Looking For a 39-42% edge 540 kit

[gareth.ky]

	Quote: Originally Posted by BOSSIER_ROB
	I would like a carden. I just hear that the kits do not have interlocking parts and you have to do most of the lightening cut outs yourself. I want something that just "snaps" together straight.

And that is the rub.

It is a pleasure dealing with Carden. You can get the kit without an issue, its exactly whats advertised, the quality is high. I hear (and will know soon for myself) it fly's great once you get it together. Its just behind the curve on the sophistication of the construction technique. Its really optimized for ease of manufacture with a minimum of pre-cut parts. Dennis doesn't need a laser cutter to make them, most of the pre-cut parts are just ply rectangles and foam cores.

If you want something a bit more modern get on of the Dalton kits. Those are really state of the art. Unfortunately no edge 540. If you really must have a 540, I'm with the Woodbutcher, get the Carden and get to building.

[BOSSIER_ROB]

	Quote: Originally Posted by yakpilot
	have you looked PAU's 43%er? I have the 36% and it's very nice. just a thought.

I don't like the sceme or the single seat canopy. That's why I am wanting a kit. I can't find an arf I like. If I like the sceme, it's heavy. If it's light, the colors don't appeal to me. One thing I have found out in the past two weeks, Edges are hard to find unless you build one. I just don't have the desire to spend a year building, lightening parts on a kit that is butt jointed planks of wood or I'd buy a carden. It has to be laser cut or router cut with interlocking, tongue and groove, parts if I'm going to spend the time to build or it won't get done, nor would it be straight. I am too picky and just don't like building, but I see no way around it if I'm going to have something that I want. Also, as I stated in the original post, I only want an Edge 540T. I don't really want an extra or yak(already have a 35% Yak). I like the 540T for the cockpit/canopy. I don't like the single seaters with the tiny canopy. If PAU offered an ARC or a better color sceme, I'd jump on it, but I'm not spending the money on one just to rip the ultracote off and do it over with monokote in a custom sceme.

[rdgood]

Ok here I go - now don't throw anything at me here.

But Aeroworks does make a nice 39% Edge builders kit for 895.00....which does have lazer cut parts and not to mention that the wings are presheated. I owned one of the earlier 540 Versions and it did lack in the control surface area. I am sure they have increased the throws/surface area on the new one.

Which is about 300 bucks less than Carden and not to mention your not getting just a bunch balsa that you have to glue together.

Now I know that this may go against the Carden die hards but I have built several of the older Cardens and to me the were 400 manhrs plus and they built heavy!!
Before the machine guns come out a blazin' I just think that the Cardens for the amount of money you pay should have a little more done on them before you get the kit. Notice that I DID not say they were bad flying - To the contrary they are probably some of the best IMAC machines you could have.


Ronster

[BOSSIER_ROB]

I am not opposed to an Aeroworks. I just simply don't know anyone that has any experience with them and didn't want to be the test dummy. You hit it on the head with the Carden. I know a few people who've built Carden kits and they look great, fly outstanding, but just too much work for the money you spend on them.

[aviti]

Aeroworks makes the 39% Edge T. I think someone said it doesn't look like a scale Edge but it's still a nice looking airplane. Most of our aerobats deviate quite a bit from scale anyway. The Aeroworks builders kit has interlocking fuse and the flight surfaces are pre-sheeted. I'm building a Carden Edge right now and I am really enjoying the build but if you want something easier then maybe the Aeroworks.

[as722]

There's no perfect kit out there. If you buy a carden you'll have to lighten the box yourself which if you tape the two sides together and do them at the same time does not take that long, I can do a whole box including f2, f3 and f4 in less than an hour. If you buy some of the other kits you'll have to edge true the sheeting and there's a ton of it in a 40% kit so at the end you'll have close to the same amount of time. So buy what you really want because time wise it will not be much difference.

Here a thought, how about getting a carden edge and talk to dennis about getting a 300 canopy instead and make it a 540T. I wouldn't think it would be that much work.


Albert

[aviti]

	Quote: Originally Posted by BOSSIER_ROB
	I am not opposed to an Aeroworks. I just simply don't know anyone that has any experience with them and didn't want to be the test dummy. You hit it on the head with the Carden. I know a few people who've built Carden kits and they look great, fly outstanding, but just too much work for the money you spend on them.

I know a guy here in St Louis who built the Aeroworks 39% Edge. You could PM him and get his thoughts. Steve Kissel is the guy and he goes by Xtreem3d on here. But again, I think you will enjoy the Carden. The lightening and non-interlocking fuse doesn't add that much time really. The tedious stuff like setting incidence, control surfaces, hatch, cowl are about the same for any kit. It took less than a week or so to build the fuse and I've been working on my Carden for 9 months (on and off). What's a week or less when the whole build will take most guys months?

[Johnny MoJo]

	Quote: Originally Posted by BOSSIER_ROB
	I would like a carden. I just hear that the kits do not have interlocking parts and you have to do most of the lightening cut outs yourself. I want something that just "snaps" together straight.

After reading all your responses, I would say you have quite the quandry

If you don't feel you are proficient at building a project like that then by all means, don't get it. $600 for a Carden Edge is a pretty good deal and the savings is worth the extra effort to learn new skills. However, I am all about the build AND the flying. If you want total control of the trim scheme, then you will have to build yourself. Regardless of what you build you will not know how to do something in that particular kit and will have to ask somebody. Why not learn how to do it so you will be prepared for other challenges in the future.

The guys that have built them in your area may not have had good feelings about them for any number of reasons. Did they do a good job? Looking at thier planes, could you have done better? Don't sell yourself short, but if you don't feel up to the challenge then get an ARF. Compromise is going to have to happen, because as someone has already said, there is no perfect kit or ARF, unless you design it yourself. Good luck with whatever you decide.

<Disclaimer> I am in no way associated with the seller of the kit or Carden Aircraft. I do not currently own a Carden nor have I in the past. Your actual results may vary. Consult your doctor before taking any medication. A diet high in fiber and fresh fruits and vegetables has been proven to foster good health. Pregnant women should not drink, smoke or inhale CA fumes. This opinion has been known to cause cancer in the state of California.

J.

[BOSSIER_ROB]

You are right. I agree that no kit or arf is perfect. To answer your question, yes, the local builders are some of the best I've seen. They could tackle a carden with no problem, built it straight and true AND make it weigh 36 lbs. They make me want to stomp their planes! lol One of them advised me to steer clear of the cardens because they know that I'm not up for the task. It's simply too much work and I don't have the giant shop full of building goodies that it will require. I need a kit that is the simplest of all to do a build. The one with the most work pre cut wins. That's why I am asking. I know about Carden, Dalton(who do not offer an edge), Aerotech, and Lanier. Those are the knowns. I was just wondering if there may be another manufacturer out there who might make one close to what I want. If I'm limited to the three manufacturers above that make an edge, then I'll simply give up and just pay someone to build me one, although the sole purpose was to save money, build it myself, and get it as light as possible without losing structural integrity with a color sceme I could actually smile about. This seems to be fizzling into pipe dream that will just turn into a nightmare.

[Johnny MoJo]

	Quote: Originally Posted by BOSSIER_ROB
	If I'm limited to the three manufacturers above that make an edge, then I'll simply give up and just pay someone to build me one, although the sole purpose was to save money, build it myself, and get it as light as possible without losing structural integrity with a color sceme I could actually smile about. This seems to be fizzling into pipe dream that will just turn into a nightmare.

I really don't think you need to give up. Based on all that you stated above, then maybe look at the CA. I think Aeroworks still carries them. I had a 27% Extra and was very happy with the kit contents. Never got to build it at the time though. The only thing I was a little disappointed in was the cowl and pants, but they may have changed that by now. The surfaces were pre-sheeted too

Good luck.

J.

[Supermod56]

Carden's are easy to build, I have done 4 of them and will probably do one or 2 more in the future, the 300 mid wing and the new big 260. I framed my Cap in a week, crashed it in a second Another option is the ARC Direct Edge out of Canada, don't think they make em anymore, Aircraft International used to sell them, I had the bigger one, sold it before I ever started on it when I needed cash. Or you could get the PAU and rip the covering off, or MAYBE they would do one for you ARC??
Tom

[gareth.ky]

Dude have you seen my thread? N00b Builds Carden. If I can do it you can do it. A whole shop full of tools costs less than what a builder will charge you. Plus as long as you have the patience for it building is fun. We didn't mean to get you down and discouraged. Pick the one you will like the most when its finished.

[BoneJuster]

Some of us are mechanical, and some of us are more aesthetic. Dont sell yourself or your skills short. Youll never know if you dont try. Either way Im sure youll be pleased with the results because their yours. That being said inlist some of the guys that say you cant do it for their assistance, if its worth picking their brain. LOTS OF HELP HERE!!! I have learned a lot in a night spent right here. I dont have too many tools as well, mostly small hand tools. But club members do! Mostly have fun.

["X" Rated]

Im selling my 42% Aerotech 540 if you are interested. She 4 yrs old but still kicks azz for 3D. Airframe or airframe and eng.

[BOSSIER_ROB]

Nice!!! That's what I originally wanted was an Aerotech, but I heard from several people having trouble getting all the parts. Hell yes I'm interested! I sent you a P.M.