Where have all the builders gone
04-26-2015, 06:21 PM
#753
My Feedback: (1)
G.B., OK thanks. In the mid to late 50's when I was 12 or 13 I built a 6' ws Cleveland Models Condor sailplane. It was much bigger than I was at that time! That's the only Cleveland model I ever built. Shortly after that I discovered H.S. sports, girls, beer, and race cars, but not all at the same time.
I have a feeling this old partial kit is a "black hole" of time and money. The Luscombe is going to the back burner, up on the shelf, and I will move on to a more viable project. Thanks for the reply.
I have a feeling this old partial kit is a "black hole" of time and money. The Luscombe is going to the back burner, up on the shelf, and I will move on to a more viable project. Thanks for the reply.
04-28-2015, 07:38 AM
#757
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Blackstock, SC
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Building is probably the only thing keeping me in this hobby. I love getting full of saw dust, be it balsa, pine, fir, poplar, maple, walnut, oak, mahogany, teak*... I have always loved working with wood, ever since my dad started letting me help him in his garage workshop (he built fine furniture, both as a hobby, and professionally when it became necessary). When I was in school my favorite classes were the shop classes, and I attended everyone they offered (yes, even drafting and jewelry)! I rarely ever get out and do any actual flying. Hell, If I were good enough at it I would probably be perfectly happy just building planes for others.
I think the main reason why we as builders have become archaic is that people, especially here in America, have just gotten lazy. They want everything done for them at the cheapest cost possible. That's why all the industry has gone to third world countries, and why shop class has become an extinct species, at least here in the US. God help this country should their ever be another world war, no one here would know how to make the weaponry and somehow I doubt our enemy would let us import it!
OK, this is me now; getting off my soapbox.
*I've worked them all, and more!
I think the main reason why we as builders have become archaic is that people, especially here in America, have just gotten lazy. They want everything done for them at the cheapest cost possible. That's why all the industry has gone to third world countries, and why shop class has become an extinct species, at least here in the US. God help this country should their ever be another world war, no one here would know how to make the weaponry and somehow I doubt our enemy would let us import it!
OK, this is me now; getting off my soapbox.
*I've worked them all, and more!
Last edited by FlyWheel; 04-28-2015 at 07:42 AM.
04-29-2015, 08:45 PM
#762
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Measnes, La Creuse, France.
Posts: 2,129
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Moving house tomorrow. Staying at my mate's place for a few days then I'm off to La Belle France. Still lots of packing to be done so I'll bid farewell for now and see you all again once I'm settled on the other side.
05-13-2015, 03:36 PM
#771
My Feedback: (50)
I will never stop building, i do own a few arfs just for kicks but my main interest is scale and the arfs don't cut it,
what manufactures call scale is a joke but the modeling public eats it up and try to defend it so to each his own.
I was convinced a few years ago to make a kit of a giant scale 46% christen eagle as there was no arf that looked good enough for me.
the project took 2 years and had fiberglass parts made,when all was complete all the so called builders that could not wait for it to be completed disappeared.
i guess the cost of parts scared them away,there is a thread or 2 in the forums here and there about that venture,
so i build for me,i still get offended when i show up at the field with one of my birds and i am asked whose arf is that.
what manufactures call scale is a joke but the modeling public eats it up and try to defend it so to each his own.
I was convinced a few years ago to make a kit of a giant scale 46% christen eagle as there was no arf that looked good enough for me.
the project took 2 years and had fiberglass parts made,when all was complete all the so called builders that could not wait for it to be completed disappeared.
i guess the cost of parts scared them away,there is a thread or 2 in the forums here and there about that venture,
so i build for me,i still get offended when i show up at the field with one of my birds and i am asked whose arf is that.
05-14-2015, 05:54 AM
#774
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: los angeles, CA
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For your self
I will never stop building, i do own a few arfs just for kicks but my main interest is scale and the arfs don't cut it,
what manufactures call scale is a joke but the modeling public eats it up and try to defend it so to each his own.
I was convinced a few years ago to make a kit of a giant scale 46% christen eagle as there was no arf that looked good enough for me.
the project took 2 years and had fiberglass parts made,when all was complete all the so called builders that could not wait for it to be completed disappeared.
i guess the cost of parts scared them away,there is a thread or 2 in the forums here and there about that venture,
so i build for me,i still get offended when i show up at the field with one of my birds and i am asked whose arf is that.
what manufactures call scale is a joke but the modeling public eats it up and try to defend it so to each his own.
I was convinced a few years ago to make a kit of a giant scale 46% christen eagle as there was no arf that looked good enough for me.
the project took 2 years and had fiberglass parts made,when all was complete all the so called builders that could not wait for it to be completed disappeared.
i guess the cost of parts scared them away,there is a thread or 2 in the forums here and there about that venture,
so i build for me,i still get offended when i show up at the field with one of my birds and i am asked whose arf is that.
one one things building from scratch to satisfy your acceptance of scale and or detail shows....it shows why the ARF builders don't put that kind of detail into their planes.
I myself have build two from scratch entirely molded sailplanes and my latest keeps showing me there is no way I could make money building these planes for a living. Even with wealthy buyers, it is just not economical to build them for sale.
Here is the number one fuselage pulled from the molds.
So like you I build for myself.
05-14-2015, 06:33 AM
#775
Giantfly....
one one things building from scratch to satisfy your acceptance of scale and or detail shows....it shows why the ARF builders don't put that kind of detail into their planes.
I myself have build two from scratch entirely molded sailplanes and my latest keeps showing me there is no way I could make money building these planes for a living. Even with wealthy buyers, it is just not economical to build them for sale.
Here is the number one fuselage pulled from the molds.
So like you I build for myself.
one one things building from scratch to satisfy your acceptance of scale and or detail shows....it shows why the ARF builders don't put that kind of detail into their planes.
I myself have build two from scratch entirely molded sailplanes and my latest keeps showing me there is no way I could make money building these planes for a living. Even with wealthy buyers, it is just not economical to build them for sale.
Here is the number one fuselage pulled from the molds.
So like you I build for myself.