Posts: 263
Joined: 3/25/2002 From: Orange Park,
FL, USA Status: offline
I would get one! The cost would be about what I spent putting together my kit considering I had to order three to four times the amount of wood needed just to end up with decent weights on the sheeting, now I have a ton of balsa left over thats to heavy for a plane and not suited for a work bench, lol. Tanner needs to get going on some scout prodjects to get rid of the left overs. As for the hardware I'm sure it would be at least the same price as Central and you have to buy it some where. It's kinda a pain to gather everything you need and order it from multible suppliers, I would just assume write you a check and have everything I need ready to go. And there is the time involved which in my case cost is high, I had not sheeted a set of wings in five years at least so it took a while to do and I would guess cost me a couple onces over what Mike could do. I bet If I added everything up Mike on the one I'm building now the cost would be very close to what you have in mind for the kit.
Posts: 26
Joined: 9/22/2004 From: Endicott,
NY, USA Status: offline
I for one would be interested in a sheeted kit... with the time I have had avaliale to put into building I have been working on my V2 for 10 months and it is almost done... so a plane I could get together in fewer hours would definitly be worth something to me.
Posts: 377
Joined: 5/5/2004 From: South Euclid,
OH, USA Status: offline
I have been asking for that very thing (an ARC version) since day one.
Sounds intrigueing but still depends on where your price point is. You said on par with the very best Japanese planes. Color me silly, but that sounds like about $2500 to $3000 to me. Personally I would probably consider what options are available in that price range before dropping down the pennies that I have saved up. That is a tough call if you compare it to some of the planes that are painted and covered for that or less.
The Integral made a great showing at the nats and you can get it to your door almost ready for paint for $1,100 bucks including shipping.
Verdict: The BM V.3 is a gorgeous plane that there is a market for. If it is premium priced you may sell fewer but have the time to make every one a work of art and maybe even make a buck (which is your right).
I will stay tuned and see what comes out fo your Georgia skunk works.
Posts: 2488
Joined: 10/27/2002 From: Woodstock, GA, USA Status: offline
Well if I do it, it will simply be another option. the basic kit will always be available and it's only about $400ish.
The sheeted complete kit would be probably on par with the Integral, and still be a kit. If you really know what you're looking at, it's comparing apples and oranges. Flying wise, I've flown an Integral and it's a fantastic plane, and flies very similar to the VF3. The other one that's really close is the Oxai Zeque. they all are very good planes, and yet very different in execution.
The one thing I have no intention of doing is competing with the asian ARFs, and that includes the Integral. It has it's own place in the world, and so does the VF3. Comparing quality and construction and equipment choices would be an exercise in futility. They are simply different. They have thier strengths and weaknesses. Neither have been out very long so nobody can really speak to longevity. The techniques used in the construction of the VF3 are tried and proven, but the plane itself is still very new. If any weaknesses develop, they will be addressed immediately. That's about all I can do.
No the VF3 won't be over $2000 (LOL) but you can get a GOOD Japanese kit for about the same range I'm shooting for if you shop around. people that would want to build these planes want them because of thier construction among other things. There is nothing wrong with composite planes, they are as I said, just different. But a lot of people still prefer planes with wood/foam/composite construction for a vast number of reasons, and that's why the VF3 exists. I'm certainly not getting rich off these things, if you knew what my actual profit margin was you'd wonder why I was even bothering. It's really just because I get a kick out of it. Nothing fancy.
But the reason for the question is that I have gotten a lot of questions about sheeted cores and a more complete kit. Logistically it would be quite challenging, but if it's worth it for you guys, that's what matters. I could keep the prices down by cutting back on the carbon and using cheap stuff, but then it wouldn't be the same (to me, I'm picky).
By the way, the build threads start today! I'm doing the electric thread, and Dean Funk is doing the glow thread. I think you guys will be happy with how easy these things build. I am also including a step by step guide to glassing and painting.
-Mike
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Posts: 377
Joined: 5/5/2004 From: South Euclid,
OH, USA Status: offline
Mike, I appreciate the amount of information that you have put out on the kit. I apologize if I implied that there were any similarities between the BM V.3 and the Japanese planes. My point based on a "guess" of the price range going by what you said was more about options for the money than it was about the similarities in building or flying.
All things equal, I would much rather have a plane manufactured locally with the amount of support that is obviously available. There is nothing like having the designer omnipresent on RCU in the event of questions or confusion. To me that is "priceless".
you've got everybody excited, now make with the kits
< Message edited by AAbdu -- 7/26/2007 9:46:37 PM >
Posts: 1702
Joined: 11/5/2004 From: Highland,
MD, USA Status: offline
If anything ever happens to my Brio I think this would be the kit for me. Nice work Mike!
quote:
ORIGINAL: MHester
No the VF3 won't be over $2000 (LOL) but you can get a GOOD Japanese kit for about the same range I'm shooting for if you shop around. people that would want to build these planes want them because of thier construction among other things. There is nothing wrong with composite planes, they are as I said, just different. But a lot of people still prefer planes with wood/foam/composite construction for a vast number of reasons, and that's why the VF3 exists. I'm certainly not getting rich off these things, if you knew what my actual profit margin was you'd wonder why I was even bothering. It's really just because I get a kick out of it. Nothing fancy.
Posts: 587
Joined: 10/17/2003 From: DHanis,
TX, USA Status: offline
Alright, now that the NATS are over and have had a few days to relax..something I haven't had in the last month, I wanted to take a moment and thank some people who definitely deserve it and share some things now that I have well over 100 flights on the V3. I have flown at some point most of the top designs, including the Zeque, Brio, Partner, and others, and the VF3 flies at least as well as anything out there. I think every plane has its strong points, and the VF3 is the best rolling plane I have ever touched. It rolls effortlessly and looks good doing it. Some planes, even if they are rolling well, don't look like it, that is not something that is the case with this plane. Snaps are very clean and crisp, and the rudder authority on this plane is amazing. It will do a true one handed knife edge loop, and anyone who doubts that, just ask the guys there at St. Clairsville last month when I did it with the Red one on the 2nd flight of the plane. The design is absolutely amazing. I won 5 out of 6 preliminary rounds in Masters at the NATS. so the plane flies really well. Glen Watson just outflew me on Saturday and I ended up second...I'll definitely take that with less than 30 flights on the plane i was flying.
Now, onto the important stuff. There are a LOT of really good designs out there, but there is only ONE Mike Hester. Mike and I go back a couple of years after I saw his original Black Magic and went to email him privately and accidentally sent it to the entire NSRCA list....I can not begin to express how great this guy and his wonderful wife Melissa are. Mike basically didnt' sleep for 6 weeks trying to get my plane ready for the NATS. Not only did he get it done, it is perfect. The glass and paint on this plane was done in 8 days...thats right, from wood to flying in 8 days...Mike has been there to help with any questions, and an even more important thing is that he listens. If you have a suggestion or whatever, don't be afraid to let him know. For those who don't know his wife Melissa does all of the composite work on the planes. She makes the canopies and such and they are as nice as any composite work that Ive seen and i used to do composite work for a living. These are 2 amazing people and will do anything for anyone. All of this is done with a handicapped child at home that they take care of full time. I don't know how you find the time man, but it is appreciated. I've been around a lot of people in this hobby and met some great ones, and Mike, you have to take a back seat to no one. You've earned it man. You turn out top quality stuff as well as being a top quality individual. I can say with 100% confidence that ANY issue people run into with Mike's stuff he will take care of it. I'm very happy to be flying Mike's design, but more importantly I'm proud to call him my friend.
Dean Funk is another one I have to thank. Dean did all of the graphics on my plane, and has been Mike's right hand man for a lot of this stuff. Dean is a great guy and sacrificed his own practice this year, helping Mike get things done around the shop. Dean is definitely someone to watch out for...he's got skills, but he's also another great guy who is really into pattern and one of the ones who will help pattern grow.
I also want to take a moment and thank my wonderful significant other Tara. Anyone who was at the NATS saw her hanging out and helping all she could. She called for me all week and did a wonderful job, not bad for her first contest. She also basically did all of the covering on my new VF3. I showed her what to do, and she just got into it and ran with it. I know she is already getting a list together of people who want her to cover their stuff. If you can get on that list, do it..she does GREAT work.
Sorry to take this forum to do this, but I wanted to publicly thank all of these people as well as my other sponsors, YS, Futaba, Morgan Fuels, and Central Hobbies.
Arch
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All Forums >> RC Airplanes >> Pattern Flying >> RE: Coming this summer: Black Magic VF3 
RE: Coming this summer: Black Magic VF3 - 
