stallspeed

Still plenty of kits available, as well as plans. I'm left asking, where have all the builders gone?

flyoz

My Feedback: (7)

Last 2 years built 1/4 Cub, TF Cessna 182, Auster, + rebuilt a Dragon Lady twice (3rd about to happen), rebuilt a BDog, built a bunch of ARFs.
It really helps your building if your a lousy pilot....doh!

Maybe everyone is still flying their original builds??

peternj

My Feedback: (5)

Over the last few years built Royal B17, Carl Goldberg Ultimate, Kyosho Shrike, 4*40... Repaired some club member's ARFs and helping two younger members build their first kits, electric but still building so I'm happy

FlyerInOKC

My Feedback: (6)

We're hanging out over on the 50+, Where have all the builders gone?" and scale threads!

acdii

+1

SIG still has a bunch of great kits. Working on #4 now, #5 is still in the plastic, a Citabria.

stallspeed

Right you are about Sig. I just ordered another Four Star 20 just for fun. I already built one and love it so much that I thought, lets do it again! I recommend adding a top hatch(very easy), and you have a perfect sport parkflyer! I have built many Sig planes and they have all been awesome! Love the Hog Bipe!!! Thank you Sig Mfg.

I-fly-any-and-all

My Feedback: (1)

You've built a royal b-17 eh! Ive got several royal kits, some ive purchased built, some new in box waiting.

FlyerInOKC

My Feedback: (6)

There was a good B-17 movie on Get TV last night and repeating Thursday called "The War Lover". 1962 Steve McQueen, Robert Wagner, and a very young Michael Crawford. They has some great footage of a B-17 buzzing the airfield at the absolute minimum!

acdii

The pilot who flew the B-17 something like 10 feet above the ground got killed flying an A-26 in an airshow. Shame, he was a GOOD pilot.

FlyWheel

Builder here! In fact if that's all I did I would be happy. Building an old Skimmer kit right now, in fact. LONG LIVE THE BUILDERS!

Telemaster Sales UK

Of course what has happened since the arrival of ARTFs is that a number of Lazer cutters have sprung up so now if you'd always wanted to build that Bristol Bolingbroke but didn't fancy cutting out all of the ribs and formers you just send the plan to a Laser cutter and, in exchange for a few drinking vouchers, you've got a one-off kit.

scale only 4 me

My Feedback: (158)

So true,, you may not be able to walk into a hobby shop and browse shelves and shelves of kits like we once did,,, but there are plenty of ways to build if you really want to.

spaceworm

Hi, I just scored a real builders kit from the early 70's in an estate sale.
It is a C. A. P. P-47 Kit (Holmes design I think) partially assembled (a long time ago), in. I have the plans, although they are a bit fragile. The fuse is built and sheeted. The wing is built, but not sheeted. I am missing the control surfaces in the built up parts. It has Wing lead-screw retracts with shock absorbing gear legs, and a nice glass cowl. Also a retracting tail wheel gear, and nice pilot figure. Pictures to follow.
I plan to complete this model and fly it with a Saito 120 FS. Is this too much engine? I have a Saito .56 and a Saito 1.00, and a YS 120, but the 1.00 and YS 1.20 are in other planes right now. I would rather use a 4 stroke, but I also have Several .61s, including a Kraft K61, and a Merco .61. I also have a Super Tigre .90 and an ASP 1.09. I would appreciate any inputs on both the plane and engine recommendations.

I would also like to get better copy of the plans as the ones I have are folded and brittle and darkened. Anyone have a set they could loan me to copy, or to copy just parts of the plans I still need to build on?

Thank you.
Sincerely, Richard
Cub Brotherhood #187; Sig 1/4 (Koverall/dope), H9 100 inch (Gen 1) (Solartex/?), GB Anniv Cub (NIB)
Club Saito #635; Saito 56, 100, 120abc, 130T, 180
Kadet Brotherhood #96; Mk 1 Kadet, Kadet Junior,
Midwest Citabria, Bipe Stik
Sig Kougar, Sig 1/4 Cub, Sig 1/4 Spacewalker II
Spitfire Brotherhood #252
Carl Goldberg Tiger Club Member # 81
YS F 120

I-fly-any-and-all

My Feedback: (1)

for plans try www.outerzone.co.uk

acdii

The wood is not the problem, nor is the cutting, its getting the hardware now. Very limited selection at most hobby shops now. Would be nice to find an online wholesaler.

LarsL

What do you mean by hardware? Do you mean screws, nuts, bolts, washers? Or do you mean clevises, cables/pushrods, hinges, etc.? If it is the former, there are a number of places to go, one of which I use is RTL Fasteners. If it is the latter, Dubro, Horizon, Tower will have what you need. I can't imagine that there is a problem with hardware supply. Lastly, when you say wholesaler, are you going to be buying product (in large quantities) that you will then retail or are you expecting to use it for yourself? While I would like to get it, I wouldn't expect to get wholesale pricing on something like hinges if I was only buying 50 - 100. If I was buying 1000 of them, then I might expect it.

Lars

FlyerInOKC

My Feedback: (6)

I keep download catalogs from DuBro and Sullivan and have Great Planes and Hobbico sites bookmarked to make finding hardware and assorted bits and pieces easier to find. My LHS stocks a lot of their stuff and his wholesaler gets his orders to him in 3 days from order so it woks well if he has to order me something. I call him up give him the number and description and boom it shows up at his door. He usually orders 3 times a week.

acdii

Should have said Bulk not wholesale. Getting the clevis, pushrods, hinges, etc. in bulk would be nice. I need to get an order in for the nuts and bolts, finding that I go through them quite a bit in mods, and they are expensive from the hardware stores and the LHS.

scale only 4 me

My Feedback: (158)

I use for Nuts/bolts http://rtlfasteners.com/
other hardware http://www.sdshobby.com/ (plan ahead,shipping is typically about 10 days)

good luck

charlie111

I Bought an Aeronca Comet Kit on Ebay 54" Span Rubber band Powered with 10 inch Prop. Kit is complete with Plans! Don't think I'll ever Built it But it could be Electric powered R/C If anyones Interested?

trainermaster80

My Feedback: (5)

There are kits out there for sale. I have some @ 86 years i wont get around to build. Priced less than discount houses kits. All nib.KITS INVENTORY PAGE 1 2015 pdf.doc.pdf

[email protected] if any interest in these kits i have been selling about one or two per week.
thanks for any interest

flyoz

My Feedback: (7)

Actually Charlie 111 You bring up an excellent point . With all the old Veron,Comet and other free flight, Duration powered kits etc its a wonderful opportunity to add modern electronics and motors, Cut Ailerons etc.
This way you get the fun of building and modifying as well as some delightful scale models.

[email protected]

I've been doing business with Covina Hobby in Covina Ca. They still have a nice selection of kits, Pegasus Hobby in Lavern Ca. is another good one.

FlyerInOKC

My Feedback: (6)

I was reading the August issue of MA and saw an ad for BMJR Models Miss America 1/2 it and several others on there site are very tempting! I see most of their airplanes are well under $100, the Miss America 1/2 with a 42" span is only $86 for the kit.

http://www.bmjrmodels.com/

southern pride

Does anyone happen to know where I can come across an H1-Racer kit around 80" or so??