Kit Building, How Hard is it?

[shogunmst]

Hi all, looking at trying my hands at one of the 40% kits, maybe one of the Cardens, Laniers, or Aeroworks Edge 540's. Now I've repaired badly damaged planes before and even rebuild a wing or two. My question to all you guys who tackled that first build is HOW HARD WAS IT TO BUILD YOUR FIRST KIT. I want to try it but don't want to get discouraged after a week of building. I really want to give it a shot!!!
Later,

Shawn

[JimC-MD]

Go For It!!!!

If you have good basic skills with working on wood, kits are not that hard to do. You may actually be surprised with how quickly your project takes shape. I built my first RC plane (trainer) and it was great. The thing that makes it easy now is the internet. You can get information and see pictures of techniques so quickly it is like having a pro builder looking over your shoulder.

Do not get me wrong. You will make mistakes, learn things and get better and faster as you do it. The thing to remember is that almost any mistake can be corrected. Even gluing your FG foamy wing on upside down......... Don't ask, just try to avoid building at 1 am!

[Do-rag]

Look at this thread by Sleepy this was his first big kit if I remember correctly.

Sleepy's (OMG I'm Doing it!) 35% Dalton Build

Nelson

[youngflyer]

im not an expert builder, not even close. re-building is hard and gives you a lot of experience but i wouldnt throw 1-2000 on a nice kit only to completely mess it up. its not rocket science but it isnt easy either! i would start with a 50 cc edge 540 kit from precisionaerobatics.com! if you do not have the money for a 50 cc kit and a 35-40% kit try building a .40 sized kit. try building anything and it will help or have a pro builder "help" you. the more practice the better!

[SleepyC]

Yea.. my build thread is my first "REAL" giant scale build.

Its been an adventure.
All the stuff I was fearing ended up being easy, and all the stuff I thought would be cake has been a PIA.

My time has been very limited the past month.. so I have slowed down a bit.. but so far the process has been a very rewarding adventure.

I would suggest looking into a Dalton kit as well as the others , the quality is great, and the plane goes together very well.

Hope that helps you decide!

[Do-rag]

Thanks for chiming in Sleepy. You going to have that thing done by Nall? Just 62 Days away.

[SleepyC]

	Quote: Originally Posted by magic28504
	Thanks for chiming in Sleepy. You going to have that thing done by Nall? Just 62 Days away.

Probably not... I'll try, but to be honest, I have other planes to fly..
Iafter comming this far i want it to be nice.. not just "finished"

[SUPERFLYJAY]

ive built many in a very short time heres how you do it, you go the desk drawer take out a pen and checkbook !!! and voila its done !! been doin it for years. Thank god my wife thinks everything is $50.00 bucks And besides im a firm believer that it makes no sense ruining a perfectly good kit !!!

[Tired Old Man]

If you start with a VERY straight and level building surface, have the room to work all four sides of the building table, have good tools, measure twice and cut once, then kit building is not hard at all. Just never be in a hurry and check all the angles. Good and square sanding blocks, a small drill press, and a table sander make things go a lot easier, as do having LOTS of clamps of various types and sizes.

[CAPtain232]

I have never really considered kit building to be hard, just very time consuming. I built an Aerotech 35% Edge for a friend not too long ago. It was a pain in the butt to build, but only because the parts weren't what they should have been. I don't mean it was hard to build, just frustrating. I had to get new stabs, all the other foam had to have much hand shaping done, and the fiberglass was the worst that I have seen yet....... As I said, it wasn't "hard" to build just time consuming. It turned out as nice as any other plane, but required considerably more work.....On the other hand, I have built more than one mans share of Carden kits. I look at a CARDEN as if it were a blank canvas and I am the artist. The kit could go together pretty quick, but you have the option to do a lot of custom work.

If you are willing to take your time, I would say give it a try....If not, then you will be wasting your time and money.....when you sell your unfinished kit, you won't get your money back out of it.

[aerowiz]

its easy, throw the entire kit contents in the air and squrit zap at all the bits. what could be so hard about that?

seriously if you have the environment for it and the time go for it,, very rewarding.



aerowiz

[FLYNYAK]

My best friend just finished his first big kit !! A Carden 40% Extra 300. He was a little nervous at first but after getting started it was fun. He referd to a lot of good builds right here on FG, Printed out good building tips and got help if he had a question. FG is the place for help when you build your 40% kit. I think the biggest kit he ever built befor the 40% was a 80'' wing 120 size.Reed a few builds from start to finish I recomend [ BBW Carden 300 (Prototype) ]Dont get the Idea you got to change the kit, You can build it stock and it will be just fine.Good Luck