I am a Virgin to R/C Jets. I am a good Intermediate Flyer, but want to get into Jets. I want to start with a Prop either .40 -.75 size. I am considering through my own reaserch the AK Models Mig 29 Fulcrum. Please help me, is this a good model, or do you suggest a better one? I have also considered the Dirrect Connection F-20 or the Great Planes F-14. All relpies are appreciated.



Thank you,

Ryan G

Ryan:
The Direct Connection F20 is an excellent prop jet - very few kits compare in quality of wood and fit to plans that the DC line had. Hard to find any kits around, but keep watching RCU or Ebay and you may find one for sale. The F20 is light and fast, especially with retracts, but the retract setup is a challenge. I also have a GP Learjet which is a great kit but difficult to build light, and this can be a challenge on takeoff and landing. There are some terrific propjet kits made in England ( By Cambrian Models for one) I have seen many of these fly, and you might check their website to see what the landed cost would be.

Brian

Here is a F20 on ebay that I happend to come across...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...tem=1715137534

Good starter for jets.

Hi,
AK Models is here; I personally have flown all three Direct connections F-20 and F-18 as well as my MIG-29.
Not to make a commercial out of this but here is what I have to say.
Both planes from DC are very good flying planes. F-20 seems to be little lighter on the stick. It is fast and fun to fly, lands very nice too.
F-18 is a show stopper with a hot engine (ENYA 80XF was used on mine), I fount it to be little heavy (in stock configuration) so I have added many lightning hole to all formers and ribs and moved all servos back for easy balancing. So it came out to be at least 1 lb lighter than other F-18 out there. After all this you would still have to be very careful on the take-offs and landings (not to pull-up too fast and not to slow down too much). MIG-29 was created using best sides of both airplanes (F-20 and F-18).
It is very responsive to the sticks, very stable. Depending on the engine it would go very fast as well. For more info please see: http://ak-models.com/planes.htm and/or current owner’s website with videos of them fly at: http://home.swbell.net/swmeier/

It did sound like a commercial, didn’t it?

Good luck with your decision.

The G/P F-14 is a great prop jet! Use at least a O.S. 61 with a tuned pipe! Use air retracts as the mech. ones do not work well, due to the long wires used to deploy them!

If you can find a Great Planes F-4 on Ebay or at a swapmeet, this would be the best choice because of all the ones metioned so far, it flies closer to what you can expect when you put a ducted fan in the air. Use retracts and a good, hot engine and you will achieve ducted fan like speeds. I have a Jett .76 on mine and it is a great combination.