Falcon_az
Posts: 90
Joined: 7/27/2003 From: Troy,
IL, USA Status: offline
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I'm tackling a Carden build at this time, Extra 40%. It isn't so much an issue the kit is hard to build, it really isn't, the issue is the amount of time involved. Oh... it ain't cheap either... the kit price is a drop in the bucket (about a quarter of the total price). $1100 kit, $1500 engine, $1100 servos, $1100 hardware, prop, spinner, covering, electronics, ect. The conservative estimates for a builder are about a $1000 to build it and about a $1000 to cover and paint it. I bounced back between the build directions on the web and the directions Dennis supplies. I'm scratching my head over the directions that came with the kit... very brief, minimal. H9 had more information in their Sukhoi booklet then comes with the Carden kits and the Suk was a $550 ARF (Odessa Hobbies, they are sold out). The one item I hope Dennis 're-visits' is the instructions, although, after this first one, with the notes and pictures I made, the instructions are probably fine. Dennis is available by phone and is very nice to talk with about anything to help you get the kit built. Everyone will have different challenges... by far... my greatest challenge was getting the cowl mounted and aligned right. Good grief... you would think about an hour or so to do it. It took me all day to get it right, yep, easily 8 hours (and it still isn't just perfect). Other items to consider besides the time investment are building space, having a level, flat, building bench, and a very patient family. I learned a lot of things building my first Carden and I think the next one will be a faster build because of it. However, I still think it'll take me well over a 100 hours to build, cover, paint, and install the hardware. There is no question... if your not into building you should consider having it built. I'm not an experienced pilot, but I dare say you'll not find anything that will fly like these Cardens. I have a 40% Edge too which flies great, but the Extra flies like nothing I have experienced, that is why I had to have one.
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