shark again

I have been out of the hobby for about 4 or 5 years and now got back in. I got my old Something Extra going and have flown about a half gallon of fuel without crashing so I guess I still sort of remember how. Now I would like something a little bigger. I like taildraggers and have no interest in 3d type planes. I used to have a Sig four star 60, (maybe I had two - I remember crashing one for sure). I also had an Astro Hog - still have the wing from that. They were both nice, the four star floated a lot on landing from what I remember. I alwas liked kits and was against arf's, but maybe I should re-consider that. I know some arf's are real good now. The Bruce Tharp Venture sounds good to me, but they aren't available. Any suggestions?
Jim S.

N1EDM

My Feedback: (2)

How about a good old fashioned 60-sized Cub, preferably one that has an option for some add-on floats, should the opportunity present itself at some point?

It sounds like you are looking for a kit instead of an ARF. Or would you consider a Pattern bird?

Just my $.02

Bob

CustomPC

The Great Planes Escapade .61 is a nice choice for an ARF.

Four Star 60 kits are still available and i think Ultra Sport 60 kits are too.

landeck

My Feedback: (1)

I am flying the following 60 tail dragger planes and they all are great:

GP Escapade 61 with Fox Eagle IV .74
GP Revolver 70 with Magnum XL 91 4 stroke
H9 Pulse CT 60 with OS .61 FX

Bruce

noveldoc

My Feedback: (2)

Goldberg Tiger 60 is available. Tower has the kit that is an easy build. Several net stores have the ARF.

Very similar to your old 4 Star, even with the slow landing.

Tiger is a trike gear but very easy to convert to tail dragger.

Tom

shark again

Thanks everyone - that Great Planes Escapadelooks sort of interesting - are they well made? I already have enough projects started, maybe an ARF would be a good idea.
Some of the ARF's I see seem to be built extremley light. I realize light is good, but when the landing gear tears out on even a pretty good landing, I think it would have been better to sacrifice some lightness for more strength.
Bruce - I just happen to have a Fox Eagle 74 engine laying around - maybe i should try that!

Jim S.

landeck

My Feedback: (1)

The Fox .74 works very well in the Escapade 61. The Fox I have is the newest version with a new style carb they introduced last year. Also it is set up for 5/10/15 % nitro. An earlier version was set up for low/none nitro. The Excapade is a strongly built plane. The two are a great combination.

Bruce

Avaiojet

Shark,

Seeing you already have a wing to an Astro Hog, it wouldn't take much to build the rest of the model.

It Astro Hog is a great model. Not small either.

I have Astro Hog plans, because I purchased the plans and a wing kit to build this model. Mine is 72" in span. Enya 120 4S.

N1EDM

My Feedback: (2)

You're right about lightness and landing gear. But, if you put the gear on with nylon bolts, if you happen to shear them off, you don't have to glue anything... I can change out the gear bolts on my Rascal 40 in 38 seconds flat!!

Just my $.02. I have an Escapade 40 (actually two of them, one glow, one electric) and I like that airplane a lot!

Bob

bikerbc

If you want to build a kit either the Tiger 60 or the Ultra sport would be good choices.. There may be others but I have built both of these and they are both easy builds and great flying planes..If you want an ARF Either the the 60 size pulse or the bigger Escapade with the 68" wing would be good choices..The Pulse is probably the easier to fly...The Escapade likes to land a wee bit faster...Another airaplane is the Saratoga, it is a bit smaller but it is a really fun airaplane..It can switch from wheels to floats easily in minits..Hanger 9 makes a set of floats for it that has all the rigging to attach them and a water etc...I Have a Saratoga and I have really enjoyed it both on and off the water.You can olso fly off the snow with floats too...I have a Pulse and an Escapade too but I think I have had more fun with my Saratoga...Because ARF's go together so quickly you can build one and have it in the air while you build your kit... Kits take more time to put together but I think you learn more and have a better plane in the end...Good luck and have fun Ken

EscapeFlyer

My Feedback: (1)

Would you be interested in plans building an airplane? you can order parts cut from lazer cutters at reasonable rates...

Check out:

[link]http://www.rcmplans.com[/link]

[link]http://www.airagestore.com[/link]

[link]http://www.eurekaaircraft.com[/link]

I have plans that are NOT owned or goverened by copyright you may be interested in as well...

Brian

frequent flyer

My Feedback: (6)

How about a Astro Hog.

shark again

Well, I ordered a Fantasy ARF from Skyshark Models  - haven't gotten it yet. If that works out good I'll retire the Something Extra.
Those Astro Hogs look darn good to me  The wing I have is real nice, and I have a set of plans. I'll build a body for it this winter. 
Pattern planes are interesting too, I like the way they fly. The old timers in the club still talk about the Kaos.

EscapeFlyer

My Feedback: (1)

Kaos???

How about my Super Kaos (Plans built):

Brian

SeamusG

The Kaos series from Bluejay (I think - Omaha Nebraska) - Bridi plans - die cut pieces - includes instructions for both tricycle & tail dragger approaches. You can either go with wire landing gear bits or chose retracts. There's a couple of build threads under the kit building forum (yea, one was mine - I hate self promotion [:@]).