The Cost of it All

[Cook]

If I spend carefully and don't buy all the top-of-the-line parts, how much do you think building the LightStick will cost, all things considered? My budget is about $250, but a little over is okay.

[Cook]

Also, do you recommend any other planes on the more inexpensive end of the chart? I have heard the most about the LiteStik, and I like the review in Model Airplane News, so that's what I'm looking at right now. The Watt-Age Sporty looks good too. I checked into the SR Batteries plane (think it was called the 250, so something like that), but it was aweful expensive, esp. since it had 3 servos, plus it is not an ARF, which I would prefer. :p

[jimwalker]

I still see lite-stiks selling for between $25 and $30. You can get a 8 cell inline battery pack of the double time NIMH 110 mah from "Cloud 9" (listed in the vendor links) for $14. Get a FMA mini 5 ESC for around $25. I think you can get a Hitec feather 3FM for around $110. That's about $179 plus shipping. I learned to fly again with a Lite-Stik. It is easy to fly and repair. Just be sure to read up on the all the tips available for this plane while building. Especially the tip about adding dihiedral to increase rudder effectiveness. After you get tired of the Lite-Stik and are ready for more of a challenge, all the electronics work very well for many different airframes and the Lite-Stik motor also is being used for many different types of airframes.

Hope this helps.....

[jimwalker]

I almost forgot, you need a battery charger as well. I use the dymond quick charger for $39.95, but there are many good ones on the market. Check the vendor links on the home page of this website..... That still gets you started at less than the $250 you said you wanted to stay under.

[Cook]

Thank you very much!!! That is just the information I was looking for. I really think I'll get the Lite Stik now. 'Be back soon!

[BogusModem]

You can get the entire package (with 2 battery packs!) here for $179

web page (http://www.goflyit.com/goflyit/watlitstikpa.html)

[pease1]

The goflyit package comes with the transmitter, transmitter nicad, transmitter charger.

I can't say I love the battery pack or charger that come with the goflyit package, but the whole package does work and is complete from one source.

[jimwalker]

If I read your email correctly, you were quoting the cheaper deal as having the "naro" flight pack. The naro pack is cheaper than the "pico" pack, but it is also heavier and thus less desirable for slow flyers. Which flight pack did you get for $193??

[Cook]

I purchased the package called "Wattage Lite Stik Combo No Radio" [http://www.hobbypeople.net/combos/999055.htm]. This costs $79.96 and comes with:

1 pc. Watt-Age IC-5 ESC, 5 Amp, BEC-A/C, 5-8 Cells
1 pc. Watt-Age Lite Stik Park/Indoor Electric Plane
1 pc. Watt-Age 25 Min A/C Chrgr for B-2 6&7V Packs
1 pc. Watt-Age NiCad Battery Pack, 7.2V 150 Mah

In addition I purchased:
A Hitec 4-channel Feather Receiver for $47.99;
Rx crystal for $10.99;
and Two Cirrus CS-10BB Molecular Mini Servos for $26.99 each

This totals $192.92. I hope this is good gear for the plane.

[Jason Nowell]

Cook:

You did fine :)

In the future, I would get the $34 GWS reciever though. It does have better range, and if you fly indoors (which is a REAL hoot) you'll get less interference or "hits" than you would with the HiTech. Don't get me wrong, I have 3 HiTech Feathers, and still fly them all, I have just noticed less problems with the GWS reciever.

Build it, FLY it, and don't look back ;)

[Cook]

It seems to me that it is a lot cheaper to purchase the "GWS Naro Flight Pack" and the Pico Lite Stik Kit from HorizonHobby.com than to get the package (w/o radion) from hobbypeople.net, even considering that it doesn't come with the charger. Plus, the HorizonHobby deal comes with a receiver. I guess I don't understand the difference in prices, though I noticed the GWS vs. WattAge brand products. Huh? Which is better. Should I feel jipped because I just spend 199.92 (incl. shipping) at HobbyPeople on the following:

759126 Feather FM Receiver 72M 4Ch Fut/Hit
128430 Lite Stik Park/Indoor Electric Plan
128511 NiCad Battery Pack, 7.2V 150 Mah
130102 25 Min A/C Chrgr for B-2 6&7V Packs
128482 IC-5 ESC, 5 Amp, BEC-A/C, 5-8 Cells
444052 CS-10BB Molecular Mini Servo S Conn
760360 Rx Crystal AM/FM S. C. Ch60

The Naro Flight Pack at Horizon costs $79.95 and includes:

4-channel micro receiver
2 Naro servos
2-amp speed control
270mAh 7.2V battery

The charger would be another $17.
The GWS plane kit is $34.95.
And there is a $10.99 Rx Crystal too.

That brings the Horizonhobby.com price to...around $143 or so.

Compare that to all the same equipment (dif. manufacturer) at $193 for HobbyPeople's.

What is the fifty-buck difference? I heard that the GWS receiver is actually better (twice the range) than the Hitec Feather Receiver, and the GWS on is cheaper!!!

What's the deal here, and what should I do. Thanks very much for this.

:( :mad: :confused:

[OCModels]

Correct me if I am wrong but doesn’t Hobby People have a combo that comes with everything including a transmitter with nicads for $179.95??? You bought the feather receiver and servos separate? Why didn't you just get the Focus3 radio setup?


In addition I purchased:
A Hitec 4-channel Feather Receiver for $47.99;
Rx crystal for $10.99;
and Two Cirrus CS-10BB Molecular Mini Servos for $26.99 each


You could have bought a whole radio system for about ten bucks cheaper. If you already have a transmitter I would send the stuff you bought back to Hobby People and call horizon to get the GWS Pico Pack...

Just a thought...

Jeffrey Park