Originally Posted by
w0mbat
I would suggest you don't build the Skyshark kit as your first kit - and I own the company! In the past 13 years, I don't remember anyone who has been successful building one as a first kit but I do remember spending hours upon hours on the phone with people only to find out they have never built a kit before! I know that I could never have done it when I first entered the hobby. The Top Flite instructions are a little more detailed, however, there is a lot of sanding and fitting parts - it will also be a huge challenge unless you have an experienced builder helping you. Now if you have someone experienced helping you, then you will be ok with either kit.
My advice if you really want to start with a warbird and don't have help is to consider the Great Planes sport P-51 or Corsair kit. They are substantially easier because they go over many of the basics.
Many thanks for your great advice! You own a great company! I have read every skyshark build thread on the web and every one of them praises the design and precision fit of your kits. I managed to download the instructions for your FW190 and can see there are definitely parts of the instructions that require more interpretation and understanding of building techniques than I currently have.
Your summary of Top Flite rings true with the many build threads I have read for their Spit and to a lesser extent with their P-47. Top Flite instructions are more detailed but their plan-to-part match seems a tiny bit off and the builders seem to spend a lot of their thread talking about filling, shimming, shaving and general bodging.
The most important thing I have always found in the past 20 years bashing kits of all types is that it is easier to build a complex kit of any type that has been executed immaculately, than to build a simple kit executed badly!
I have a good friend nearby who is a very experienced flyer (he is the one that inspired me to move my building skills into this arena) but he has only built a few balsa kits a long time ago. He is actually an aeronautical engineer and is cnc machining a jet engine from scratch at the moment! Whilst I cannot count on him for advice on which glue to use or how to make balsa bend the way you want it, there are so many threads and youtube videos that show you how, I am comfortable that between us we could crack most problems I encounter.
I will go and check out Great Planes as suggested. I have already found this thread which looks interesting...
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/kit-...ld-thread.html
It appears thay you may well have given me the way forward. Much appreciated.
I will be sure to buy one of your kits once th P51 is completed!