ORIGINAL: Jim Clausen
Sir Crashallot,
I am one of those who fly to build. I am 70 years old and have been in the model airplane building mode since I was about 7 years old. Some build to fly but that is not me. The carving, shanding, shaping and fitting of the wood together is in fact a challange and keeps me busy since I am retired. The real builders find time to get the job done.
I am not as quick as I once was but the enjoyment is still there for me. I have folks ask me how an airplane can last for up to and past 10 years and still look good. My answer is good engineering and workmanship along with good maintenance.
Folks in our club have problems with their planes and some absolutely do not believe in balancing propellars or spinners as an example. They just want to fly their ARF's but that is not my cup of tea.
Jim
Well sir i hope when i am your age that i am as good a craftsman as yourself. im mearly 24 25 this june and been building and flying since i was 11. I have bought arf models but never again and thats all il say about them. I really do perfer being creative and either scratch designing or building from plans and kits. Im rebuilding a 1/5th mustang over in crash and rebuild on here, that was an arf, dont know the manufacturer... but the fiberglass fuselage is a right old mess, most of it is down to poor lamination ect.from the rear of the wing to the tail there are no formers!! but yeah you probably read enough comments from people on here about how poor the quality is on them. I will keep an eye on this thread and hopefully il learn a few things, as my dad always told me sit watch and listen very carefully... so thats what am guna do.