View Poll Results: A poll
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Modeler or ARfer?
01-10-2012, 12:12 PM
#126
RE: Modeler or ARfer?
ORIGINAL: Airplanes400
I agree with this premise. I build from plans or from a kit. I have built a few ARF's too. Notice I used the word, built.
When buying any ARF, I noticed they were never put together well. So, I always strip off the cheap covering, rebuild and/or reinforce many structures (especially the landing gear blocks which I always replace with REAL plywood or maple wood), apply CA glue on all joints, throw away the hardware provided with the ARF (control rods, clevises, wheels, fuel line, etc) and replace it with quality materials MADE IN THE USA. I also perform many other improvements to the ARF.
Due to all this work, I usually spend 200 to 300 hours on a .40~.60 sized ARF so that it will last many years. Therefore, I do want to point out that building an ARF correctly is just as much work, or more, than putting together a kit. With that in mind, if you build and ARF correctly, you are in fact, a builder. If you just assemble them in the 15 ~ 20 hours they 'suggest' then you are an ARFer and your ARF will usually not last a single season.
I can't tell you how many ARF'ers I've seen who wonder why their ARF crashed before they got a dozen flights out of it. Makes me laugh so hard!
ORIGINAL: Ron Stahl
Are you a modeler or an ARFer? I'm a modeler by profession and by choice in our hobby and always will be. You are a modeler if you have built a few planes from plans, scratch, or from a kit. ARF's are not kits no matter what some people try to imply. Sorry flame suit on.
Are you a modeler or an ARFer? I'm a modeler by profession and by choice in our hobby and always will be. You are a modeler if you have built a few planes from plans, scratch, or from a kit. ARF's are not kits no matter what some people try to imply. Sorry flame suit on.
When buying any ARF, I noticed they were never put together well. So, I always strip off the cheap covering, rebuild and/or reinforce many structures (especially the landing gear blocks which I always replace with REAL plywood or maple wood), apply CA glue on all joints, throw away the hardware provided with the ARF (control rods, clevises, wheels, fuel line, etc) and replace it with quality materials MADE IN THE USA. I also perform many other improvements to the ARF.
Due to all this work, I usually spend 200 to 300 hours on a .40~.60 sized ARF so that it will last many years. Therefore, I do want to point out that building an ARF correctly is just as much work, or more, than putting together a kit. With that in mind, if you build and ARF correctly, you are in fact, a builder. If you just assemble them in the 15 ~ 20 hours they 'suggest' then you are an ARFer and your ARF will usually not last a single season.
I can't tell you how many ARF'ers I've seen who wonder why their ARF crashed before they got a dozen flights out of it. Makes me laugh so hard!
Airplanes400
I think you may have added too many 0's in your estimated number of hours you spend upgrading a 40-60 size ARF. 20 to 30 hours is reasonable but 200 to 300 hours. C'mon Man!
I actually won an award for "Best Scale" with an ARF once.. Granted there wasn't a lot of competition, but I took the trophy, shook hands, snaped the picture and handed the trophy to a guy who really spent 200-300 hours building a scale model airplane. I felt great about it and I know I made his day too.
01-10-2012, 12:38 PM
#127
RE: Modeler or ARfer?
Let's say you go over to your friendly neighborhood IKEA and buy a box that says "Cabinet" on it. You take it home, pull out the instructions, and you proceed to put a cabinet together.
Does that make you a cabinet maker?
If you say "Yes. I assembled a cabinet from IKEA. Therefore I am a cabinet maker" You would be wrong.
If you say "No. I can follow the picture instructions and put together all the pre-fabbed, pre-drilled, prefinished parts, therefore I'm not a cabinet maker". You would be correct.
If you take hundreds of tiny parts and make 2 big parts with them you are a builder.
If you take 6 medium sized parts and make 2 big parts with them you are an assembler (is that a word?)
In the end, it doesn't really make a diffrence which way you choose to enjoy this hobby. We just need to stop interchanging the two words "Build" and "Assemble." They simply do not have the same meaning in this context.
Does that make you a cabinet maker?
If you say "Yes. I assembled a cabinet from IKEA. Therefore I am a cabinet maker" You would be wrong.
If you say "No. I can follow the picture instructions and put together all the pre-fabbed, pre-drilled, prefinished parts, therefore I'm not a cabinet maker". You would be correct.
If you take hundreds of tiny parts and make 2 big parts with them you are a builder.
If you take 6 medium sized parts and make 2 big parts with them you are an assembler (is that a word?)
In the end, it doesn't really make a diffrence which way you choose to enjoy this hobby. We just need to stop interchanging the two words "Build" and "Assemble." They simply do not have the same meaning in this context.
01-10-2012, 12:59 PM
#128
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RE: Modeler or ARfer?
ORIGINAL: TimBle
If ARF beats Scratch built, then perhaps its time to admit that you're not any good as a modeller or the person who created the ARF is one heck of a modeller.
If ARF beats Scratch built, then perhaps its time to admit that you're not any good as a modeller or the person who created the ARF is one heck of a modeller.
01-10-2012, 01:04 PM
#129
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RE: Modeler or ARfer?
ORIGINAL: Ozzee
Isecond that!
ORIGINAL: Ron Stahl
Also we builders are getting tired of guys getting awards for planes they bought and not ones they themselves built at events.
Also we builders are getting tired of guys getting awards for planes they bought and not ones they themselves built at events.
01-10-2012, 02:12 PM
#131
RE: Modeler or ARfer?
ORIGINAL: mschneider2005
Airplanes400
I think you may have added too many 0's in your estimated number of hours you spend upgrading a 40-60 size ARF. 20 to 30 hours is reasonable but 200 to 300 hours. C'mon Man!
ORIGINAL: Airplanes400
Due to all this work, I usually spend 200 to 300 hours on a .40~.60 sized ARF so that it will last many years. Therefore, I do want to point out that building an ARF correctly is just as much work, or more, than putting together a kit. With that in mind, if you build and ARF correctly, you are in fact, a builder. If you just assemble them in the 15 ~ 20 hours they 'suggest' then you are an ARFer and your ARF will usually not last a single season.
I can't tell you how many ARF'ers I've seen who wonder why their ARF crashed before they got a dozen flights out of it. Makes me laugh so hard!
ORIGINAL: Ron Stahl
Are you a modeler or an ARFer? I'm a modeler by profession and by choice in our hobby and always will be. You are a modeler if you have built a few planes from plans, scratch, or from a kit. ARF's are not kits no matter what some people try to imply. Sorry flame suit on.
Are you a modeler or an ARFer? I'm a modeler by profession and by choice in our hobby and always will be. You are a modeler if you have built a few planes from plans, scratch, or from a kit. ARF's are not kits no matter what some people try to imply. Sorry flame suit on.
I can't tell you how many ARF'ers I've seen who wonder why their ARF crashed before they got a dozen flights out of it. Makes me laugh so hard!
Airplanes400
I think you may have added too many 0's in your estimated number of hours you spend upgrading a 40-60 size ARF. 20 to 30 hours is reasonable but 200 to 300 hours. C'mon Man!
Schneider, if you frequent this jet section often, you'll quickly realize the poster blows quite a bit of smoke when posting.
... I'm with you on this , 20 to 30 hours for a .40/60. sized ARF is the norm.
01-10-2012, 02:44 PM
#132
RE: Modeler or ARfer?
ORIGINAL: FILE IFR
Schneider, if you frequent this jet section often, you'll quickly realize the poster blows quite a bit of smoke when posting.
... I'm with you on this , 20 to 30 hours for a .40/60. sized ARF is the norm.
ORIGINAL: mschneider2005
Airplanes400
I think you may have added too many 0's in your estimated number of hours you spend upgrading a 40-60 size ARF. 20 to 30 hours is reasonable but 200 to 300 hours. C'mon Man!
ORIGINAL: Airplanes400
Due to all this work, I usually spend 200 to 300 hours on a .40~.60 sized ARF so that it will last many years. Therefore, I do want to point out that building an ARF correctly is just as much work, or more, than putting together a kit. With that in mind, if you build and ARF correctly, you are in fact, a builder. If you just assemble them in the 15 ~ 20 hours they 'suggest' then you are an ARFer and your ARF will usually not last a single season.
I can't tell you how many ARF'ers I've seen who wonder why their ARF crashed before they got a dozen flights out of it. Makes me laugh so hard!
ORIGINAL: Ron Stahl
Are you a modeler or an ARFer? I'm a modeler by profession and by choice in our hobby and always will be. You are a modeler if you have built a few planes from plans, scratch, or from a kit. ARF's are not kits no matter what some people try to imply. Sorry flame suit on.
Are you a modeler or an ARFer? I'm a modeler by profession and by choice in our hobby and always will be. You are a modeler if you have built a few planes from plans, scratch, or from a kit. ARF's are not kits no matter what some people try to imply. Sorry flame suit on.
I can't tell you how many ARF'ers I've seen who wonder why their ARF crashed before they got a dozen flights out of it. Makes me laugh so hard!
Airplanes400
I think you may have added too many 0's in your estimated number of hours you spend upgrading a 40-60 size ARF. 20 to 30 hours is reasonable but 200 to 300 hours. C'mon Man!
Schneider, if you frequent this jet section often, you'll quickly realize the poster blows quite a bit of smoke when posting.
... I'm with you on this , 20 to 30 hours for a .40/60. sized ARF is the norm.
01-10-2012, 03:04 PM
#133
My Feedback: (106)
RE: Modeler or ARfer?
ORIGINAL: rhklenke
Clearly Mr. pmerritt is a little fish who has no idea who he is talking to - it this thread or the other one. I wouldn't be too quick to pile onto his idiotic post and paint yourself with the same brush.
BTW, nice F-16. Paint it yourself? I ask because it looks exactly like a dozen others I've seen...
BTW, I do both, assemble ARF's when I don't have time to build, and build from scratch when I do. There are benefits to both, but there is *no* comparison in the level of effort required...
Bob
ORIGINAL: Steve Moore
pmerritt,
can i say that has to be the BEST!!!!! post I have seen on RCU
Outstanding!!!
I think a conclusion can be drawn that no one in this hobby actually gives a you know wotsit as to whether you are a modeller or ARFer, just do what makes you happy and enjoy it!!!!
It would be nice if Ron could post pictures of the models he has built so we can admire his craftsmanship, and in return we could post picture of ours for his admiration
I will start
pmerritt,
can i say that has to be the BEST!!!!! post I have seen on RCU
Outstanding!!!
I think a conclusion can be drawn that no one in this hobby actually gives a you know wotsit as to whether you are a modeller or ARFer, just do what makes you happy and enjoy it!!!!
It would be nice if Ron could post pictures of the models he has built so we can admire his craftsmanship, and in return we could post picture of ours for his admiration
I will start
BTW, nice F-16. Paint it yourself? I ask because it looks exactly like a dozen others I've seen...
BTW, I do both, assemble ARF's when I don't have time to build, and build from scratch when I do. There are benefits to both, but there is *no* comparison in the level of effort required...
Bob
There's room for all of it. Thats why it's a hobby!!!!
01-10-2012, 04:07 PM
#134
RE: Modeler or ARfer?
[/quote]
+ 1,000,000,000 There's room for all of it. Thats why it's a hobby!!!!
[/quote]
Exactly, besides, words have different meanings in people's minds, obviously. If you play, build, assemble, put together, glue (etc.) models, guess what you are: a modeller
To say that you are a modeler only if you use the poster's build system is quite frankly silly.
Everybody that controls a RC model is a modeler. It does not make any difference if it is a model of Ferrari, Beneton, Chris Craft, Panzer or Piper. Waht is the difference if the model flies, runs, navigates, sails or crawls?
Like it or not: You play with toy airplanes? You are a modeller. The premise of the original posting is absurd.
What do you call people that play with dioramas and toy soldiers... Modelers... How about if I go and buy Tiano's $27,000 P-47? If I play with it, I am a modeler. So if in some people's minds I am NOT a modeller because I purchased a built RTF from Frank, or if I purchase a partially pre-built Giant-Stick?
That is ok with me:-) I have seen people that talk to imaginary friends, or that see things they only can see...
Gerry
+ 1,000,000,000
There's room for all of it. Thats why it's a hobby!!!![/quote]
Exactly, besides, words have different meanings in people's minds, obviously. If you play, build, assemble, put together, glue (etc.) models, guess what you are: a modeller
To say that you are a modeler only if you use the poster's build system is quite frankly silly.
Everybody that controls a RC model is a modeler. It does not make any difference if it is a model of Ferrari, Beneton, Chris Craft, Panzer or Piper. Waht is the difference if the model flies, runs, navigates, sails or crawls?
Like it or not: You play with toy airplanes? You are a modeller. The premise of the original posting is absurd.
What do you call people that play with dioramas and toy soldiers... Modelers... How about if I go and buy Tiano's $27,000 P-47? If I play with it, I am a modeler. So if in some people's minds I am NOT a modeller because I purchased a built RTF from Frank, or if I purchase a partially pre-built Giant-Stick?
That is ok with me:-) I have seen people that talk to imaginary friends, or that see things they only can see...
Gerry
01-10-2012, 05:44 PM
#135
My Feedback: (28)
RE: Modeler or ARfer?
I guess 2 years and countless hours to RE-build an ARF brand new out of a box to make it look scale doesn't count. I'd think disassembling an ARF and re-BUILDING it might take some work if you want to use as much original wood as possible to cut down on cost..
I must be really wrong about that one.....
I must be really wrong about that one.....
01-10-2012, 05:47 PM
#136
My Feedback: (28)
RE: Modeler or ARfer?
ORIGINAL: FILE IFR
Schneider, if you frequent this jet section often, you'll quickly realize the poster blows quite a bit of smoke when posting.
... I'm with you on this , 20 to 30 hours for a .40/60. sized ARF is the norm.
ORIGINAL: mschneider2005
Airplanes400
I think you may have added too many 0's in your estimated number of hours you spend upgrading a 40-60 size ARF. 20 to 30 hours is reasonable but 200 to 300 hours. C'mon Man!
ORIGINAL: Airplanes400
Due to all this work, I usually spend 200 to 300 hours on a .40~.60 sized ARF so that it will last many years. Therefore, I do want to point out that building an ARF correctly is just as much work, or more, than putting together a kit. With that in mind, if you build and ARF correctly, you are in fact, a builder. If you just assemble them in the 15 ~ 20 hours they 'suggest' then you are an ARFer and your ARF will usually not last a single season.
I can't tell you how many ARF'ers I've seen who wonder why their ARF crashed before they got a dozen flights out of it. Makes me laugh so hard!
ORIGINAL: Ron Stahl
Are you a modeler or an ARFer? I'm a modeler by profession and by choice in our hobby and always will be. You are a modeler if you have built a few planes from plans, scratch, or from a kit. ARF's are not kits no matter what some people try to imply. Sorry flame suit on.
Are you a modeler or an ARFer? I'm a modeler by profession and by choice in our hobby and always will be. You are a modeler if you have built a few planes from plans, scratch, or from a kit. ARF's are not kits no matter what some people try to imply. Sorry flame suit on.
I can't tell you how many ARF'ers I've seen who wonder why their ARF crashed before they got a dozen flights out of it. Makes me laugh so hard!
Airplanes400
I think you may have added too many 0's in your estimated number of hours you spend upgrading a 40-60 size ARF. 20 to 30 hours is reasonable but 200 to 300 hours. C'mon Man!
Schneider, if you frequent this jet section often, you'll quickly realize the poster blows quite a bit of smoke when posting.
... I'm with you on this , 20 to 30 hours for a .40/60. sized ARF is the norm.
01-10-2012, 06:09 PM
#137
RE: Modeler or ARfer?
ORIGINAL: Desertlakesflying
It takes one to know one when it comes the jet forums................Blowing smoke in the jet forums is par for the course, and most of the posters are shooting eagles...........
ORIGINAL: FILE IFR
Schneider, if you frequent this jet section often, you'll quickly realize the poster blows quite a bit of smoke when posting.
... I'm with you on this , 20 to 30 hours for a .40/60. sized ARF is the norm.
ORIGINAL: mschneider2005
Airplanes400
I think you may have added too many 0's in your estimated number of hours you spend upgrading a 40-60 size ARF. 20 to 30 hours is reasonable but 200 to 300 hours. C'mon Man!
ORIGINAL: Airplanes400
Due to all this work, I usually spend 200 to 300 hours on a .40~.60 sized ARF so that it will last many years. Therefore, I do want to point out that building an ARF correctly is just as much work, or more, than putting together a kit. With that in mind, if you build and ARF correctly, you are in fact, a builder. If you just assemble them in the 15 ~ 20 hours they 'suggest' then you are an ARFer and your ARF will usually not last a single season.
I can't tell you how many ARF'ers I've seen who wonder why their ARF crashed before they got a dozen flights out of it. Makes me laugh so hard!
ORIGINAL: Ron Stahl
Are you a modeler or an ARFer? I'm a modeler by profession and by choice in our hobby and always will be. You are a modeler if you have built a few planes from plans, scratch, or from a kit. ARF's are not kits no matter what some people try to imply. Sorry flame suit on.
Are you a modeler or an ARFer? I'm a modeler by profession and by choice in our hobby and always will be. You are a modeler if you have built a few planes from plans, scratch, or from a kit. ARF's are not kits no matter what some people try to imply. Sorry flame suit on.
I can't tell you how many ARF'ers I've seen who wonder why their ARF crashed before they got a dozen flights out of it. Makes me laugh so hard!
Airplanes400
I think you may have added too many 0's in your estimated number of hours you spend upgrading a 40-60 size ARF. 20 to 30 hours is reasonable but 200 to 300 hours. C'mon Man!
Schneider, if you frequent this jet section often, you'll quickly realize the poster blows quite a bit of smoke when posting.
... I'm with you on this , 20 to 30 hours for a .40/60. sized ARF is the norm.
A wise man once told me "if you don't like the party, don't go back"
01-10-2012, 06:15 PM
#138
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RE: Modeler or ARfer?
It's a hobby and supposed to be fun and bring us together. Any nonsense that tries to divide the 'builders' from the 'assemblers' is counter-productive and annoying. Besides, all the real builders I've known are more than happy to help others and include more people in their hobby. Otherwise, there's no one to bull**** with after you're done flying.
01-10-2012, 06:31 PM
#139
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RE: Modeler or ARfer?
Agreed, I do both Just depends on the mood. Want both
ORIGINAL: Steve Moore
VKGT has hit the nail on the head,
I have 'built' models in the past and for me it is too time consuming so I opted for ARF's as with general life and commitments I cannot dedicate all my time to build,
Remember this is a hobby, it is fun and you should take out of it what you want, but this is everyone's hobby and to slam people who choose to ARF is unfair, if you want to build - build if you want to arf go for it, it doesn't matter as long as your having fun......
Just relax and enjoy OUR hobby!!!!!
VKGT has hit the nail on the head,
I have 'built' models in the past and for me it is too time consuming so I opted for ARF's as with general life and commitments I cannot dedicate all my time to build,
Remember this is a hobby, it is fun and you should take out of it what you want, but this is everyone's hobby and to slam people who choose to ARF is unfair, if you want to build - build if you want to arf go for it, it doesn't matter as long as your having fun......
Just relax and enjoy OUR hobby!!!!!
01-10-2012, 06:50 PM
#141
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RE: Modeler or ARfer?
ORIGINAL: Farmer Ted
If this is all about some contest and the fact that your scratch built plane got beaten by and ARF, then, without knowing anything else, I'd have to come to the conclusion that you're not very good at scratch building (or 'modeling' I guess).
Just sayin'...
If this is all about some contest and the fact that your scratch built plane got beaten by and ARF, then, without knowing anything else, I'd have to come to the conclusion that you're not very good at scratch building (or 'modeling' I guess).
Just sayin'...
Or better yet instead of creating a wedge between the Modelors come up with a plan on how to fix the so-called problem. I myself don't see a problem. Obviously the plane was better looking. I am sure the plane wasn't just assembled out of a box and the guy said hey I think I can win in a competition with this. There are a ton of ARFs out there that have had tons of hours put into them to scale them out.
This hobby is for everyone to enjoy in the manner they want to enjoy it.
Joe
01-10-2012, 10:03 PM
#143
RE: Modeler or ARfer?
im both....but more of an arfer, as i prefer to be out flying when i have free time..... perhaps if i am blessed and get to live long enough to retire i will pick up building kits.... i have the basic know how just no time
01-11-2012, 04:52 AM
#145
Senior Member
RE: Modeler or ARfer?
I'm 99.9% modeler. I have built arfs (I think I've bought four) before and am always dissatisfied with them. The pre-purchase contemplation was always appealing- marketing I suppose. However, the dissatisfaction of their reality results from my perspective, only. There are plenty of folks who are very happy with the arfs and their presentation of scale fidelity. Otherwise, why would they have bought them? I know the arguments about limited time to build and all of that. So arfs are okay in my book. I just wish that these things weren't all chinese imports. I can just imagine the workers putting these things together, laughing and thinking to themselves if not out loud to their cohorts the Americans are too lazy to even make their own dam*ed toys! I would rather a person from, say, Michigan, say the rest of the folks in the country are so lazy we gotta make their toys!
01-11-2012, 05:07 AM
#146
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RE: Modeler or ARfer?
You can wine and dine a female(build) or go buy a hooker(arf),but in the end you're still paying for it!
Bottom line is...to each his own! I use to build but have no time for it now.
I'll take the hooker,thank you very much and still get my rocks off...lol.
John
Bottom line is...to each his own! I use to build but have no time for it now.
I'll take the hooker,thank you very much and still get my rocks off...lol.
John
01-11-2012, 05:47 AM
#147
Senior Member
My Feedback: (14)
RE: Modeler or ARfer?
I plan build/scratch build/kit build and stuff the guts in arfs.... it's all good. Thinking you are better or somehow superior to a guy that only assembles arfs is just stupid. Trying to separate these forms of the hobby is even more ridiculous.Raising a family, time constraints and other commitments play a major role in how a person decides to enjoy this hobby.
It's supposed to be about fun, .....some of youse guys take it WAYYYYY to seriously.
If the high falutin' modelers would take a little time to get to know the guys buying arfs instead of just deeming them inferior, they just might learn something.
If that's what being a modeler is about.... just call me a arf'er
I'm off my rant now these types of threads just git my goat.
need a 3rd option on the poll...: Trolling?
It's supposed to be about fun, .....some of youse guys take it WAYYYYY to seriously.
If the high falutin' modelers would take a little time to get to know the guys buying arfs instead of just deeming them inferior, they just might learn something.
If that's what being a modeler is about.... just call me a arf'er
I'm off my rant now these types of threads just git my goat.
need a 3rd option on the poll...: Trolling?
01-11-2012, 06:22 AM
#148
RE: Modeler or ARfer?
ORIGINAL: Ozzee
LOLOL this thread has just become the biggest TROLL bait on RCU
LOLOL this thread has just become the biggest TROLL bait on RCU
is he a real football player, or just a copy?
01-11-2012, 06:22 AM
#149
RE: Modeler or ARfer?
ORIGINAL: Ron Stahl
Also we builders are getting tired of guys getting awards for planes they bought and not ones they themselves built at events.
Also we builders are getting tired of guys getting awards for planes they bought and not ones they themselves built at events.
01-11-2012, 06:39 AM
#150
My Feedback: (15)
RE: Modeler or ARfer?
Tebow - I'm a Steeler fan, but this time, with Denver the underdog, I had to be on their side. When the game went into overtime, I fell asleep, right after the coin toss, my wife hit me on the shoulder, said, hey, you missed it, the game is over. Like a dream. Did get to see the replay, but nothing like it live.
We like Tebow, great kid, at least we don't see him crying that someone got a few more million $$ then he did. Now they are the underdog again, I think the line is 8.5. If they can pull off an upset in New England, it would be a good time to be in Denver.
Crank
We like Tebow, great kid, at least we don't see him crying that someone got a few more million $$ then he did. Now they are the underdog again, I think the line is 8.5. If they can pull off an upset in New England, it would be a good time to be in Denver.
Crank