Good Beginner Kit
 

Hi All
I'm new to rc flying so not much exp. I have a Nexstar trainer that I will fly till it gets too cold this year. I want to try my hand at building a kit over the winter. What would you guys recommend as a good 2nd plane and for someone who has never built a kit before?
Thanks All!
~Boudacia

RE: Good Beginner Kit
 

Bruce makes the best kit you will ever build, http://www.btemodels.com/venture.html . The Venture 60 is a very stable flier with good aerobatic performance. A sixty sized two-stroke, 70 sized four-stroke or electric will fly the plane very well. Go to the search function here on RCU type in the box { subject:"venture 60"}. Do not include the beginning and ending brackets. You will find a lot of build threads and good info.

RE: Good Beginner Kit
 

Boudacia,

This is the best response I've seen to your question is one I saw here on RCUniverse a while back.

"A Sig Four Star. All you have to do is pour some glue in the kit box, shake it up for a while, open the box again and a completed air frame will pop out."

Of course I'm kidding, but the Four Star kit is easy to build and you get a good flying airplane when you're finished. Better yet, if you build the 40 size, you can use the motor and electronics out of your trainer to fly it...:D

Good luck with whichever choice you make and welcome to the wonderfull world of kit building. We are a dying breed.

David

RE: Good Beginner Kit
 

Hi

A good second plane, would be a STIK Plane. Look here at Laserworks. They have a small one and bigger one available. I would go with the bigger Jensen Stik. Cant beat a Stik plane for fun and worry free flying. Also an easy build. Everyone should have a Stik at least once in their R/C experience.

http://lazer-works.com/rcm.html



Vince

RE: Good Beginner Kit
 

My choices would be (repeating a couple already mentioned):

* For sport flying, 60 size: Venture 60 from BTE (Bruce Tharpe). Straight forward build of a very good flying model. Very good build instructions and excellent support from BTE if there is something wrong with the kit. These kits were out of production and have been highly sought after; Bruce only recently did another run of kits after a long absence from the market.

* For sport flying, 40 size: Four Star 40 from Sig. This kit was originally designed by Bruce Tharpe when he was at Sig. Straight forward build of a very good flying model. Very good build instructions and excellent support from Sig if there is anything wrong.

* For lazy Sunday afternoon flying: Sig LT-25. This kit is technically a trainer, but is an excellent tail dragger that flies and lands sooooo easily. It's hallmark, however, is the simplicity of building. If you are the leased bit concerned about building skills, this is one of the best kits to start with. The instructions are truly geared toward the first time builder. Makes a great conversion to electric power.

* All of the above. :D Stock up and build the LT-25 over the winter, then tackle the other two later. All of us builders stock up on kits, so you'll fit right in with us. [8D]

RE: Good Beginner Kit
 

The same guy designed the first two. Either one would be great. Just enjoy the build! And most of all start a thread so we can watch and help.
Alan

RE: Good Beginner Kit
 

Well lets throw out another plane Bruce designed, the SIG Midstar. Great second plane and 1st kit.

RE: Good Beginner Kit
 

Look at the SIG kits and pick out the one you like. SIG and Great Planes instructions are very easy to follow with very good photos to help guide you along. I just finished another 4* 60 and really had fun with the build. It is one of the easier planes to build, that's why I use them as a teaching aid.

RE: Good Beginner Kit
 

It is very hard for me to be critical of the LT-25 having built this trainer for the grandkids to get some stick time. One of them a ten year old is doing very well with it. It is a very easy build and great flier. If building for a second plane, IMO it ought to be bashed a bit with the dihedral reduced about half so that it handles the wind a bit better to enable more flying days. It is a very light plane and flies very nice on the wing but can get kicked around in windy conditions.

RE: Good Beginner Kit
 

I second the Mid-Star 40. It's a very easy build and a nice flying plane.


Here is a good build list

1st a kit easy build boxy plane like the Mid-Star or the 4-Star.

2nd another kit of one with more curves like the Super Sportster

3rd Scratch build from plans! Get plans for another plane in the same class as your first two. Learn how to make a parts list, order wood, acquire hardware, engine/motor. Cut your kit. then assemble like the first two.

Do this and your will have the skills to build any of 1,000s of plans for RC planes rather than the 50 or so kits left on the market.

RE: Good Beginner Kit
 

I would agree with this list but none of my building students ever tried to build from plans on there third plane. I have one that I know can do it but he really doesn't want to give it a try. It isn't all that hard to do, it's just cutting your own kit but you are building without the aid of instructions or photos. I like it myself and find it easy but I was building kits for a long time before I went to plans. I do wish all kit builders would give it a try though, it's very rewarding.
I used to use the Super Sportster as my building aid when teaching, it's a much better plane if someone is learning stunt flying. I can't even remember who turned me onto the 4* kit but it's an easier plane to teach building with. A student and I just finished another 60 size a couple of weeks ago. I showed him the SS ARF at the field last week and I think he may try one for his first all by himself build real soon.

RE: Good Beginner Kit
 

Wow thanks all for the comments. Actually tonight was training night with my flight instructor and I asked him the same question. He also said the Sig 40 and or one of the Stick types. Gray beard wish I was near you to have a person who can be around to help learning how to build. I would love to be a student under someones wing as I learn. Oh wells! Guess I will check out Ebay for Sigs. On another side note flight training tonight was trying to land. Not a very pretty sight! My poor Nexstar took a beating but was about 50/50 for not killing the engine. It was great fun!
~Boudacia

RE: Good Beginner Kit
 

Sig Midstar, best choice.

a few reasons:
1) Sigs kits are some of the best quality I've seen, and the midstar 40 is laser cut, and its a complete kit with everything you need besides engine/radio.

2) Its a flat bottom wing, so you just lay down your main spar, and start slapping the ribs on.
3) Its a good 2nd airplane, good mid wing trainer, and it has an aerobatic mind of its own. It will perform good stunts with the proper engine.

Good Luck. Post pictures in the kit building thread so we can see whats going on!!!!

Happy flying.

RE: Good Beginner Kit
 

Two students and two 4*s. My young student spotted a design on a plane at an IMAC event and took a photo. It sorta came out like the one he saw but going from a giant Extra to a small 4* wasn't easy, it was close though. The older student was a great learner so the build went fast. The kid is a better pilot so we did some mods to make it a better stunt plane. The older student, well, this was the first total stock build I have ever done to one. They are perhaps the easiest plane to fly I have ever found. I'm even able to land them. The older student didn't think too much about the colors but after maiden day it did get some white stripes on the bottom.

RE: Good Beginner Kit
 

Also, read this:

[link=http://www.rcuniverse.com/magazine/article_display.cfm?article_id=1196]Kit Building 101[/link]

RE: Good Beginner Kit
 

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_86...tm.htm#8620187

Check this out. Sig four star 40 build thread, if you choose the four star 40

RE: Good Beginner Kit
 

The Four Star 40 and 120 are Bruce Tharpe designs when he worked at Sig. After leaving Sig and starting his own company, he designed and sold the Venture 60 which falls between the 40 and 120 that Sig owned. I'm sure there were improvements designed into his Venture 60 learned from the 4*40/120 designs. Later, SIG produced the 4*60 to fill the gap between the 40 and 120. All good designs. I fly both the 4* and Venture. I would give the edge to the Venture 60.

RE: Good Beginner Kit
 

Do you want a tough durable airplane? One that can you can have a lot of fun with? and can take a beating? fly in the wind?

The Sig Kougar! That is an awesome airplane if you can handle your trainer then you could fly this. It can slow down and settle in like a trainer. Your equipment from the Nexstar would fly it just fine.

I have been flying over twenty years and this is the one airplane I can not do without. I have two. and one more in the box. One is electric and the other has a Rossi 45 with a mini pipe. It builds fast with a foam core wing and trike gear properly built by the directions it can take a pounding. it is easy to handle on the ground too. My electric Kougar even has the respect of the hard core glow guys at the field because i have better vertical performance than their glows.

Sure the others suggested are good. nothing wrong with any of them they all have there good and bad points. it all boils down to personal choice.

My two cents.

RE: Good Beginner Kit
 

The plane is outstanding and a good flying machine but sheeting a foam core for a first build could be a little daunting? Does make for easier covering though. I have never taught anyone how to sheet a core so I'm not sure about it. Maybe it is easier?? I may give it a try and see. Anyone ever teach core sheeting? If so how did it go?

RE: Good Beginner Kit
 

Core sheeting is very different as we all know but very easy. Main thing is to make certain that the floor/bench top is perfectly flat when you sandwich up the cores and add the weight.;) Using good 'ol poly glue makes it even better!

RE: Good Beginner Kit
 

I have never sheeted a foam core wing, but have heard it takes time and talent. If you wanted the challenge, the sig kougar is a very durable, tough, and smooth flying airplane, just what gray beard said. I flew one for a guy who liked to build a couple years ago, what an airplane.

Any sig sport airplane is a good one. Maybe not the Hog bipe, but its your choice. I personally would go with a midstar and 4*40.

RE: Good Beginner Kit
 

You might look at the Great Planes Super Sportster 40 mk 2 I just built one in a little over two months, learn to fly that trainer you wil be ready for this plane, very tame to fly easier than my 40 size stick I built to fly with an OS 61 lol.

RE: Good Beginner Kit
 

The first plane I built from a kit was a Goldberg Tiger 2. This is a great flying and landing airplane and has tricycle landing gear, which I think is nice early on. This plane was very easy to build. It was only the second airplane that I had flown and found it easy to fly, but I still have fun with it a few years later.

I would highly recommend this plane. I would also highly reccomend any of the the four star planes. I don't see much difference in the .40, .60, or 1.20 except a little more cost the larger you go.

That is my 2 cents.

Winghead

RE: Good Beginner Kit
 

My first build was a sig midstar. I did some modifications on mine...I wish I would have made balsa copies of a lot of the plywood fuselage parts that don't need to be made of plywood...it's pretty heavy when finished. That being said, it's still a good flying airplane and a good first kit!

RE: Good Beginner Kit
 

I tried to order one, discontinued. Website hasn't been updated yet. Another one bites the dust.