Where have all the builders gone
01-29-2016, 06:32 PM
#1101
I'd be disappointed if you didn't have airplanes stuff spread all over. I would expect that you'd be like a lot of us. Airplane stuff everywhere. I once had a Walt Moucha PJ bipe on my dining room table...........................for over a year.
01-29-2016, 07:26 PM
#1103
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Tom,
You are correct sir, I can't wait until the next swap meet! Retirement is a ways off yet, Good Lord willing... I do enjoy building very much. Learned alot over the years, learn something new everyday from it.
Sean P
You are correct sir, I can't wait until the next swap meet! Retirement is a ways off yet, Good Lord willing... I do enjoy building very much. Learned alot over the years, learn something new everyday from it.
Sean P
01-30-2016, 06:01 AM
#1104
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As for me I would rather build than fly which probably why I barely can fly after 35 years of building. The challenge of construction is satisfying to the mind. It blocks out the outside world and is totally relaxing. When it does not matter when you finish you are in another world. When you finish and finish it and fly it there is proud moment. Sounds kind of stupid in this fast paced world of today but maybe that's why it still appeals to me. I believe that the older we get it the more we should challenge our brain.
01-30-2016, 03:29 PM
#1105
As for me I would rather build than fly which probably why I barely can fly after 35 years of building. The challenge of construction is satisfying to the mind. It blocks out the outside world and is totally relaxing. When it does not matter when you finish you are in another world. When you finish and finish it and fly it there is proud moment. Sounds kind of stupid in this fast paced world of today but maybe that's why it still appeals to me. I believe that the older we get it the more we should challenge our brain.
I can't think of a better way to express it. Those who get it. Get it. Those who don't understand this, probably never will.
01-30-2016, 05:41 PM
#1107
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As for me I would rather build than fly which probably why I barely can fly after 35 years of building. The challenge of construction is satisfying to the mind. It blocks out the outside world and is totally relaxing. When it does not matter when you finish you are in another world. When you finish and finish it and fly it there is proud moment. Sounds kind of stupid in this fast paced world of today but maybe that's why it still appeals to me. I believe that the older we get it the more we should challenge our brain.
02-01-2016, 05:59 AM
#1108
My son who moved from Frankfurt Germany to Chicago last year called me with a great idea I hope I can swing. He wants us to come up at the end of July for vacation so we call take the wives to Oshkosh this year. Neither one of us has ever been there it sounds like fun!
02-01-2016, 08:56 AM
#1109
My son who moved from Frankfurt Germany to Chicago last year called me with a great idea I hope I can swing. He wants us to come up at the end of July for vacation so we call take the wives to Oshkosh this year. Neither one of us has ever been there it sounds like fun!
02-01-2016, 12:10 PM
#1110
My son who moved from Frankfurt Germany to Chicago last year called me with a great idea I hope I can swing. He wants us to come up at the end of July for vacation so we call take the wives to Oshkosh this year. Neither one of us has ever been there it sounds like fun!
02-02-2016, 10:35 AM
#1111
First time I went to EAA, I met Pappy Boyington. He was there for his book signing tour. Had I known, I would have brought the book I had just finished reading with me. Funny, he had NO resemblance to Robert Conrad.
02-07-2016, 07:50 PM
#1112
With over 800 pages and more than 16,000 threads in the builder's forum, I think we're ok. As an aside, I met a fella at the lhs just last week. He told me he has been flying R/C for seven years yet he didn't know what an airfoil was or even why airplanes fly! To me, this is the real problem with ARF's and RTF's. These people know nothing about aviation or aeronautics. He didn't even know why airplanes need tail planes. Yikes! This is scaring the snot out of me.
02-08-2016, 07:10 AM
#1113
Join Date: Apr 2008
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I think that those of us who started with free flight models learned a great deal about aeronautics which has stood us in good stead with R/C.
Interesting that the man who had been flying ARTFs for seven years did not know what a tailplane was for. I take it that this meeting did not take place in the USA where a tailplane is usually called a stabiliser!
Interesting that the man who had been flying ARTFs for seven years did not know what a tailplane was for. I take it that this meeting did not take place in the USA where a tailplane is usually called a stabiliser!
02-08-2016, 07:57 AM
#1114
I think that those of us who started with free flight models learned a great deal about aeronautics which has stood us in good stead with R/C.
Interesting that the man who had been flying ARTFs for seven years did not know what a tailplane was for. I take it that this meeting did not take place in the USA where a tailplane is usually called a stabiliser!
Interesting that the man who had been flying ARTFs for seven years did not know what a tailplane was for. I take it that this meeting did not take place in the USA where a tailplane is usually called a stabiliser!
02-08-2016, 08:41 AM
#1116
My Feedback: (9)
With over 800 pages and more than 16,000 threads in the builder's forum, I think we're ok. As an aside, I met a fella at the lhs just last week. He told me he has been flying R/C for seven years yet he didn't know what an airfoil was or even why airplanes fly! To me, this is the real problem with ARF's and RTF's. These people know nothing about aviation or aeronautics. He didn't even know why airplanes need tail planes. Yikes! This is scaring the snot out of me.
I have to laugh though my son and I fly together, some would say we have a comedy act that contains flying. he is one of those that believes there is nothing to building these toys, though he is trying. he's trying because I tell him the ARF and foamy will be gone some day, and he see's that market shrinking every year. anyway back on topic, we will bust each other all the time we are at the field, everyone else laughs and every now and then I get a FU old man and its usually because I make a comment to one of my builder friends and he takes it as a shot at him. sort of a bonus for me, cause I did not through my net in his direction but caught him anyway.
more importantly I've noticed the ARF/foamie guys know it all. many times I get ask questions at the field by a foamie flier, the questions in this hobby are not simple yes/no answers and they tell me im wrong, I don't know what im talking about, My son is laughing in the background of coarse.
so what we have been doing the last two years is I send them to my son. he speaks their language right down to the cocky attitude. they like talking to him. sometimes he will bring them out and stand behind me and he will talk them through what im doing and why, I just fly. now he has a number of foamie buddies that would like to build, himself included. my plan again is only speak when spoken too. my son loves that, taking jabs at dad and he does not retort back.
the first hurdle is they want to learn to build on the plane that is driving them to building. just like fishing they are nibbling around the bate.
Joe
02-08-2016, 08:59 AM
#1117
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Check me in as builder
Here's my story/rant/thoughts
Built and flew heavy in early 90's as a mid twenties kid who grew up building plastic models. This is my second go around in the hobby with a 10-12 break between. Love to build. In my first round, a good friend expert pilot taught me how to fly. I loved/love building mine as well as his then just to see the creations fly. As has been stated prior conversations, tough to find time to build as life's demands and responsibilities take over. I can tell you after my break getting back into it, I LOVE IT STILL. The get away, escape, creation and appreciation given by those who can appreciate a build from a kit.
with that said, I learned that in this modern world of ARFs, you can buy an ARF cheaper than building one from a kit. Yes, you will get a plane that looks like identical to your buddies.
Yes, you can be at the field almost instantly with an ARF these days.
However, it is not your creation by your own gifted hands.
I guess I would sum up the hobby and types within 3 groups:
Those who love to fly
Those who love to build
Those who have a happy median with flying and building.
So with the builders whereabouts being questioned, same goes the kits. In my first round, ARFs were junk and kits were all the rage. Multiple large companies as well as many mom and pops companies making some really neat kits. Those are the ones folks like to sell now as rare and hard to find. A few short years ago, they were main stream.
So I do not have the answer. I want to say I am back in it helping to preserve the dying breed. My youngest who is 13 is getting some great exposure and hopefully appreciation. I figured as well as those with the club I recently joined. Yep, predominantly ARF flyers with exception of "the silver hair" crowd. Doing my part to influence even though I do not consider myself in the "silver hair" crowd yet. Just mid life.
I guess enough for now.
ps. I never kept a large masses of kits. What I do have that I have begun gathering are boxes of sticks (former kits like Nosen, ACE, Sig, Precedent,Lanier, Goldberg) that make great flying birds.
Here's my story/rant/thoughts
Built and flew heavy in early 90's as a mid twenties kid who grew up building plastic models. This is my second go around in the hobby with a 10-12 break between. Love to build. In my first round, a good friend expert pilot taught me how to fly. I loved/love building mine as well as his then just to see the creations fly. As has been stated prior conversations, tough to find time to build as life's demands and responsibilities take over. I can tell you after my break getting back into it, I LOVE IT STILL. The get away, escape, creation and appreciation given by those who can appreciate a build from a kit.
with that said, I learned that in this modern world of ARFs, you can buy an ARF cheaper than building one from a kit. Yes, you will get a plane that looks like identical to your buddies.
Yes, you can be at the field almost instantly with an ARF these days.
However, it is not your creation by your own gifted hands.
I guess I would sum up the hobby and types within 3 groups:
Those who love to fly
Those who love to build
Those who have a happy median with flying and building.
So with the builders whereabouts being questioned, same goes the kits. In my first round, ARFs were junk and kits were all the rage. Multiple large companies as well as many mom and pops companies making some really neat kits. Those are the ones folks like to sell now as rare and hard to find. A few short years ago, they were main stream.
So I do not have the answer. I want to say I am back in it helping to preserve the dying breed. My youngest who is 13 is getting some great exposure and hopefully appreciation. I figured as well as those with the club I recently joined. Yep, predominantly ARF flyers with exception of "the silver hair" crowd. Doing my part to influence even though I do not consider myself in the "silver hair" crowd yet. Just mid life.
I guess enough for now.
ps. I never kept a large masses of kits. What I do have that I have begun gathering are boxes of sticks (former kits like Nosen, ACE, Sig, Precedent,Lanier, Goldberg) that make great flying birds.
02-08-2016, 02:30 PM
#1119
Hey, Ragwing. Put me in that third category. I love to build, love to fly. These are the things that bring me real peace. Remember; if you didn't build it, it's not really yours-- Tim Allen
02-08-2016, 03:10 PM
#1120
The plane was built a few years ago from a Sig kit (1/4 Scale).
In the last few years I have become interested in metal working and started adding some upgrades to my Cub. First came a set of spring struts modeled after a set available for a full scale. Just today I finished up a set of aluminum wheels with ball bearings for the Cub. Usually I do so many touch-n-goes searching for that perfect touchdown that I wear out the wheels rapidly.
The struts can be purchased... But why buy when you can make!
SunDevilPilot
In the last few years I have become interested in metal working and started adding some upgrades to my Cub. First came a set of spring struts modeled after a set available for a full scale. Just today I finished up a set of aluminum wheels with ball bearings for the Cub. Usually I do so many touch-n-goes searching for that perfect touchdown that I wear out the wheels rapidly.
The struts can be purchased... But why buy when you can make!
SunDevilPilot
02-08-2016, 05:23 PM
#1122
Join Date: Jun 2014
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Bought two kits new (not NOS) recently - A Scoundrel from SelectHobbies, and a Pat Tritle Bamboo Bomber (Cexxna UC-78, Songbird), which is not like me because I am cheap(!) I have been scooping up kits from eBay and Craigslist. In a lot of cases I find an old kit I like but after buying it find one all built, covered, with an engine for not a lot of money.
Get my balsa from HobbyLobby, Michaels and AC Moore, now, not the local hobby shop : (
There is a HobbyLobby pretty much next to my local supermarket so I bring up the 40% off coupon on my phone and go in and buy one piece a day. They're onto me - ha.
I like group build challenges to motivate me - not that I hit many deadlines, these days.
Also, outerzone is a fave site of mine - paging thru over 7,000 scanned plans.
Get my balsa from HobbyLobby, Michaels and AC Moore, now, not the local hobby shop : (
There is a HobbyLobby pretty much next to my local supermarket so I bring up the 40% off coupon on my phone and go in and buy one piece a day. They're onto me - ha.
I like group build challenges to motivate me - not that I hit many deadlines, these days.
Also, outerzone is a fave site of mine - paging thru over 7,000 scanned plans.
02-08-2016, 06:33 PM
#1123
I also have been hoarding kits: Sig Ryan STA, Pica Bucker Jungmeister, Ace Staudacher S-300, Sterling Waco SRE, Sig Kadet Senior, several from Dumas, a couple from Steven's Aero, and a few I can't remember off hand. That oughtta keep me off the bar stools for awhile! I am also working on a ( don't shoot me) H9 Christen Eagle II. Sorry, but it's just too darn pretty. and it's just the right size for my Supertigre G90. Besides, I would never attempt that 9-color scheme myself! Hey it's my hobby (money) so I can do what I want! lol
02-08-2016, 10:20 PM
#1124
Thread Starter
Hard to believe this thread is still going, if a guy could get a following like this on his build there might be more web builders sharing the wealth.
As far as where have they gone, well many have passed away, others have just quite the sight builds and are still building, other words the holes are not being filled by new builders. One might get the idea that ARF's are king, just look at the following of putting a plane together, "hey man, I'm building an ARF", and they come like ducks to water.
Fact is it's a fun and rewarding hobby, more so for the builders, not much pride in a ARF but probably just as much fun. It's all about having fun and doing something the whole family can do together if they choose or just hang out with the guys flying and chewing the rag. "What a life".
LG
As far as where have they gone, well many have passed away, others have just quite the sight builds and are still building, other words the holes are not being filled by new builders. One might get the idea that ARF's are king, just look at the following of putting a plane together, "hey man, I'm building an ARF", and they come like ducks to water.
Fact is it's a fun and rewarding hobby, more so for the builders, not much pride in a ARF but probably just as much fun. It's all about having fun and doing something the whole family can do together if they choose or just hang out with the guys flying and chewing the rag. "What a life".
LG
02-09-2016, 03:50 AM
#1125
Hey Leroy! Hard to believe there's still this many of us around?
Yeah, we're hard to get rid of, thankfully.
Yeah, we're hard to get rid of, thankfully.