Where Have All The Kits Gone ?
05-26-2009, 07:10 PM
#127
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RE: Where Have All The Kits Gone ?
And I haven't read this whole thing but have read a few references to not having balsa in the future. Is it not being harvested/grown as much any more or what?
05-27-2009, 10:41 PM
#128
RE: Where Have All The Kits Gone ?
No, I have it all in my house
......seriously, Balsa is being eaten up by other industries - those giant wind farms for one - those blades I've heard are made of balsa and I know oil tankers use balsa to line the hull for instillation....not much left for some 'old farts' like me 
......seriously, Balsa is being eaten up by other industries - those giant wind farms for one - those blades I've heard are made of balsa and I know oil tankers use balsa to line the hull for instillation....not much left for some 'old farts' like me
05-28-2009, 09:37 PM
#129
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RE: Where Have All The Kits Gone ?
ak models has some pretty decent kits they also do laser cutting for a resonable price,all you have to do is send him your design and he will cut the parts for you.
05-28-2009, 11:24 PM
#130
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05-29-2009, 09:23 AM
#131
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RE: Where Have All The Kits Gone ?
think he ment Master Assembler.....that's funny.
ORIGINAL: dredwards
Idid run into a fellow not too long ago who claimed to be a master builder. He said this as he was looking at a scratch built plane Ihad made. So Iasked him how he came to be qualified as a master builder. He replaied "Because I've successfully built and flow, and built for sale, 12 ARFs in the last 4 years" He said this with a straight face! I couldn't let it go so Iasked to help me out and tell me the difference between C-grain and A-grain balsa and when to use which grain type. His answer was "balsa is balsa, you can use them interchangeably". I just smiled
and went flying.
Dale
Idid run into a fellow not too long ago who claimed to be a master builder. He said this as he was looking at a scratch built plane Ihad made. So Iasked him how he came to be qualified as a master builder. He replaied "Because I've successfully built and flow, and built for sale, 12 ARFs in the last 4 years" He said this with a straight face! I couldn't let it go so Iasked to help me out and tell me the difference between C-grain and A-grain balsa and when to use which grain type. His answer was "balsa is balsa, you can use them interchangeably". I just smiled
and went flying.Dale
05-29-2009, 09:27 AM
#132
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RE: Where Have All The Kits Gone ?
You and I think alike on this matter.same time building but not yet a "Master" But let's look on the bright side....we more than likly can build better than when we started 40 yeras ago?
ORIGINAL: sebo
I've been building for 40 years and don't consider myself a master builder, but I sure enjoy gluing those sticks together.
I've been building for 40 years and don't consider myself a master builder, but I sure enjoy gluing those sticks together.
05-29-2009, 09:29 AM
#133
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RE: Where Have All The Kits Gone ?
Or at least offer the option to us. Great Idea I think
ORIGINAL: JimO
If they are making the ARF's why not throw the wood in the box and let us do the assembly as we see fit. Forgot all the hardware as we throw most of it out and just supply the wood, cowls, windshield and landing gear.
If they are making the ARF's why not throw the wood in the box and let us do the assembly as we see fit. Forgot all the hardware as we throw most of it out and just supply the wood, cowls, windshield and landing gear.
I too have been building for 38 years and love to stick the wood together.
JimO
05-30-2009, 09:44 AM
#135
RE: Where Have All The Kits Gone ?
Building from a kit or scratch building is a skill and that skill has to be practiced - and after building a dozen or so ARF's, I can tell I'm a bit rusty when I'm working on my latest kit - so I'd better go and "practice, practice, practice"
06-07-2009, 07:48 AM
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RE: Where Have All The Kits Have Gone !
ORIGINAL: MinnFlyer
I'll tell you what, why don't we use this thread for people to list KIT suppliers.
I'll tell you what, why don't we use this thread for people to list KIT suppliers.
for scale warbirds (mainly)
06-18-2009, 09:39 PM
#138
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RE: Where Have All The Kits Have Gone !
06-27-2009, 09:22 AM
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RE: Where Have All The Kits Gone ?
Hey Sebo, I see you have a Royal Zero kit in that pile. I have an old Royal F4 Phantom but it's missing some things. Most important are the plans!!! I could make everything else...
Other kits I have yet to build are:
Sig Cobra
Sig Morrisey Bravo (90% complete)
Great Planes Decathalon
Great Planes Extra 300 (Framed up but uncovered)
Tailskid, There's something about scratch building that gave me even more satisfaction than kit building. Starting with nothing more than a set of plans (NO INSTRUCTIONS)
and a stack of various planks and sticks of balsa. Then having the finished plane on the field with a crowd around and the only one of it's kind in the club...Priceless.
Other kits I have yet to build are:
Sig Cobra
Sig Morrisey Bravo (90% complete)
Great Planes Decathalon
Great Planes Extra 300 (Framed up but uncovered)
Tailskid, There's something about scratch building that gave me even more satisfaction than kit building. Starting with nothing more than a set of plans (NO INSTRUCTIONS)
and a stack of various planks and sticks of balsa. Then having the finished plane on the field with a crowd around and the only one of it's kind in the club...Priceless.
06-27-2009, 02:15 PM
#141
RE: Where Have All The Kits Gone ?
The best part of having that Royal Zero is that I have 2 sets of plans, 2 canopies.........well, 2 of everything except the kit.
Did that so that I would have replacement parts if (when) I crashed. Even have the correct spinner (just one of those).
I guess that I bought the kit in the mid 1980's. Have never taken anything out of the box. Paid big bucks for it back then..........somewhere around 150 plus extra for all the spare parts. I think the spinner was around 50 and the plans were 20. That was a lot of money back then. Even have mechanical retracts for it.
Did that so that I would have replacement parts if (when) I crashed. Even have the correct spinner (just one of those).
I guess that I bought the kit in the mid 1980's. Have never taken anything out of the box. Paid big bucks for it back then..........somewhere around 150 plus extra for all the spare parts. I think the spinner was around 50 and the plans were 20. That was a lot of money back then. Even have mechanical retracts for it.
06-27-2009, 05:02 PM
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RE: Where Have All The Kits Gone ?
Sweet! I love the zero. Just one of those warbirds that has great lines...
I usually try to save the die cut sheets that the parts come out of so I can use them for templates.
of course if I take the kit parts and trace each part....oh, that is 'bad'......
07-09-2009, 01:27 PM
#145
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RE: Where Have All The Kits Gone ?
If anyone knows of or has a Beechcraft Musketeer kit or plans, please PM me. I 'am also looking for a Fairchild 45 and a Bellanca Cruiseair as well.
Thanks,
Ray
Thanks,
Ray
07-16-2009, 02:26 PM
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RE: Where Have All The Kits Gone ?
07-20-2009, 09:26 PM
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RE: Where Have All The Kits Gone ?
Where have all the Kits gone
Good question when some one come on the E net and takes years to build a kit when it should take months. Hey we want our plane yesterday not tomarrow
out of the box ready to crash and buy anew. Detail They all look the same in a trash bag.
I love Kits and scratch building , that is part of the hobby. I still have to find out what loading one in the truck crashing it and heading to the PC has to do with the HOBBY
Good question when some one come on the E net and takes years to build a kit when it should take months. Hey we want our plane yesterday not tomarrow
out of the box ready to crash and buy anew. Detail They all look the same in a trash bag.I love Kits and scratch building , that is part of the hobby. I still have to find out what loading one in the truck crashing it and heading to the PC has to do with the HOBBY
07-23-2009, 10:42 PM
#150
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RE: Where Have All The Kits Gone ?
First,I am glad for all the sources posted ..Second,I love both ARF's and KITS.I will always have a kit going whether from a set of plans or a mfg.I think the quality of ARF's since the Lanier days have dramatically improved.and how's kidding who??the hobby has exploded with so much more diversity and intewrest than ever before.If your satisfaction comes from building a model you can still do it.I fly balsa and arf's .of course the balsa kits are stronger etc.and yes take long periods of time but its theraputic for me and challenging as well.but even some ARF's are good and fly very well.