Senior Telemaster alternative
 

First, sorry if this is a re-post. I couldn't find another thread that was similar to it, so I don't think it is.

My wife has been bugging me about what i would like for my birthday, and basically I've come to the conclusion that I would like to add a kit airplane to my hanger of helis. The senior telemaster kit has really stood out in my mind. It seems to be a fun, and docile airplane. However, the kit is out of stock, and I seem to remember it being out when I checked a few months ago. Has anyone noticed any high wing, tail wheel kits in this size or price range that they can suggest. I would like to stay sub $200 for the kit alone and above a 2m wingspan. All the trainers I keep finding are tri-gear, and I'm just not interested in those. I'm also not too worried about build complexity. I want to build which is why I absolutely don't want an arf. Suggestions?

RE: Senior Telemaster alternative
 

Check out the BTE models Flying King. Big old solid flying airplane. BTE kits are famous for having great wood selection and high quality cut, not burned, parts that really fit together.

It is in your price range and appears kits are available.

It is sold as a trike but talk to Bruce at the number on the web site and he'll tell you how to do a simple tail dragger set up. Many people have done that.

See it at http://www.btemodels.com/flyin_king.html

Tom

RE: Senior Telemaster alternative
 

Have you looked at the AMR RC range?
[link]http://amr-rc.com/[/link]
Their Trainer 26 might fit your wants.

I am not sure how successful you will be in getting a kit over 2m with a price under $200

Pretty much any kit from any manufacturer can be built as either a tri gear or a tail dragger if that is your only problem with one you like.

RE: Senior Telemaster alternative
 

PS: You can buy aluminum LG and a tail wheel assembly off the site.

Tom

RE: Senior Telemaster alternative
 

I was just going by the price the senior telemaster was. I'm not fixed on the price, all I need to finish out a plane is an engine and a couple servos. Just about everything else I already have including tools.

RE: Senior Telemaster alternative
 

The flying king looks really appealing to me.

RE: Senior Telemaster alternative
 

There is a huge diffrence in the quality of the two; BTE is far above AMR. Both in design and material. I have built kits from both and I will not build an AMR kit again.

L.

RE: Senior Telemaster alternative
 

there's  a senior telly for sale in the other classifieds for $135.00 shipped.

RE: Senior Telemaster alternative
 

What was wrong with the AMR kit? They look nice, but I have no personal experience with them. Just curious.

RE: Senior Telemaster alternative
 

I heard a rumor about the senior telemaster from Hobby-Lobby is going to be discontinued? You could get plans from RCM, and a laser kit from kit cutters, and you have yourself a telemaster kit.

I've built the senior telemaster kit and love it.

Just a suggestion.

Jason

RE: Senior Telemaster alternative
 

i didn't know plans were available so that's what I'll do, but i was talking to my professor today. He was telling me the school is getting a C02 laser cutter from epilog in a week or two. So I'll see if I can use it, or the cnc router. Especially since kit cutters isn't taking new orders till the end of the year.

RE: Senior Telemaster alternative
 

What was wrong with the AMR kit? They look nice, but I have no personal experience with them. Just curious.

The wood is not as good, laser cut against machined. Designs are flawed in some areas that have lead to the loss of the aircraft. They are unwilling to admit errors and issues. Other than that AMR is fine.

L.

RE: Senior Telemaster alternative
 

I'm waiting on a 12' telemaster kit. Apparently they are having problems getting balsa due to it being used in windmill blades.

I ordered it from aerocraftrc, and they cut the larger ones when someone orders one.

Anyway, a senior kadet from sig wouldn't be quite as large, but I have one set up as a tail dragger with flaps that flies nice.

RE: Senior Telemaster alternative
 

I've built and flown both the SR Telemaster and Flyin' King. They are no where similar. Both are good planes, but the FK weighs more and not as much "fun" to fly as the Telemaster. Don't get me wrong about BTE planes. I think Bruce manufactures higher quality kits than anyone out there. I've built the Delta Vortex, Flyin' King, Venture and the Sig Wonder(Bruce's design). But the Telemaster is in a class of its own. Way to much fun. Telemaster kits show up regularly in the RCU classifieds and on other auction sites.

RE: Senior Telemaster alternative
 

FYI, AMR admitted they made a manufacturing error and informed all kit owners how to easily correct the problem. All subsequent kits have been corrected. IMO, the original failure was aggravated when flying this trainer like an aerobatic plane, not when it was flown as a trainer. I think the plane was well designed, but the instructions needed to be corrected. I have no connection with AMR, but I hate to see honest people get a bad reputation.

RE: Senior Telemaster alternative
 

Sounds like you got things all figured out. The plans are pretty straight forward, and the airplane is not hard to build, but does take time, like any other kit.

Just ask if you need help if you go the route with the plans.

Jason

RE: Senior Telemaster alternative
 

Call SIG and ask when the SR Master will be ready to ship. It really is a fun plane. In plans the 80 inch Nifty 80 is another old time big bird. Man Plans #FSP10932. The Robin is another good choice and is only a 72 inch span.Man Plans #FSP0500A. The big SIG Kadet is something to look at too. All of these planes are old designs, easy to build and gental to fly. A total kick in the pants to fly when the wind comes up. I have flown the Flying King with a video system in it, a very stable plane and you see a lot of them as a tow plane at glider events. Give SIG a call first and ask them about the Master. It really is something special. Even the smaller ones.;)

RE: Senior Telemaster alternative
 

Already ordered the plans for the telemaster, and got a go from my professor for the laser cutter. Plus, I ordered the j3 cub kit from sig. It's just for fun, always wanted a cub. The telemaster is more for experimenting with invarient extended kalman filtering next summer than flying.

RE: Senior Telemaster alternative
 

Good Deal. You may consider doing a build thread on the telemaster if you'd like. You'd get lots of help and hints that would make the build much more fun.

Just a suggestion.

Good Luck, Jason

RE: Senior Telemaster alternative
 

I plan on it. The only thing I've ever built was a small wood and fiberglass boat(bolger cartopper), and I assisted an A&P mechanic with building his composite airplane while I was a teenager. So something like this is going to be interesting, and advice along the way will be useful. I did get spousal approval by bribing her with an embroidery machine though.

RE: Senior Telemaster alternative
 

An adjustable razorback mitre saw makes life easier, as does a razor plane.

RE: Senior Telemaster alternative
 

When I build this plane I get the wing from Eureka Aircraft Co. saves a lot of time.

RE: Senior Telemaster alternative
 

Having built two AMR trainer 50's, all I can say is that they are over designed! Mostly light ply and super strong design. Both were built as electric tow planes with mine capable of towing 45# plus sailplanes!
The only spot where I tought there was a possible weak point is the wing joiner, I modified mine slightly to extend an additional rib bay and also added wing struts since the plane is usually dived back down to the runway in preparation for its next tow

cooper998

RE: Senior Telemaster alternative
 

Adam, PM sent