Most of you know me as Eddie from the field.This will be my second plane. I have a Hobbico Nexstar Trainer now. I have recovered it and that went well. But I'd like to build my second plane. Here are a few that I have looked at on Tower Hobby's web site. Tiger 2 Easy Sport Rapture Four star These are just some planes i looked at .If you know of a good second plane please Tell me about it . Keep in mind i want to use the O.S. .46 that i have in my trainer.

Hi Eddie,
Of the four aircraft mentioned in your post, I like the Tiger 2 and Easy Sport because they have flight characteristics suitable for second airplane and they are tricycle landing gear, my favorite landing gear for better ground control and wider speed range for getting it on the ground. Just have to learn to always flare enough so main wheels touch just before the nose gear.

The other two airplane probably fly just as good though the Four Star is a little too much of a floater for my liking.

If I had to select one of the choices, I would go with the Tiger 2. I have not had one of my own, but have flown them and seen others fly them with great success. They are a good kit and an easy build for a full kit type, to best of my knowledge.

Hopefully other much better pilots than me will check in with more advice/openions.


OBTW - Thanks for the great help with the runway repair job this past Tuesday. :thumbup:

I would go with the tiger 2

That's my que. B)

I built the Tiger 2 as my second plane as well, and it's a great flying all-around plane, and a very easy build. Of the four you posted I would choose it first, and the Rapture second. The Easy Sport, while being much more aerobatic and responsive than your trainer, still has that "trainer look" to it that I would think you'd want to get away from. The Four Star is a great flying plane but, as Alvin said, a bit too much of a floater for my taste as well. Now, you could always clip the wings on the Four Star, so there's that option too.

I like the Tiger 2. :thumbup:

Wannabe, I don't know much about the other three planes but I have built a four Star forty from a kit and it was a good easy to build kit and fun to fly for a second plane. I had the same nexstar trainer that you have and once I flew the four star I had no interest in flying the trainer again, it does float like they said on landings but I have been told that clipping the wings one bay shorter makes quit a differnce with that. I am planning about three or four project down the road to get mine flying again ( I have robbed all the servos and receiver etc. out for other planes) and when I do I plan to try the wing clipping. Mike and Frits have more experience with all the different planes and wouldn't steer you wrong but I like the four star still.

I havent had the chance to fly the others planes but i have a four star and the four star will float a lot on you but being a second plane you might need that ability until your skillz get better thats just my opinion but who am i :D

I've built and flown both the 4 Star .40 and the Tiger 2. As far as good layout of directions, Carl Goldberg, IMHO, is always on top of the heap. The 4 Star's instructions were a little hard to follow, and took a little deciphering to get a few of the critical areas clarified. Both took about the same amount of time to build.

As far as flight characteristics between the two, the 4 Star is a much more maneuverable plane, one reason being the difference in tail moments between the two. I added another aileron servo on my Tiger 2; I don't think that is needed on the 4 Star. I added 'air stops' on the ends of the 4 Star's wings to keep the air on the wings at low speeds; it helps alot. The 4 Star is a lot lighter than the Tiger 2.

Both planes are pretty solid; The Tiger 2 has one weak spot, just behind the cockpit; you'll want to reinforce this area, as one hard landing will break the fuse in two. Pretty easy fix, but if you reinforce that area you should have no problems.

I think if you go with either of these two, you'll be pleased. I personally recommend the Tiger 2 for a 'first' second plane because to me it's just a little more stable; however, if you feel you can handle a little more instability and want something that can really tear up the skies when you're ready, the 4 Star would be the way to go.

Thanks to all who gave me input. I decided to go with the Tiger 2. I have ordered it from Hobbytown in Daphne.

Good deal! I think you'll be pleased........

If I were you, I would plan on two aileron servos. I can show you how we did ours if you would like; it wasn't that hard.

Bkndsdl,
Going to do both of your suggestions. I'll ask you about the renforcements you told me about. And the servos as well. Just need to know who you are so i can ask at the field. I won't be able to make it to the field untill Sunday I'm in no particular hurry to finish the build. As I havent quite mastered the trainer.Thanks again to those who gave feedback.