Thats a pretty interesting story there Jack, I hope for your sake you did grab some of those genes,
TimC, working on the motor is something I wish I was a little better at, I have no problem in taking them apart and trying to fix a non working engine, and I always seem to get them working again, but Half the time I really don't know what I did besides take it apart and clean it or just re tighten things down, I'm sure if I knew how to bore them out correctly and put new pistons in I could get back some of the compression lost over the long years of use.
To all Non Builders - I helped my Pop build his first plane and I didn't really know what was going on I was 8, But I guess I held a little of that info, My next build was a Super sport with a foam wing, all I built was the fuse,, (Very Simple) Then I received a Carl Goldberg Eagle for one of my very first complete Builds on Christmas, and let me tell you I was able to do a great job on that plane, the Directions and parts were so simple and easy to follow, I have since built many kits, and if it wasn't for Carl G. I may have had a tougher time learning, now a days some kits you get, Have a box of sticks and a direction sheet, the end, but because of all the other kits, even those are completely easy to understand now too. I have recommended the Eagle to many new people in the Hobby, just to give them the skills at Basic building, and they are building masterpieces these days. now I need to build a masterpiece, I do see the beauty in an ARF as the Twist is my very first ARF, but after 3 basic rebuilds & 1 total rebuild, I feel like I have built the Twist from a kit now.
To build a kit to me, is about the same as the feeling of waiting to go flying, [&:] the anticipation is overwhelming, I find myself at work just waiting for the bell to toll so I can get home and start Gluing my prize together. and when she's all done and takes to the Sky, you know it was all you who brought it there. (okay, well the designer Helped too) but I have made a few home designed planes as well, & Thats a feeling you just have to experience for yourself.