To build or not to build....

[cyoung450]

So I have been flying my 50cc Extra and YAK for a bit now, and of course I want something bigger. My question is DO I build something or go with another ARF? I really want to start flying IMAC next year and it just seems to me that if you really want a good straight competitive plane you need to build it yourself or have it built for you? What are your thoughts on this? I really like the building part of the Hobby but have never built anything in the 35% size. Does it take a special skill, tools or is it just time consuming? Thanks for any input???

Conrad

[crhammond]

Conrad - I am building my first plane now - a 35% Radiowave Panzl.

I have had ARF's until now. Both my GP Cap 580 and my Aeroworks 75cc Yak are built as good or better than I would be able to myself. Niether of them required any trim, trust adjustment etc. I fly standard aerobatics - hardly any 3D. I fly sportsman... so I am not able to wring out a plane or trim it like someone with more experience. Both my big planes required almost no mixing for coupling or down lines and both flew hands off across the box without me ever touching the trims from the maiden flight. The covering on both is far far above my skill level.

I am building because:
1. I want to learn how

2. I want to make sure good glue is used and used everywhere... I have had some ARF's that are less than well glued (the GP Cap is one of those.)

3. I want to have some control over installing things like tubes for the wiring, adding in wiring hold downs, painting inside the fuse and selecting all the hardware; if I were a master builder I might be able to reduce weight too - for now I am building stock.

4. I want my own covering scheme

5. I can't afford a pro-build... well more like I can't afford to CRASH a pro build HA HA.

As far a I can tell the main extra tools needed are a LARGE good level surface, some aluminum angle, lots and lots of clamps (some big ones), larger sanding bars and a drill press. Plus lots more glue, sandpapaer, covering etc etc.

It requires lots of time, lots of patience and lots and lots of planning ahead... and I have yet to glue anything HA HA.

Chris.

[Tailwind]

Conrad,
I am currently building a 35% Carden 330, and I bought a 35% Edge done in the begining of the summer. There are some great deals on 35% aircraft out there. If you can find one local or within driving distance, you really can't beat the prices. They seem to be @2000-3000 for a 35% Carden minus receiver, if its just airframe/engine you could do a little better. If you add up what you will have in it once you build one on your own, your time ends up being free. I am building as a winter project and it has been a while since I built a kit, so I was really looking forward to building.

Dom

[Dennis C]

Conrad aerotech has a deal right now for a 35% they will do all your sheeting of the foam parts and all you have to do is build the fuse. pretty good deal if you ask me for 1000.00 shipped to your door i believe

here is the link.

http://www.aerotech-rcmodels.com/

[cyoung450]

Guys thanks for the replies, keep them coming. Very good points being made here.

Cy

[TazmanianDevil]

	Quote: Originally Posted by crhammond
	Conrad - I am building my first plane now - a 35% Radiowave Panzl. I have had ARF's until now. Both my GP Cap 580 and my Aeroworks 75cc Yak are built as good or better than I would be able to myself. Niether of them required any trim, trust adjustment etc. I fly standard aerobatics - hardly any 3D. I fly sportsman... so I am not able to wring out a plane or trim it like someone with more experience. Both my big planes required almost no mixing for coupling or down lines and both flew hands off across the box without me ever touching the trims from the maiden flight. The covering on both is far far above my skill level. I am building because: 1. I want to learn how 2. I want to make sure good glue is used and used everywhere... I have had some ARF's that are less than well glued (the GP Cap is one of those.) 3. I want to have some control over installing things like tubes for the wiring, adding in wiring hold downs, painting inside the fuse and selecting all the hardware; if I were a master builder I might be able to reduce weight too - for now I am building stock. 4. I want my own covering scheme 5. I can't afford a pro-build... well more like I can't afford to CRASH a pro build HA HA. As far a I can tell the main extra tools needed are a LARGE good level surface, some aluminum angle, lots and lots of clamps (some big ones), larger sanding bars and a drill press. Plus lots more glue, sandpapaer, covering etc etc. It requires lots of time, lots of patience and lots and lots of planning ahead... and I have yet to glue anything HA HA. Chris.

These are the essence ,what you need more to know is that you are doin' it your self,its yours, you are a part of that plane.
Be patience and open-minded.
And the most importent count to ten before you do anithing,be sure what you do is the right thing because you cant go back(most of the time)"The end of all things come with thinking first"
Have fun,I'm sure you will
Adi

[wizard]

I also enjoy building. There may be a few differences between building smaller and larger planes, but that also depends on the kit you are going to build. If it is an all built up design, the techniques are the same, just on a larger scale. If it is a composite or sheeted foam wing you may have to learn some new things. One of the biggest things about building a larger model is you need a larger building surface and make sure that it is flat, flat, flat. Any imperfections in your work surface can be built into the airframe. You might also have to get some larger tools than you have used for smaller models. Larger clamps and squares come to mind.

I say if you enjoy building ----- go for it.

[Dennis C]

Conrad maybe you missed this thread. you dont have to build the 42% but tony has a 35% 260.

http://www.flyinggiants.com/forums/s...ead.php?t=6165

[SleepyC]

Conrad, the Dalton 35% is a great bird.
I'm currently building one.

Just as you, before this bird, i have built a pile of .60 - .90 planes, but nothing any bigger (well I built 1/2 of a 33% GP extra.. but I didn't complete it, so I don't count it)

The bigger planes seem easier... just measure 2 times cut once.

My plane probably won't be a flying piece of art like the BBW or Tony Russo's builds... but I think it will pretty straight,,, and I'm having a ball!

[aerowiz]

well i know that a plane you build will 9 times out of 10 fly better than an arf. the covering will most probably look better too but

1 the arf's are starting to look and fly pretty good.
2 do you have the time to devote to a build project?
3 do you have the space to build a big plane?
4 do the sums and once you paid for the kit and glues and covering etc they pretty much line up.

the big plus for me and building a plane is i can personalise it so i am not flying what everyone else has.
what am i flying at the moment? a 35% aviation model yak arf (its a pretty good plane too) see no 3 in the above list.


aerowiz.

[Flyfalcons]

If you are just getting started in IMAC, any reasonably straight plane will do, whether it be kit, arf, wood, or composite. Find a plane to get your feet wet with and observe at the contests which airplane you'd like to advance with. Especially in the lower classes, it's all about who puts the time in practicing and trimming, not who has the best professionally built airplane.

[aeromel]

hi guys well i think is very interesting to built your own plane ...because we appreciate what we do with our hands and what cost us a lot of dedication ...i mean i`m a girl and i`m learning who to fly a trainer but before that i started building a trainer that my boyfriend gave to me as a gift...right now i`m almost finishing it and i really feel very proud of myself and i like it more than the other trainer i have thas was an arf trainer...
if you want to built it go on i recomended it to you...but it``s not easy and you`ll need a lot of patience... good luck!!!

[Highlights]

Arf's :starting to look and fly good? C'mon, the market today is so competetive that with a little research you will find an amazingly cost effective alternative to the exotic pro builds out there.And with exceptional quality. I have seen some kit built planes that are a disaster.Just because it is home built does not mean it is going to be any better or as good as todays arfs. I am a professional in the building and fabricating business. I build very expensive furniture grade items for million dollar custom homes. What I am trying to get at is that you must enjoy building an rc plane before you embark upon the task. Personally I can't afford the time expendature involved in building my own plane anymore. Maybe that will change again sometime down the road. There definitely is a pride in creating your own plane. That is for sure. I especially dislike keeping up on maintaining the perfect complection of that "Pro built" plane.I dislike even more letting those flawless looks go. One thing is to build for someone else. For my own use however,I feel I get more bang for the buck if it is an arf. It is nice to have not too much invested into something that you are going to huck. Enough time is spent just to get an arf airborne I don't need to add to the pucker factor by knowing I spent several hundred hours on a project.
Plug and play baby. No stress. For now I just want to fly. Maybe down the road I will get a kit to screw around with as a retirement project. Something to tinker with in the garage when I no longer have to make money for a living.

Some of those arfs are very nice.

[Neogenesis]

I'll put in my .02 here

I dislike ARF's for the following reasons....I can plunk a bunch of cash into a project...and one unforeseen glue joint missing it's glue can flush it all down the can because of someone else's carelessness. "H9 Suk" I've also found that within a season or two...that ARF will not look near as nice as a kit build...again if done properly. They just don't hold up as long or as good as one that I would build. Mind you I'm also the one that when buying a ARF wouldn't touch a pre-hinged model. It's just too critical to the plane if someone didn't use enough glue on the hinges. I prefer to do it myself.


Neo

[gareth.ky]

If you have the desire to build then build. That IS the hobby, flying is a sport. There are far more people that play tennis than make rackets, nothing wrong with that. The value of the kit is in the enjoyment of the build, not in the rarity of the final product.

If you do build just make a deal with yourself: When the model is done Fly it Like You Stole It!