Cheap RES recomendations please :)

[ammo]

I'm looking to get a RES sailplane for flat field thermalling, however I do not wish to spend too much. My regular flying fields offer little thermals, so I don't think a fast heavy ship will be any good, therefore I'm looking for more of a floater, or something that works well for light thermals, light-medium wind conditions at times.

Let's keep the recommendations priced at USD$300 max
ARF or kits are fine.

For launch, i'm planning to get a HoseMonster histart setup, either the 3m or unlimited complete set.

I had a gentle lady more than ten years ago when i started and it's a beauty to fly with the relaxing characteristics, except i didn't know a thing about thermals or slopes back then.

[bobby legue]

Try the Oly 2 from skybench. Strong, light, capable, aand an easy build. I launch mine with a Hosemonster 3m histart. Fun plane. Like me it slow and simple.
Bob

[Soar_dude]

are you looking for a kit or a ARF?
in a ARF
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LL1329&P=1
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LL1284&P=1
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LL1309&P=1
in a kit
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LL1287&P=1
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LL1300&P=1
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LL1300&P=1
This should give you a start
Soar Dude

[ammo]

Thanks for the recommendations, let's keep the list growing.

In fact, i'm debating with myself over arf or kit.
arf is easier to get it flying, but the kit always ends up lighter, which could be helpful for light thermal conditions i have here.

Eg, the Spirite elite kit and arf flying weight is a hefty 8 oz diff

[atjurhs]

In that price range there are some excellent almost ARF RESs from www.ArtHobby.com The bird's craftmanship are great quality, shipping is fast, and Andre is one of the best suppliers in our community to work with.

[Polkastudio]

Hi, I got back in the hobby in the past year or so and started with what worked for me. You can get plans and a short kit for the Mirage 118" sailplane from Mark at Isthmus models for around $ 100.00 and for less than $ 300.00 have a great flying floater that will penetrate if you need it to. It has a semisymetrical airfoil but is a very light weight plane. I have owned 3 now and loved them all! Gave away my first one to get a high performance plane, ( a sagitta), and wished I could trade the saggita for the Mirage as I had longer flights and it was so easy to fly that it was more enjoyable. I strongly recommend this plane if you have light air conditions!

Polkaboy


www.isthmusmodels.com

[kablair]

Hate to be a broken record....

Check out Jack Womacks Houston Hawk. Figure about $150 for fuse and short kit, another $75 for all the miscellaneous parts and pieces (covering :eek:), and then whatever you want to spend on radio equipment (could be $75, but is closer to $125 with a quality rx).

Mine came in at 60 oz. It's light and responsive enough to spec out from a hand launch - it wasn't a hand launch, but I've 'saved' a 10 minute flight when I was 40' off the deck at 90 seconds into my flight.

I also have a Super AVA, but when the wind gets over 10kts, the AVA gets grounded and it's nothing but the Hawk since it can handle the wind as well.

Great plane!
-Keith

[Ercoupe Ed]

I'd recommend the Mini Bird of Time ( 2 meter) by Ray Hayes at Skybench
www.skybench.com/
Only $118.00 for the kit, and a great flyer!
Or try the Big Bird, they really are nice sailplanes!
Or try the newer OlyII S or the Oly III

Ed

[schrederman]

Finding a fuselage for the Hawk is the tough part. If you can find a Sapphire or Resolution fuse, you're in business.

Barring that, any of the Skybench kits get a hardy recommendation from me. I've had 2 and great kits they were!

Thanks for the kind words, Keith.

Jack Womack

[Vulture]

I have a BOT ARF that I'm very happy with. So happy that given the chance I now have a BOT kit. Great plane that I have always had my eye on. If not a Bird of Time, how about one of Ray's Birds from http://www.Skybench.com

Vulture

[Jim Deck]

Try a Tower Hobbies Fling 2M. It can be winched with caution and flies great. There are a couple of threads in RC Groups on this attractive sailplane. I have one and it both flies and travels great.
Jim Deck

[cosmicpossum]

If you want a good thermaler that's readily available, a MM GliderTech Marauder would be my recommendation. You can pick one up for a little over $100 plus shipping. There's a build log on here too: http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=571430

I have mine on the building board right now and I can say I've not seen a higher quality kit in a long time.

[aeajr]

Skybench Lil Bird - $108
RES - 2M Kit
http://skybench.com/slbird.html

Rogue from E Whyte - 2M
RES $175 kit, $350 ARF
http://www.hilaunch.com/Models.htm


Spirit 100 - Kit or ARF - $90 - $140
2.5M all wood wing - the kit can be RES or R/E/A/F with
optional spoilers
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXJ598&P=7
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXJYP9&P=7
Review
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=444966

Skybench Big Bird - $138
2.5 M built up RES wood kit
http://www.skybench.com/slbird.html

Majestic 110" - $129
110 " 2.8M built up wood RES plane - Kit
http://www.mountainmodels.com/product_info.php?cPath=25_28&products_id=175

Marauder - $125
115" 2.9 M built up wood RES plane - Kit
http://www.mmglidertech.com/marauder.html
Build Thread
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=571430&page=5

EZ Bubble Dancer - $320
3M built up RES - built up wood wing with carbon/Kevlar
caps - kit
Like to build one of these someday
http://polecataero.com/products/ezbd
Build manual
http://www.polecataero.com/uploads/ezbd/ezbd-docs-DRAFT.pdf
Build page
http://thelocust.org/soaring/ezbd/

[John Gallagher]

Thanks for the recommendations, let's keep the list growing.

In fact, i'm debating with myself over arf or kit.
arf is easier to get it flying, but the kit always ends up lighter, which could be helpful for light thermal conditions i have here.

Eg, the Spirite elite kit and arf flying weight is a hefty 8 oz diff

The Elite is not what you would call a floater.
Not all ARF's are heavy. The Fling 2 meter ARF weighs around 23 ounces, ready to fly.
If you are buying a 3 meter-rated hosemonster, you are thinking of
a larger glider. It's rated as 3 meter because that's the normal span of glider that you would launch with that hi-start.

[StevenatorLTFO]

I'm surprised that nobody has mentioned the Sceptor by Laser Arts, 100 inch, looks a wee bit like a stylish Oly 2, 80 bucks for the kit, seems like it would be a good value. Come to think of it, are there any build threads here on RCG on that particular airplane?

[aeajr]

I notice that a number of planes listed are R/E, not RES. Ammo, is the spoiler a requirement?

I know I prefer having the spoiler. I have a Spirit RES and a Sagitta 600 RES and will be building a Bubble Dancer RES. However I simply wanted to clarify your requirements.

[Resurgam]

DJ Aerotech Chrysalis 2m:

http://www.djaerotech.com/dj_product/chrysalis2m.html

[ammo]

Thanks guys, the spoiler is not really a must for my limited thermal riding skills.

However, I've got my fair share of 2m RE floaters so I thought it would be nice to have a little something extra for a change.

Oh, regarding the 3m Hosemonster, I am planning to get the 3m version so I have headroom for upsizing my ships, that's all :)

[bobby legue]

Dont worry about the hosemonster 3 m as I launch every thing from the 48 inch 2X4 to 3.5 meter planes with it.
Bob

[philami]

Best and easiest to 'thermal' do not necessarily mean it's got to be a sailplane or reasonable glider. Most of us will get much better results from 'stick style' somewhat old fashioned models designed to do thermaling. You can find this at Mountain Models in their 'Duskstick' kit ($40.00) and real easy to build. Or the more expensive G400 beginers airplane ($125.00 or so) from Northeast Sailplanes. I'm building a Duskstic right now (I had another somewhat simmilar of my own design --- couldn't get out of lift and lost it. Yes, these two designs I recoment certainly will turn green those flying much more expensive and elaborate sailplanes. Try one as a backup model --- soon it will be your favorite if thermaling means a lot to you. It do to me.

[aeajr]

Best and easiest to 'thermal' do not necessarily mean it's got to be a sailplane or reasonable glider. Most of us will get much better results from 'stick style' somewhat old fashioned models designed to do thermaling. You can find this at Mountain Models in their 'Duskstick' kit ($40.00) and real easy to build. Or the more expensive G400 beginers airplane ($125.00 or so) from Northeast Sailplanes. I'm building a Duskstic right now (I had another somewhat simmilar of my own design --- couldn't get out of lift and lost it. Yes, these two designs I recoment certainly will turn green those flying much more expensive and elaborate sailplanes. Try one as a backup model --- soon it will be your favorite if thermaling means a lot to you. It do to me.

Sorry, but this does not work.

These planes can not be hi-start or winch launched. They won't take the stress.

They also have almost no wind penetration. They simply don't meet the request/requirements stated here.

However, as small, light electric planes that can be fun to thermal, you will get no arguement from me. They can be fun to thermal but they are not relevent to this discussion.

[WEB01]

You might want to check the Laser Arts kits. They have some really nice kits that go together very easily. They have a couple of 2M kits (Sovereign is a pod and boom design and the Jester is a more conventional fuse design) and there is also the Scepter100 and Majestic110 to consider. They can all be viewed @ http://www.laserarts.com/index.php?cPath=25_28.

I built a Sovereign as my first build and modified it to include spoilers. It was easy to do and I am just amazed at how well it flies. I can hang with an Allegro lite, yet it still penetrates and I seem to have good control on the landings. I launch it off of a 3M Hosemonster with no trouble at all. I just love this airplane! :D