$500 get me started in gas?

[CooHead]

I have five E R/C planes.
P38 Lightning (twin...of coarse)
DandySport GT
MSW250 (55MPH)
Groove480 (brushless 44" 23 ounces low wing)
FlashBack (brushless 40" 18 ounce midwing...pure pattern)

I was about to spend $400 on a 32 ounce P51 brushless bird (and motor/GB/ESC/servos/batt/covering and glue).
I only have E and LiPo so plenty of cash into the E side and coresponding gear (well, all's E needs is an amp meter).

But been watching and tempted by the glow guys.
Something 3-4-5-6-7-8 pounds for windy Sundays would be great.

Typical 40 size pattern plane and motor and servos and Rx cost?
Typical 60 size pattern plane and motor and servos and Rx cost?
Typical "flight esentials" cost? A lot more here than E. Starter, ignighter, batt, charger, pump, gallon of go-juice.

Don't have to list out everything for me, just estamates. 40 size is $250 and 60 size is $350?
$100 to get started for the field box?

What would it take?

Thanks

CooHead

[BuzzBomber]

Field box and accessories:

Ultra tote = $20 (http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXL414&P=0)
Tower Power Panel = $18 (http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXACW8&P=0)
7 amp-hour Battery for Field Box = $18 (http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXL370&P=0)
Hobbico Starter = $27 (http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXL397&P=0)
Tower Ni-starter = $13 (http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXLN90&P=0)
Hobbico Fuel Pump = $11 (http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXVZ41&P=0)
$107 subtotal. That should get you a good start on field equipment. Figure a gallon of 15% nitro fuel should be between $12 to $17 dollars. You will also want a set of allen keys for engine bolts, a 4-way wrench for prop nuts and glow plugs(a small socket set could replace this) a few screwdrivers and other assorted stuff. I didn't include those items because you probably can liberate them from your home tool stash, as I did. Hey just now I read the part about "you don't have to list it for me..." :p Oh, well. Anyway, on top of that stuff, you should be able to get a .40 size ARF($125), .40 size engine($75), 4 standard servos, Rx battery and Rx in a flight pack($100). for about $300, if you shop carefully. This would be for an older pattern design like the Kaos or perhaps an Ultra Sport. New composite ships will be significantly more expensive. You should be able to put together a .60 size ship for $400, again by shopping carefully. Is it really a pattern ship you're after, or just a sport aerobat? If you haven't flown glow before, don't underestimate what kind of performance you can get from something like a Four Star .40 or a Tiger II. Something like an Ultra Stick might be worth looking into, also. I fly both glow and electric, and have to say that when I got back into glow after a long break, I was surprised. Hope that helps.

[LuckyArmpit]

I fly both, E and glow. One thing I can say about glow. They are much faster and make bigger stick piles!!! In any even, you can pick up a .46 sized arf from 99 to 179 bux. Hangar 9 Twist, 3D ship, but it is easier to land than a trainer and will just float in. I had an Evo .46 in mine. The Twist is 99 bux.
Evo .46 for $89, and use 5 standard servos. They run around $10 each.

Dave...

[xoon]

$500 will be more than enough for you to start... i'm getting a friend into RC plane and all he has to spend it $300 to get started w/ everything needed... so $500 should be more than enough

[CooHead]

Thanx Boys.

I vasilate back and forth if I should next try a IC plane.

Today I'm leaning more towards $400 worth of P51 and ESC and BL and GB and LiPo.
44" WS and 32 ounce...so is pretty big and heavey for me. I think that's about the break even point. A plane you can still use one 3S pack. When over three pounds it becomes 3S2P and up...4S...5S3P?! Nope.

This one will cure my urge for bigger and heavier...for a while. If it doesn't, next plane will be IC.

I'm just to engrained in E now. Have had a bunch of great 12-14-17 minute flights across the street whilst the boys play in the yard latley. Couldn't have done that with a the greatest $5000 IC plane.

When I am satisfied enough with E, and can afford a "Sunday plane only", I'll get a nice 60 size pattern.

Then again...

vasilateing right now....


Coo

[fhhuber506771]

If Hobby-Lobby still has them.. Look at the "SkyLark" Its an inexpensive .40 class Pattern style airplane. Fairly well made. (but the covering is a bit odd... Heat-adhered but heavy and doesn't re-shrink well) With a Thunder Tiger .46 Pro and 11X6 APC prop it does very well.

There is an article around one of the discussion boards about E-conversion fo the SkyLark, which also gives you a good overview of the model. I recommend going to HS 81 servos, or similar size, on the ailerons for the glow version to save the weight.. and a smaller throttle servo. Standard servos for elevator and rudder.

Cermark makes a roughly equal model... I think its the "Javelin"

You don't HAVE to have the full field box... and a lot of the stuff you use for your e-powered models can be used anyway. You probably have the tools.. and the field charger battery.. so a fuel pump and glow ignitor and either a starter or "Chicken Stick" (and have someone teach you glow engine safety)

I'd say you could (since you'll already have at least a couple of servos, TX, RX and most other radio stuff needed..) easilly get a Pattern-intro level model flying for $500. (I could get a SkyLark in the air under $500 with buying a radio and minimal field equipment.. with a Magnum XL in the nose...)

If you've flown higher performance electric stuff... a couple of orientation flights with the assist of someone that flys glow regularly and you'll do fine. If all you've flown is "Slow Sticks" and other slow models... this will be quite a handful.

***************

They replaced the Skylark with this :: http://www.hobby-lobby.com/superair.htm

[LuckyArmpit]

Cool, I love E powered planes as much as my glow. However, there aint nuthin on the planet that will beat the sound of an OS, YS, or Saito 4 stroke engine on a warbird or a Stearman Bi-plane. Awesome power and flyability. Slow fly-by's and landings are just plain jaw dropping!!!

Dave...