40% Kit Godfrey vs Carden,Dalton..etc

[RC FANATIC]

Hey guys, My name is Ryan Martin. I just started flying Imac this year with a 35% and surprised myself with my results and I want to build a 40% this winter. I was wondering if anyone had any information on the Godfreys flight characteristics and building characteristics compared to Carden or Dalton. I have flown a Carden and a Dalton, but not a Godfrey. I have always been a freestyle pilot and I am starting to get serious with IMAC. Any information is greatly appreciated. Thanks... Ryan

[Andy Thomas]

Call him he is very friendly.

http://www.bobflies.com/

[shogunmst]

Don't know much about the Godfreys but I can tell you a little about the Cardens and the Daltons. In my opinion the Cardens are the way to go, the build is a little more challeging but not bu much, the Dalton kits are tongue and groove so all the parts lock together like a puzzle. I think thats the only plus, other than that they are about the same. Look at how many Cardens are still flying after 5,6,7, years and still strong and look good. I've recently heard that Dalton is going out of business, how true is this.... I don't know.
Good Luck.
Shawn

[nickb]

Ryan, If your going to build one, you might as well build 2-- one for me! I'll buy the glue.

[sweetpea]

I know Dalton moved to Arizona......don't think they are outta business though.

[DA2000]

Dalton is definitely not going out of business, just relocating to Arizona.

I have experience with all three, most recently with the Godfrey. I have three of them in various stages of construction in the shop as we speak.

The foam parts on all three are virtually identical, so not much to talk about. The wood quality is pretty close.

It comes down to fuse construction. The Dalton is laser cut, self jigging construction throughout, including the motor box and firewall. After the the ply parts, you sheet the sides with balsa.

The Carden is a truss design using 3/8 sticks, then sheeted with balsa. The fuse is built over the plans with no alignment tabs. Not diffficult, but very time consuming. Then, if you want to shed some weight, you will spend many hours with the dremel, scroll saw, router, etc.

The Godfrey is CNC Milled lite ply with alignment tabs. The big difference with the Godfrey are the lite ply fuse sides with NO sheeting. It pretty much self aligns itself. It does lack alignment tabs on the firewall, which is no biggie.

To put all of this in perspective: With the substantial amount of building experience I had before I became involved with 40% airframes, I can lay it out in time and difficulty to build a straight fuse.

Carden (lightened): 50 hours
Dalton: 10 hours
Godfrey: 3 hours

All three kits are comparable in quality, the Dalton and Godfrey being less expensive.

Flying:

All of the Cardens are great flying airplanes.

The Daltons also fly very well. I have over 1000 flights on my 260 over the last 3 years and it is holding up great.

I have very limited experience with actual flight time on the Godfrey, but have high hopes! As previously mentioned, give Robert a call, he is happy to talk about it. There are a lot of things Robert has done to optimize the airframe for pattern. From the friends I've spoken to that have the 300, they seem to work.

Bottom line, any will serve you well. The Godfrey definitely gets my vote for the quickest/straightest build with the least effort.

D

[WOODisGOOD]

As most of you have probably heard I will be moving to Tucson Arizona next week. I have lived in Florida my entire life, but my family and I have wanted to move out west for the past couple years. For the past 7 years a big part of my business has been building giant scale imac planes. Over the past 4 years I have started doing kits and this has been going very well. For the immediate future Dalton Aviation will no longer be taking orders on ready to cover airframes and will only be offering kits. In no way will Dalton Aviation Inc. be going out of business.
Starting after Christmas I will be taking a job at Desert Aircraft and working with the great staff of people that Dave has working for him. This decision is going to alow me to spend more time with my family and work a normal work week.

Getting back to your question I have built and flown all three. You will not be disapointed in the flight performance of any of them. Burn enough gas and you will fly any of the 3 just as well. Obviously I am biased as to which one I would get so I will leave it up to others to chime in on this thread.

[sukhoi26]

I flew Mark Leseburgs Dalton before Tony sent it to Tucson for the contest And it flew like it was on rails. I also flew Tonys 35% before he sold it and it flew the same way. I can't say anytihg about the other companys cause i haven't flown them but i agree with Tony. If you fly anything long enough, your going to get good. I've been flying Aerotech's for three years and they fly great also. But i also have two Daltons that I'm building and they should fly just as well. Rob

[Fixed Wing]

Ryan,

Please don't get one of these planes. You're already a great flier with what you have. Having one of these would make you even better. That would be bad for others, especially, if you move up. These planes are too easy to fly straight and true. You would discover that you've been working too hard to fly your current plane and probably get board with how easy and great they fly.

Dean

[Walt]

I will be doing a Dalton and Godfrey this winter. These are my next builds in that order. I should be on the Dalton in a couple weeks. I personally feel that the 3 planes mentioned, Carden, Dalton, Godfrey, are the leader's in the "Kit built" precision giant's and the flight difference's probably mostly amount to just personal preference's between them. Difference's in kit quality and construction I will have a better opinion on shortly. I expect Wayne and myself to do a detailed build thread on the Godfrey. Some photo's of the Dalton might show up and if I can answer any questions during this build I will...Looking forward to doing both. Walt

[3dav8r]

I have built 2 Dalton 260s and 4 Dalton 300s. Which ever one you pick I do think you will be very happy. As you can tell I am very bias to the Dalton's, good luck in your quest !

Steve

[RC FANATIC]

Nick, I will think about your offer..lol.
Dean, Thanks for the kind words, but I have to do something to keep up with you..lol

In the invitational precision rounds did Leseberg fly the godfrey 300 or the dalton 300.

I am looking to build either the Dalton or the Godfrey, I am wanting to do everything possible to get either one lightened to a feather. I am just in limbo which one comes out the lightest or easiest to lighten/ which one excels in areas the other doesn't...etc, Again thanks for all your replys.....Ryan

[WOODisGOOD]

Mark was flying the new Dalton 300 that has the stretched fuselage.

[Wayne]

Hey Ryan,

Good to see you here.
Everyone has given you great advice. Pick the plane that suits you best for what you want to do with the build etc..
All three will be extremely competitive IMAC plane.

Like Dan, I've flown the Dalton 260 and the Carden 260 / 300 a bunch. All were awesome planes.
I got to fly a friends Godfrey for a day back in the summer and LOVED it so I have one coming for next year.

I've seen you fly, you'll kick butt with whatever you decide.

[RC FANATIC]

Thanks Wayne, good to hear from you again. I am leaning towards the Godfrey. I have thought about the Dalton stretched version, but didn't Mark do that to accomodate the 200? What ever I do get I would like to set it up for freestyle and Imac but I doubt that is a good Idea, because I will sacrifice some of the precision characteristics. Right or Wrong??

Thanks...Ryan