. That's the main reason I'm not rushing into this. There should be no rush. It is a hobby for relaxation as well as the challenge. hI'm very slowly getting some tools and equipment together so I can justify all the spending. I reckon I'll spend close to $1500 before I go solo.Noting wrong in trying tosave money but it is useless to go cheap to save abit of coins and get into trouble with inadequate equipment. I already madesuggestions to you as to which way to go. It is allyour eventual decision. If my missus finds out she is going to spit it big time! I know I could have done it cheaper but I don't like buying cheap crap and I really want to build my own planes!
Personally I enjoy building at home at my leisures. I fly all models built and even have enjoyment of doing repairs as needed. We all have our own outlook how we like this hobby. There is so many aspects to it. To each his own way.

Enjoy the aspect of the hobby that pleases you. One aspect is the new friends with common interest that you meet at a friendly club.

Zor

RE: LT-40 Kit questions?

Wazz, I also remember being overwhelmed with decisions when I first started out. When I bought my first radio, I thought it would last me for years, only to have it be discontinued within 6 months. Then, on to the second radio when all of a sudden the 2.4 radios hit the market. Point being, the technology is changing fast. A halfway decent 4-6 channel radio will last you for years and get you through the learning curve. Maybe one of the club members has an older Futaba radio that you can buy cheap. Buddy box with it and learn to fly. After a year of flying you could invest in the radio you want. Just my .02
As for the kit building, IMHO, learning how to build a plane puts you way ahead of the ARF assemblers. Once you've mastered the building process, you can build any plane you want from plans for not a lot of dough. It's always interesting to show up at the field with something nobody else has. I'm still conflicted about how to feel when they ask "What ARF is that?" I don't know if I should be enraged or complimented:D

RE: LT-40 Kit questions?

Thanks Yel. I will have to try and get down to the club a couple more times I think so I can chat to few more guys and see if I can work out who my instructor might be before I buy my radio. I will leave it to the last minute before I get one. I like the idea of a cheap but good second hand radio just to get started with. I will have to keep my eyes and ears open.

I actually bought some plans when I was having trouble getting a hold of a kit but then I opened them up and quickly shut them again. It looked way to hard but like you said, once I've built a few kits, I'm hoping I'll have the know how to build from the plans?

RE: LT-40 Kit questions?

Building from a plan (drawings) in your case probably means finding all the proper material.
Balsa strips and sheets, plywood, landing gear, hinges, and all that is necessary.

Some kits are still available if you look for them.

Of course you still have to buy your glue, the covering materials and perhaps some basic tools.
A flat work surface of 48" x 24" is quite adequate.

The electronics are of you choice after you consult with you local group.
It is preferale to join a local club (group) if one is in the surrounding areas where you live.

The building is one of the most rewarding aspect of this hobby.

Zor

RE: LT-40 Kit questions?

Just a note on balsa materials for SIG kits. SIG uses 5/16" balsa and, according to my long-time builder, LHS owner, they are the sole source of 5/16" stock.

RE: LT-40 Kit questions?

Waz

I know you're in the middle of the same newbie decisions I'm making (just on complete opposite sides of the globe :) ).

When I asked the club nearby me about the Aurora they told me they couldn't help me train on it (their instructors use Futabas), but recommended I just train on the club's trainer and buddy box then buy whatever radio I like. Maybe your local club also has a club trainer?

Dom

RE: LT-40 Kit questions?

A good thought from Dom P.

A variance could be to fly your own model using a club member buddy setup.

The transmitter never gets damaged whatever happens.

Once you solo and gain some confidence you can buy your preferred system.

By that time you would also know much more about what you may like or prefer.

Zor

RE: LT-40 Kit questions?

Cheers guys. I'm pretty sure the club doesn't have a specific trainer set aside for new guys. It is only a small club with less than 50 members and apparently on most weekends there are only between 10 and 15 guys down there. I've only been down once though so it's a bit hard to get a feel for what's what at this stage. Maybe they do have a club trainer but I'm sure one of the guys would have mentioned it to me the other day if that was the case.

My thoughts about the radio are all over the place at the moment. Do I spend $150 - $200 and get a new but cheap Futaba 6EX so I can Buddy up with an instructer and then get a better radio down the track when I need it? Do I go all out and spend $650 on an 8FG and servos? Do I try and get a real cheapy second hand jobby Futaba to Buddy with? Or do I go for the Aurora ($520 with servos included) and not bother with the buddy or like I posted earlier, see if someone else wants an Aurora and chip in $100 towards it? I think I'm leaning towards going cheap for now for the sole reason that I don't think I will be able to get down to the club all that often. I'm thinking maybe once a fortnight if I'm lucky. So therefore, it will take me a while to learn and therefore a while before I will need to upgrade to a better radio and by then, with the way technology moves along, the 8FG or the Aurora would be superceded by another model. Which means - What was the point of having a flash $500 plus radio for that time when I only used the features that other cheaper radios have?

Anyway - I still have a bit of time to think about it while I save some pennies, wait for some building tools to arrive and clear a bit of room in my shed so I can start the build!

How's your training and plane coming along Dom?

RE: LT-40 Kit questions?

Waz

No training yet, but the build is coming along well. I hope to get some training in before it gets too cold in the northeast US though. If all goes well I should be able to start covering the plane in the next few days.

Im basically in the same dilemma as you with the radio. As i have a bit of experience with RF systems the Aurora or the Futaba make sense to me from a pure frequency hopping perspective. Bang for the buck has me leaning towards aurora, but the Training aspect as me leaning to Futaba. I also like the touch screen on the aurora... Ok maybe a bit gadgety, but then of course I'm kinda a gadget guy :).

Dom

RE: LT-40 Kit questions?

Yep. Sounds like you are me but on the other side of the world cause I am thinking the exact same thing, we're building the same plane (well I haven't started mine yet) and we are both really good blokes! Ha ha. Nah - I'm sure we're not the first two newbies to be heading down this same road. I'm gonna keep on checking the on line second hand markets and stuff to see if I can get a cheap Futaba to train with. I'm seriously considering investing in a cheap ARF trainer too so I don't crash the LT-40 straight away and I can start training earlier??? Still undecided on that too though???

RE: LT-40 Kit questions?

Dom_P
You should try going to auctions, you can get a good radio and trainer RTF with motor for $100 or less. My club the Jersey Coast Sport Flier's auction is 11-6 9 to 3pm, it's about 40 minutes south of you Exit 114.

RE: LT-40 Kit questions?

Soarrich,

Thanks! I'll try to stop by

Dom