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How long does it take you to build a kit? - 2/11/2004 1:18 PM   
fprintf



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From: Cheshire, CT, USA
Status: offline 		Couple of questions from a newbie balsa builder:

1. How long does it take you, on average, to build from a kit? Use hours, days or months as appropriate.
2. Do you consider yourself a slow builder or a quick builder?

Obviously these questions vary by the size of the kit, the complexity of the build etc. but I am just looking for a guideline.

The reason for my question? I am about to get my first kit and trying to figure out how much alone time to schedule (permission to ask) with my spouse over the next few months to get the kit complete. I think I can get away with one to two hours per weekday plus 4-6 hours per weekend. So by using the responses to this question I can estimate whether my plane will be ready by the good flying weather here in Connecticut (April/May).

Thanks!

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RE: How long does it take you to build a kit? - 2/11/2004 1:56 PM   
MTT



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Status: offline 		What kit is it ?

Like you say, how long it takes to complete a kit, depends a lot on the type of model you are building.
I consider myself a fairly quick builder, even so, my Flair Ka8 took me about 4 months to complete.
Currently I am building a Krick 1/4 scale Grunau Baby, by now I am approx. 1 month at it, and I figure probably 1 - 1.5 months more.

This is working on it for approx. 1-2 hrs. per day, a little more on the weekends.
But there are also days on which I don't get to do anything at all on it.
These are relatively rare, however.

Michael


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RE: How long does it take you to build a kit? - 2/11/2004 2:36 PM   
Pale Rider



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Status: offline 		In 1995 I purchased a Great Planes Musatang 40 kit. I am almost to the covering stage! I have obviously put it on the shelf a couple of times.

With an Arf, it usually takes me about 2 weeks. I built another kit for a .15 sized motor called the Crazy Thing and that took about a month. 1 - 2 hours per day, most days I could work on it some days I didn't.

I'm a slow builder, usually when I get to the point of mounting something critical, I just stare at it for a day or two before I get the gumption to actually glue it in place!

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RE: How long does it take you to build a kit? - 2/11/2004 2:56 PM   
fprintf



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From: Cheshire, CT, USA
Status: offline 		In answer to the first question, it is a 115" Rudder-Elevator-Spoiler kit called the Marauder by MMGlidertech http://www.mmglidertech.com/marauder.html. It is a kit that will has good die cutting (close to laser cut w/ new dies) but will still require significant sanding.

I called the Mfr. yesterday and with the shipping delays from CA to CT the plane should be here on Friday. Time to get started compiling all the tools (sanding blocks primarily).

Stuart

< Message edited by fprintf -- 2/11/2004 10:08:19 AM >

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RE: How long does it take you to build a kit? - 2/11/2004 2:57 PM   
tonyc



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Status: offline 		I scratch build. Giant scale stuff. For me scratch building is faster then kit building. I know this sounds wrong, but after you have built a bunch of kits you figure what you like and don"t like.

It takes me 6 months. This is 12 hours on most weekends and 4 hours on week days. Total about 16 hours a week.

Right now I am into two wing airplanes. Just finished an Ultimate, and I am getting ready to cover a Christen Eagle.

tonyc

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RE: How long does it take you to build a kit? - 2/11/2004 3:03 PM   
patternflyer1



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Status: offline 		You should be able to finish a glider in a month if your a quick builder 3 if your not and picky. As for the wife. Well divorce is probably outta the question? lol Um, well this is very addicting. My weekly schedule is like this: Get up at 5, get on rcu, go to work around 7, come home around 5 or 6, eat dinner, go into the shop, work on my planes(I fly gliders and glo) as building is only half the battle with glo planes, upkeep is the other half, come in aroun 10, shower, sleep start again for the rest of the work week. Weekends, charge friday night get up around 5 on satuday, pack, eat, leave for flying, usually end up forgetting something, run back to the house b-4 I get to far, then take the hour trip down to the slope at Los Banos, fly till it gets dark. Sunday same thing but I go to the flying field to fly glo. Actually got to go to the field yesterday(doctors appt day) and put 2 planes together , and wham, I forgot my fuel. I was a little unhappy but laughed it off. Don't forget to take everything!!!!!! lol Anyway, good luck building. Do you know what kit you're getting yet? Where are you going to fly?
Almost forgot to say, my wife is obviously pretty understanding and I don't recommend you try this schedule at home!!! lol

< Message edited by patternflyer1 -- 2/11/2004 7:07:30 AM >

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RE: How long does it take you to build a kit? - 2/11/2004 7:03 PM   
papermache



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Status: offline 		fprintf,
Using approximately your criteria for time useage, it takes me about 2- 3 weeks to frame up a .40 size airplane or 100" sailplane. After that it's about another 1-2 weeks of sanding (a job I admittedly do NOT like) and another week for covering and radio installation. I'd charachterize myself as a cereful builder (some may consider that slow). In other words, I don't hurry.
I also like to give myself time to do other things. A good cross-country skiing day, a folk festival, my girlfriend having a few days off, all cut into my building time. That's life.

papermache

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RE: How long does it take you to build a kit? - 2/11/2004 8:35 PM   
FLYBOY



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Status: offline 		It varys hugely depending on kit and builder. I can build a gentle lady in about 4 to 6 hours total, built a somethin extra in less than a week working a few hours a night and a saturday. They are all different. You will take longer if you haven't built. Reading the instructions takes time. I would plan a month if you work 1 or 2 nights a week and a few hours on the weekend. There is a learning curve there that you have to go through.

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RE: How long does it take you to build a kit? - 2/12/2004 12:17 PM   
nouser


 

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Status: offline 		i'm laughing my head off at Dynodan, i just picked up working on my dynaflite skeeter again, after it sat for 5 years. my house of balsa P51 has sat almost done for 12 years, but since my son hit toddler stage, i'm working to get the glider airborn for him. about 2 hours a week. meanwhile working on scratch builts and foam wings. in a rush i can whip something like the skeeter in 2 weekends working while the family is asleep.

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RE: How long does it take you to build a kit? - 2/12/2004 9:43 PM   
O2man



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Status: offline 		My first RC kit was a Dynaflite Piece-O-Cake. It had been 10 years since I had butchered any balsa and I took two months at about 1 hour per day working usually 5 days a week. My Spirit RES 2M took 4months at the same schedule. My Dynaflite Skeeter took 2 weeks---I am getting faster, or the skeeter is easier.

Like Dynodan, I am fussy enough that I stare at somehting that I am unsure about until I work up the courage to just do it. On Dynaflite Bobcat, "just doing it" required that I do the fuse all over again from scratch because I did not stare at the job long enough and ended up building a banana for a fuse.

I suppose if I were pressed, I could now do the Skeeter in a week of evenings, now that I know where I am going with it. The Spirit (with string operated spoilers) would likely take me one or two weeks now. An evening counts as two or three hours of uninterrupted building time.

< Message edited by O2man -- 2/12/2004 1:50:23 PM >

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RE: How long does it take you to build a kit? - 2/13/2004 12:12 AM   
evlwevl-RCU



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Status: offline 		Im personally a slow builder, but thats an interesting question. I myself having only one week left of bachelorhood took my sweet time in the past with the many planes I have built. Now that I will have a wife who probably wont put up with building sessions to 3am in the morning, I'm asking myself the same thing as I sit here with my 3 meter Gnome kit in the box. My first built up Dynaflite Talon took me about 2 months on and off but now I know I could tackle it in about 2 weekends with a 4-6 hour session per day. My balsa over foam Pulsar was just a pain to build as I had never handled sheeted wings before.......that was about 6 months on and off. I hear guys like the one previous say they can build a Gentle Lady in a friday night and fly it the next morning. I may be able to do that some day but I like to modify and would probably get stuck in the details of fiberglassing the entire fuse or adding carbon to the spars. I think that plane took me all of about 2 weeks to finish with a few hours a day. I'm sure my Gnome's build is very much like the Maurader will probably get dragged out to a summers length. Either way.....you know, it really doesnt matter. Most likely you'll find yourself enjoying the building process and in my opinion, I actually enjoy it equally to flying now......sounds strange....but its true. Take your time and enjoy both aspects of the hobby. As the guys in my club say, the air is always going to be there.

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RE: How long does it take you to build a kit? - 2/13/2004 1:49 AM   
maherrpca


 

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Status: offline 		I usually can build a kit from 2meters to 4 meters in 1-2 weeks with a good build. I find it intimidating to start but, when i do start watch out and stay out of my way. I build all balsa kits with thin CA and once you start they usually go together like puzzles. I hate seeing a box full of balsa just sitting there.The faster the build the sooner i can play.

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RE: How long does it take you to build a kit? - 2/13/2004 1:49 AM   
fprintf



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From: Cheshire, CT, USA
Status: offline 		Thanks guys. The kit arrived today and I can't screw up enough courage to delve into the box right now. It is just so intimidating! So I'll read the 10 pages of plans instead.



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RE: How long does it take you to build a kit? - 2/13/2004 2:20 AM   
evlwevl-RCU



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Status: offline 		Thats about what it looks like. The gentleman who sold you that plane is with the club I used to fly with. I've seen it in competition and I know its a very fine flyer. He's very particular about his kits and he was and probably still is one of the top competitors there at the club events. It's imtimidated at first but once you get in the mindset of building it, the process will take over and you will learn as you go. If you build it straight and right, you will have an excellent plane.

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RE: How long does it take you to build a kit? - 7/2/2004 6:21 PM   
fprintf



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Status: offline 		Just to update this thread, I completed the plane in May and it flew its first flight on May 16th. I have been flying it occasionally since then. So total build time = Feb, Mar, April = 3 months after I started on February 12th.

Some in flight pictures and stories of my flying days since then etc. on my website at http://fprintf.rchomepage.com



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RE: How long does it take you to build a kit? - 7/2/2004 8:54 PM   
SoCal GliderGuider


 

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Status: offline 		How is the significant other handling the new lady in your life?

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RE: How long does it take you to build a kit? - 7/2/2004 10:20 PM   
evlwevl



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From: CA
Status: online 		I would say shes handling it better than expected. Since then and 5 months into the marriage, she knows that building and flying, or anything planes for that matter, ie. (Discovery Wings) is a part of my life. I've since have flown the GL through my LSF I requirements and have retired it. I've have recently completed my newest addition, a 2m RES Sovereign which will help me get more competitive on those windier days. I've also recently purchased an EP GWS Corsair and soon will be living literally a block away from my club's flying field, this is a hobby that will continue with me, and of course she has her own hobbies. Im learning how to balance my time so that everyone is happy I can still get one on one with a box of balsa every now and again, guilt free.

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RE: How long does it take you to build a kit? - 7/3/2004 10:29 AM   
flybaby101



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From: Devonporttasmania, AUSTRALIA
Status: offline 		Usually when i get a kit i spend most of the day on it i take things slow and build straight , it takes me about 3 days to a week to get to the flying stage depending on the size of the kit , when i crash a plane these days i just laugh and fix it or build another as i love building and flying ,then i take photos to keep track of what planes ive had , heres a count over the last 15 years of every single plane and radio.

free flight

23 assorted

radio control

precedent hi fly
quiet advancer
eclipse
gentle lady
gws p51
sky scooter
4 mini drakes as gliders
2 , 2x6 gliders
coyote
minette hlg x 2
lessnextra
odessa
four mugis
one zugi
and a unamed glider i found in a pear tree
amongst many more i cant remember or dont want to for obvious reasons


radios ive had.

1979 ko digiace "or dodgie ass" 5 channel
futaba attack 2
classic kr-2 2ch
Hitec laser 4ch

radio i have now

hitec flash 5 sx 2004 model with 2 new mixes

this is my latest glider

a balsacraft coyote with flaperons and neons in the wing , when it hits dark i flick a switch to turn the lights on and they are multi colour and change. the covering is my own covering Angelcover painted with a airbrush

my website is

www.angelwingsrc.tk

my next glider is a sagitta 600 res

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RE: How long does it take you to build a kit? - 7/3/2004 8:17 PM   
Rick K


 

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Status: offline 		HI, there's a thread on 'Liftzone.com' under the sailplane topic where a guy details his construction of the kit your going to build, the Marauder from start to finsh. You should check it out. I'm a average builder I think with about twenty planes or so to my credit. With the times you intend to spend . . . two months might be around how long it takes. With most kits you'll spend as much time or more 'Figuring and pondering' as actually gluing or cutting anything. Tho I haven't built the Maraurder, I did build his kit of the 2M Monarch. VERY complete, included stuff not usually supplied and the same with the cutting, many more things were pre-cut than with your typical kit . . . stuff you usually have to do yourself.
The main thing about building is to keep it fun, It's not supposed to be 'work' or a chore although there are some parts of building that are tedious, repetitive or difficult, take your time to do it right. I have a "two-mistake" rule: If I make two mistakes when building, it's time to walk away for a little while. Alot of guys, including me build by the old saying "measure twice, cut once" so true, but as long as you build 'square' remember the other saying "A little putty, a little paint . . . makes the carpenter what he ain't"
Get yourself some good tools. Be sure to have a good steel ruler that measures down to at least 1/16" (I use a 6" scale for most things) The kids school ruler or the yard stick you have hanging around the house won't do. Another tool that will go a long way to assure sucess is a good 'straight edge' and some drafting triangles, these will help you to keep things square. Besides a Exacto knife and plenty of blades (100) get a fine tooth Zona saw, don't waste money on the Exacto versions, they are of inferior quality and are prone to rust quickly (take my word for it, I have several of the Exactos). Buy a bag of wooden clothes pins and some small 2" clamps (the more the better, you can NEVER have to many clamps) There are all kinds of sm. clamps, take all you can find. The most importiant tool of all is to have a good FLAT workbench large enough for 1/2 the wing with a little on each side left over. Alot of guys use standard house type doors purchased from building supply places. I have a nice 80" Craftman bench that finally replaced the old folding picnic type table I put up with for so many years . . . It's hard to spend money on the non-sexy stuff . . . could have gotten several kits and the other required stuff for them for how much I paid for the bench, but it makes life SOOOO much better in the shop. Geez, it's noontime already! Can't waste all Saturday in front of the computer . . . Good luck, have fun and welcome to our club.
If you have trouble or unsure about something, let us know, we're here to help.
Rick K.

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