rcav8or
Posts: 903
Joined: 12/15/2001
From: Oxford, IN, USA
Status: offline
|
You might be a little more explicit - do you mean tool-wise?
It depends on how many of any item you plan to make - I always cut out two kits, because it's just about as easy to do that, as one. At the very least, I cut out two sets of wing ribs, and tail ribs, if it's an airfoil.
I also always buy two sets of plans, one to hang up in front of me, for guidance, and one for a working copy - cut out templates, etc. Some people trace the patterns, etc, but my time is more valuable than the cost of the plans, usually. If I buy from someone else, and can't get a 2nd set, I will trace them. Don't lower yourself to buy one set, and copy them, unless it's an old set of unavailable plans - the folks who design and sell the plans should get the money for their work!!
I often build kits for other people, and the way I work that, is they buy enough wood for two kits, and two sets of plans. I use 'my" set of plans for the templates, etc, and they get a complete set of new plans. I cut the wood from my set. It usually costs no more than a regular kit, and it's great if there is no kit for the plane, just plans for sale, so it only costs them just enough for my kit as well, and they are always very happy. This is great for people who like building, but don't necessarily have the time to cut out everything, plus the tools...
The tools I use, are:
Table saw, to cut BIG pieces of balsa into small pieces
band saw (12 inch)
scroll saw
Dremel tool set up as a router (you have to make templates)
bench mounted belt sander
bench mounted circular sander
Xacto knife, with LOT'S of blades ( buy them by the 100's, they're cheaper!)
ALL kinds of hand sanding block, from 1/8 inch to 4 inches (the 1/8 and 1/4 are for spars, etc)
Zona saw, with bunches of interchangeable blades, with depth stops on them
One of them-thar fancy cutters than take 3" wide pieces, and make them into 1/8, 1/4 wide, etc (you can make your own, if you decide you want to keep doing this - that's what I ended up doing, set up for all the various sizes)
If I really know I am going to be building a lot of the same model (Quickies, combat, etc) then I will make the templates out of counter-top material, or masonite for the routed stuff...
If you plan just to build one, just to see if you are going to like it, you can do it with just an xacto knife, and a Zona saw! That's how I started.
Wow, more than you wanted to know, right???/
_____________________________
Roger Phillips
AMA #387890
|
Printable Version
All Forums >> RC Airplanes >> Scratch Building, Aircraft Design, 3D/CAD >> Scratch newbie 
Scratch newbie - 
Scratch - 
price... - 