Hey guys, I am wanting to know what would be a good first warbird. I have been flying for several years, and I am sick and tired of not being able to have a plane to fly at a warbird event. I am looking at a C-47 but am still undecided. Also would like it to be a kit too. I really enjoy the building.

Thanks

scalemaster90,

My hands-down favorite and recommendation for a first warbird would be the Top Flite P-47 Thunderbolt. They fly great, have excellent slow-speed manners and have real authority in the air. Either the .60-size or the 2.10-size will be fine. Just be sure to put in the retracts as warbirds look so much better with the gear up on a low pass. Trust me, if you can fly a Stick, you can fly this Jug.

Skip the twin-engine idea for a scale subject until you've flown single-engine warbirds for a bit. While scale flight isn't necessarily hard it is different from sport flying and you'll have enough to do without having to concern yourself with two engines and a possible engine out situation.

Good luck, Bud, and let us know your decision.

Al

I've flown lots of warbirds of different sizes, but the easiest flying one was the GP Stuka. It literally flies like a trainer and the dive brakes work really well when set right. It will make a really slow straight down dive off the power and looks good doing it. And you don't have to mess with retracts either. The WM Zero is also a good choice for an easy flying warbird. Paul

If you're not wanting a "scale" bird....Any Hangar 9 ARF... P-51, P-47, Corsair or the "new" Spit. They are close to scale, and fly like a sport plane. I think, a good entry while you are building your Top Flite P-51 of the Bird of your choice. Have seen the C-47 / DC-3, and it can be a handfull....... Lots a luck...... Cliff

for a kit the Top Flight line of planes are great to build. if you build them light they are nice flyers and have a close to scale outline my only gripe is that they dont have enough diferent models (warbirds) and no axis planes anymore . if you have reasonable building skills you can build a Top Flight.

I've seen this question pop up now and then. My first warbird was a Spitfire with all the gear. Retracts, flaps, etc. Was a harsh learning curve but I've managed to keep the plane alive all this time. "Knocks on wood."
I always read our remarks to this question and the P-47 Thunderbolt is always mentioned as the easiest to start out with and then maybe the Zero second. Just thought it would be helpful to Scalemaster90 and anyone else to have a top five poll on the subject.
Let's keep it simple and within the limits of our hobby market. What I mean is,,, don't mention planes that aren't out yet or haven't been produced in several years. Or planes you've never even flown before. Then add a small comment afterward.
I'll start.

1. P-47 Thunderbolt (I flew a TopFlite gas version. Very easy to land which is nice for a change.)Gas
2. A6M2 Zero ( Takeoffs and landings are straight forward but it can get a bit twitchy at low speeds.) Glow
3. P-38 Lightning (Really sweet takeoffs and landings. Has one or two harsh lessons to learn in the air but besides that it's a joy.Elec
4. FW190(short nosed version) (Mine has been a real sweetheart so far. Comes in nice and slow. Not an acrobatic kite,, just scale.)Glow
5. MkII Spitfire (Need some speed on takeoff but with full flaps landings can be fairly slow. Will tip stall if too slow. Fast and agile. Gas

As you can see I didn't mention the Hurricane, P-40 ,P-51 or the Me109. I've never flown the P-51 but I have a 109 and will be building another soon. No Russian or Italian birds here either. Or bombers. Dive or otherwise.
A few friends have the Mustangs and they don't seem like a first timer plane at all. I know my 109 is not for newbies that's for sure.
I have not built any U.S. Navy planes yet either. But I bet we'll here from those guys. Very popular build.

I like the Jug and the Stuka both.. does anyone else prefer one over the other??

I have built the TF Spitfire, and am in the process of building the P-47D bubble canopy . the spit took a while because I was in no hurry to finish it and I also built a couple of other planes also .
the build on the P-47 is progressing pretty well and is going together quickly at least the fuselage and tail feathers are, we shall see when its time for the wing .
my build will have flaps ,retracts including tail wheel ,dropable fuel tank, as well as wing mounted bombs, if hobby lobby still has them.
power will be a gas engine, my first, so far so good, hoping for next summer depending how buisy work is.
I have always been a fan of the jug so from my expirience so far I would recomend it.

For a basic guide pick something with one engine, wide landing gear and the longest nose available. Keep the tail light. From what I have read most ARF's are sport planes dressed up to look scale. They probably don't fly like a true scale bird because of weight, scale dimensions and air foil. Platt has some great designs which I find to be a very good size, you should look at Skyshark and of course Top Flite.

Of course you could have a warbird Cub, Chipmunk or PT-XX which are very easy to fly.

Carl

TF 60 sized P-47. My first warbird (see my gallery) was this kit with a 1.20 four stroke which is overpowered. A .91-1.00 four stroke would probably be perfect. Use all the extras like flaps and landing gear. Model builds easily and is a blast to fly and really slows down nice for landing using the flaps.

Build it! You'll be glad you did!!

Hey guys, I went with the good ole cub and I am converting it into an L-4. Here is the thread so far.

[link]http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_5592624/tm.htm[/link]

Good choice !!! I also heard the Japanese D3-VAL dive bomber is a sweetheart to fly as well.

i started with the Hangar 9 P-51 PTS...just for the fact i had never flew a warbird butto be a trainer it was a great plane...as you progress with it you can take the airbrakes off, install a servo for your flaps then eventually take the wing tips off making the plane a very manuverable plane. Flys great in my opinion and the price is reasonable..

Kit wise, i like the zero's...not only are they very attractive but the ones i have flew fly beautifully..

I built the top flite mustang and managed to keep it under 9lbs. At this weight it is fast, smooth, and easy to land. Get good on arf's before you try to fly something that you will spend more hours than you want to know building. If you can master an arf like the the Great Planes Little Toni, I think you can fly any of the Top Flite warbirds.