Pilot Zero-Sen 54"  
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Pilot Zero-Sen 54" - 6/26/2002 1:38:59 PM   
fiery


 

Posts: 1013
Joined: 2/2/2002
From: Hervey Bay Queensland, AUSTRALIA
Status: offline 		This kit has to be worst kit building experience I have ever had.

It was one of the older fully built up kits, they also did a similar size spitfire and mustang.

There was SO MUCH WORK for such a tiny little 'plane. Not a bad kit as such , contents quality actually very good, but terrible instructions. I finished mine, still have it , looks great, scale outline, but is is massively overweight and very unpleasant to fly.

I nicknamed it "the doodlebug" because it is so unstable and comes in like a V1 buzz bomb. Wing loading is so high that controlled landings are almost impossible. It taught me a lesson about WHY we aeromodellers are exhorted to build light. I have learnt the lesson with this 'plane.

The kits are no longer being made. I'm not surprised.

Anyone else successfully flown one?


fiery

(in reply to budcop)
       Post #: 51

What Was The Most Difficult Kit ? - 6/26/2002 8:14:08 PM   
k_sonn



Posts: 1143
Joined: 2/15/2002
From: Bellevue, WA, USA
Status: offline 		The TF Corsair. The main center section of the wing is built around a plywood section that you have to laminate together. The plywood section was warped and no matter want I tried I could not get rid of the warp. It sits in my basement as a reminder that I should have attempted something easier for my first build. Since then, I have built several kits and love it. There is something about seeing a box of wood becoming a recognizable aircraft.

(in reply to budcop)
       Post #: 52

Bud Nosen Trainer-eBay special - 6/26/2002 9:46:30 PM   
Overbuilder


 

Posts: 4
Joined: 2/6/2002
From: Harrisburg, PA
Status: offline 		My hands-down worst was a Nosen Trainer I got for
a great price direct from A&A Industries.
It was a compilation of the rejected wood pieces from their production kits. The wood was warped, split, too hard, or too soft. The die-crunching was awful. I ended up replacing much of it.

Came out looking and flying fine, tho.

Seth

< Message edited by Lightfoot -- 2/12/2004 10:20:49 AM >

(in reply to budcop)
       Post #: 53

What Was The Most Difficult Kit ? - 6/26/2002 10:16:10 PM   
hattend



Posts: 2061
Joined: 11/29/2001
From: Redding, CA, USA
Status: offline 		I won't knock all e-bay specials. I know those AA (Nosen) kits are horrible because I have seen a few over the years but I can recommend those AK Models Mig29 e-bay specials you see every now and then.

First rate kit for a cottage industry guy. Laser cut, good fit (haven't finished it yet, though). Instructions are so-so but it's an easy build.

Got off topic by mentioning a good kit but just needed to be said that all the e-bay specials aren't bad.

Later
Don

(in reply to budcop)
       Post #: 54

royal p-38 - 8/18/2003 10:30:07 PM   
toy264



Posts: 293
Joined: 9/28/2002
From: Magnolia, TX, USA
Status: offline 		Old Royal P-38 was really a chore to build true. And light. Pretty much "carve everything away that doesn't look like a P-38" That was in '71 and they might be better now.

However I just bought a Marutaka J2M3 Raiden a couple of months ago. All Japanese plans, one sheet of pigden English instructions("Gluing F12 to it's base, or F11." type stuff ), but my bigest disappointment is that the outline, including the spun aluminium cowl, is WAY off! This is not a scale airplane kit, this is a "bears a vague resemblence" kit!

_____________________________

*Sigh*....I've got it.

(in reply to budcop)
       Post #: 55

What Was The Most Difficult Kit ? - 8/19/2003 5:33:17 AM   
Azcat59


 

Posts: 1008
Joined: 5/30/2002
From: Phoenix, AZ, USA
Status: offline 		Hardest kit I never GOT built was a Joe Ott P-38 during WW II. Card stock formers and splintering strip wood, maybe cut from orange crates.....

RC kits? Top Flite AT-6 took me awhile, but the kit was good.

Clair

(in reply to budcop)
       Post #: 56

What Was The Most Difficult Kit ? - 8/19/2003 12:11:08 PM   
William Robison



Posts: 20269
Joined: 11/10/2002
From: Mary Esther, Florida, FL, USA
Status: offline 		Azcat:

Boy, do I remember Joe Ott kits. Never managed to finish one.

Either the paper formers would collapse when I tried to get the pine longerons to fit, the formers would get squashed (or melt from the moisture) when I shrank the tissue, or I'd just get frustrated trying to keep the blasted thing straight and stomp on it.

And then there was the Hawker Typhoon kit from Cleveland... My first power conversion, a Spitzy 0.045. Got it together, but never managed a successful flight. Didn't know enough.

Bill.

_____________________________

Real Airplanes have Two Engines
AMA 25139 - More than 40 years.

(in reply to budcop)
       Post #: 57

What Was The Most Difficult Kit ? - 8/19/2003 10:11:10 PM   
mpriestley



Posts: 289
Joined: 8/22/2002
From: Lake Forest, CA, USA
Status: offline 		Well, after seeing this post I had to chime in!

The PICA Duellist!

I knew I was in trouble when I asked an experience builder (I think on RCU) if there were any tips for building.
All he could do was Laugh and ask if I liked sanding!

What an understatement.

I must say the kit goes together well but carving and sanding is the skill required to build this kit.

a year and a half later I am still sanding!

trying to get all the lumps and bumps out of the fiberglass so that I can actually put primer on it.

Many people say it is worth the trouble, I sure hope so.

finished 2 kits during the time of working on this duellist and last night decided to start my Patriot kit, (they have not asked me to start sanding yet )

(in reply to budcop)
       Post #: 58

What Was The Most Difficult Kit ? - 8/19/2003 10:32:52 PM   
William Robison



Posts: 20269
Joined: 11/10/2002
From: Mary Esther, Florida, FL, USA
Status: offline 		mpriestley:

It definitely is to laugh, concerning the Duellist.

That is the plane I recommend as a Second twin, and never as a first kit.

Use a block plane for rough shaping, and a router bit on your Dremel for the hollowing, it will go much faster.

And after your third or fourth Duellist you'll find they don't take so much time as you thought.

For a very similar flying, and much simplified building twin almost exactly the same size, get the Twin-Air 45 from Northeast Aerodynamics.

[url]www.ne-aero.com[/url]

Bill.

_____________________________

Real Airplanes have Two Engines
AMA 25139 - More than 40 years.

(in reply to budcop)
       Post #: 59

What Was The Most Difficult Kit ? - 8/19/2003 10:53:10 PM   
mpriestley



Posts: 289
Joined: 8/22/2002
From: Lake Forest, CA, USA
Status: offline 		Well Bill,

Your absolutely right this is not a good "first" kit.

I think that is where I went wrong! Ohhhhhhhhhh did I go wrong.
but I have survived this far.

Since you have experience with this one, what engines do you suggest.

I have recently been flying the Magnum by weston UK and it comes with a suped up Webra, they call the 50 v1 (I think) anyway it kicks some but and can spin 8/8 apc with a double cone pipe and I was contemplating....

The one positive aspect of this was the experience, I feel like I am qualified to build anything now.

Dumb thing was I went out and bought a Royal b-17.
as my second kit. LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!

The smart thing I did was build a couple of easy small kits while being frustrated with my first 2 (Lanier stinger 10 and HofB decathalon 10)

(in reply to budcop)
       Post #: 60

What Was The Most Difficult Kit ? - 8/19/2003 11:22:15 PM   
jstanton



Posts: 1912
Joined: 8/30/2002
From: Millington, TN, USA
Status: offline 		The kit that gave me the most trouble was a Sig 1/6 scale J3 Cub I built. This is a stick built kit and the directions where terrible. The full size plans where just OK. I had to figure out how to do must of the finer things myself. Like how to build and attach the wing struts. This was not a good kit for my second build. It did turn out to be a very good flyer and seems to sign hang there on a windy day.

Thanks

_____________________________

Jim Stanton
Millington, TN 38053

(in reply to budcop)
       Post #: 61

What Was The Most Difficult Kit ? - 8/19/2003 11:37:39 PM   
William Robison



Posts: 20269
Joined: 11/10/2002
From: Mary Esther, Florida, FL, USA
Status: offline 		mpriestley:

The Duellist 2/40 is a very strong airframe, if you keep on sanding and hollowing it also will be light enough for a pair of OS 40 FP engines. My current 2/40 has K&B 8360s on it, goes nicely. For fast the Webra 50s like the one on your Magnum would work very well. For less money and still good performance, the Magnum XLS 46 engines. A little more money? The new Magnum 52s. Haven't used the 52s, but I've been well pleased with their 40s and 46s.

ChuckAuger has a pair of piped OS VRs on his. Rocketship.

So the engine choice is up to you, mild to wild. just stay in the 40-50 range, mainly for weight/balance considerations.

Had a Stinger 10, it put me off Lanier. Way too much plastic. Never built the HoB Decathlon, but all the HoB kits I've done have pleased me. First was an FW 190, which also got my first Norvel 0.061 as a replacement for the original Cox TD 05 RC I put in it.

HTH

Bill.

_____________________________

Real Airplanes have Two Engines
AMA 25139 - More than 40 years.

(in reply to budcop)
       Post #: 62

What Was The Most Difficult Kit ? - 8/20/2003 3:05:02 AM   
Dzlstunter



Posts: 402
Joined: 12/9/2001
From: Jacksonville, IL, USA
Status: offline 		Almost any of the old Sterling kits, just as stick flyer said--brutes--and usually with balsa the weight of oak!

_____________________________

If it doesn't stink, it's not a diesel.

(in reply to budcop)
       Post #: 63

What Was The Most Difficult Kit ? - 8/20/2003 3:24:10 AM   
William Robison



Posts: 20269
Joined: 11/10/2002
From: Mary Esther, Florida, FL, USA
Status: offline 		Sterling? No. built too many Ringmasters. Good kits, good planes.

But now, if you mention Berkley...

Bill.

_____________________________

Real Airplanes have Two Engines
AMA 25139 - More than 40 years.

(in reply to budcop)
       Post #: 64

What Was The Most Difficult Kit ? - 8/20/2003 8:12:26 AM   
Azcat59


 

Posts: 1008
Joined: 5/30/2002
From: Phoenix, AZ, USA
Status: offline 		Bill Robison.....my hat's off to you if you got the Joe Ott to the covering stage! My first rubber model was an Ace Whittman kit, the Zero. Didn't know to build the wings over the plan, so used the full length of the strip wood, and had a high altitude Zero with glider size wing span....actually glided pretty well!

Never built a Duelist, but flew one for a buddy years ago....his old K&B 40s wouldn't come up off idle together so takeoffs were an event!

One of the toughest builds I have done was the Der Jaeger, MAN plans, which were pretty poor. Many parts had to be measured off the airframe rather than the templates on the plans. It was cute though when I finally conquered it!

Clair Sieverling

(in reply to budcop)