Multiplex Easy Star vs Super Cub

bluethunder

Hi there,
first time poster here. Am looking into a beginners plane and want some advice. The two options I am considering are the Multiplex Easy Star and the Super Cub. Seems to me the Super Cub is around half the price of the Easy Star but I reckon the Easy Star might save me money on repairs in the long run because of the prop position. Anyone got any advice?

I'm particularly interested in the following issues: Flight time (battery life) and ease of learning (e.g. the Super Cub has a training sim). I have priced the Super Cub at €120 on an Irish Website and the Easy Star is around €230. Does this seem correct? Can anyone point me to some other good sites selling planes?

coolwings

The Easy Star is a good trainer for self teach situations, but if you have an instructor to avoid the 1st 30 minute mistakes, you can get a faster more wind worthy aircraft. It's made of elapor which is a tough foam but heavy-ish. It's main benefit is having no rotating propeller in the way of a forward looking in-model camera.

A Super Cub is also a trainer. It's not clear which one your're looking at from the picture. Some are elapor, some are depron which is a light but fragile foam. Depron is cheap, and good for cheap models, but only if you can land very gently, and most beginners can not do that. So depron while cheap, it is suitable for people who can already fly well, or many repairs result.

Some model Cubs are made from white aeroboard foam. This is in between depron and elapor in cost and toughness. A bit fragile for learning, but not overly so.

Did you see the Eligo trainer in the www.greenhobbymodel.com Bargain Zone at 49 euros? It might be interesting.

A simulater is helpful, and worth a few models if you're on your own, but a pal who helps is worth ten sims!
The best option is both an instructor and a sim for at home when it's dark outside

bluethunder

Thanks for the response, really want to get this decision right!

I'm also interested in the Radian, was told it is a good trainer and also flies longer than the Super Cub and Easy Star. Price for these is around €250 as far as i can make out.

I don't know anyone that flies these so can't get any training unless I join a club which I don't want to do just yet (bit pricey!). The Eligo does look interesting but the 49 is just the plane itself, right? You still need to buy a fair bit of gear to complete it.

I'm leaning towards the Easy Star at the moment simply because I reckon I could have a good stab at teaching myself and not damage it too much by crashing. The only problem I have with it is the flight time, 12-18 mins seems pretty short to me. How expensive would it be to purchase an extra battery?

Finally, could anyone point me to a good resource for ideal flight conditions for light electric trainers i.e. windspeed, rain etc?

Thanks for reading.

coolwings

bluethunder wrote: »

....The only problem I have with it is the flight time, 12-18 mins seems pretty short to me. ....

When you are learning: flying is like holding a wild tiger by the tail.
So 5 minutes is an eternity for beginners, 10 minutes unaided might be a bit like asking for a reason to bring a black bag when you go out.
We can fly a long time if we wish, but on average we land after 8-11 mins, get it together, check the gear, and then fly again.

loopingfred

Hello there
Yep, 5 minutes can sometimes be very long, especially when you are on the learning curve

Anyway, Easystar, best choice ! Elapor is tough, and really easy to repair if you crash it hard (With epoxy or Cyano glue for a quick fix at the field).
And the Easystar don't have to prove itself at a very good platform for beginners!

You can also think of doing an upgrade to Brushless motor + Lipo batteries later... More power when you get bored with the factory setup (RR version is a Brushed motor + NiCad pack).

For the FlightSim, google FMS... It's free and decent! You can find remote for SIMs on Ebay or online for close to nothing that works with the sim (like a joystick... Well, you get the idea!)

But the best advice, is go and visit a club and talk with the members. They will be always very happy to help, and why not, you might even have a taste of this great hobby ! List of clubs etc etc here : http://www.maci.ie


Fred

bluethunder

Thanks for the advice Loopingfred. I've done some more research on it and I am now thinking of going all in and buying an engine model suitable for training and then joining the club in Cork to get some lessons. It's a fair hike in cost from just buying something like the Easy Star on its own. I suppose my main concern is: is it feasible to train oneself? I'd ideally like to get the Easy Star and then learn myself. This way I can get a feel for weather or not I will like the hobby and if I do then I can always join the club and get the proper certs.

loopingfred

To learn alone is feasable. Just be careful of others and where you are practicing your flights!
One of the few down side of learning alone, is that you have (unfortunately) to expect to break your model more often, sometimes (ok, certainly all the time...), straight after the first launch...
But, this is still can be good fun anyway, most important for you is to be aware that you will break things, sometimes hard, sometimes just a scratch and you will spend time to repair (hopefully, less and less )... After all, crashing is also part of the hobby ! Don't be discouraged by that!

Buy the EasyStar and pay a visit to a club in Cork (a few Cork guys are regular on my forum, top bunch of guys! )
No need to buy a .46 trainer to join or visit a club ! At least, they can set it up and might give it a go... Then, well, have fun !