This is an interesting thread. I come from the "other side" - the guy who trashes planes at the slightest mishap. I'm the flyer who hates to build or repair anything. I buy ARF's and pay people to put them together for me. I don't have the time, patience, skills, etc. to build/repair planes. I'd rather be flying.

But last summer I wrecked a plane (ran into a curb and tore the landing gear out) and a bunch of guys were watching. I was bummed because I didn't know how to fix it, but a guy said to me, "Hey, I'll fix it for you. I like building/fixing airplanes." I asked how much he would charge me and he said, "Nothing. I'll do it for free." I got his number but didn't ever call him back. I finally realized that if I'm going to be in this sport, I need to learn how to fix something. So I fixed the plane (it's kind of ugly) and it's flown many times since. I've hit the curb a couple of times too and the sturdy plane has never broken since.

Anyway, I told myself that I would never forget the kind gesture of the guy who offered to fix my plane and that "someday" I would try to do something for him. So eventually I saw this guy at the flying field again and he looked my repaired plane over and said I had done a good job. I learned his name and we flew a few times together. Well, I had an Edge 540 that was very mildly wrecked waiting for me to fix it and so I took it to the field one Saturday morning hoping this guy would be there. Luckily, he was there and I gave him the plane with the O.S. .61, servos, and everything in it. I said, "Remember that day when you offered to help me fix my plane for free, well, I really appreciated that and didn't ever forget it. Here's a plane for you. Enjoy." He was ecstatic - he always flew cardboard planes because he didn't have the money to buy a nice kit or ARF. Needless to say, now he builds/repairs planes for me. He has several new planes with motors that he has been able to buy with the money I've paid him. I'm more than happy to pay guys like this because they are generous and willing to do it for free.