ORIGINAL: LDM
In your opinion what is the ARf that started the trend that took the typical modeler /builder over to the ARf side because the looks and quality was so much better then anything they had seen in the past ???
Example --for me the VQ P40 , when I opened to box , I just thought I cant build the TopFlight P40 for $199 , ect ect the quality was excellant , the sheeting , the split flaps , it was a new generation of ARFs .
.Remember this post is for fun , please no long soap boxes on why build or why ARf , or just plane crap
, just have fun and if your an ARf guy/girl please tell about the plane that started it for you in the terms of quality vs what you would have probably built in the past .Thanks
Lou
I'm seeing a LOT of posts that appear to be written without actually reading your post. The one for the SoarStar gave me a chuckle. Great first plane, but I don't think your "...looks and quality..." qualifier applies.
Early on, there were private builders who advertised in the RC magazines, who would produce just about any build you wanted, from framed-up to turn-key. They're probably still around, in some measure.
I had a Lanier plastic TR-260, and it was great. Easy to put together, flew with precision on a .46 twostroke, and was reasonably sturdy. About the same time, I bought a Global Tequila Sunrise, a beautiful sport plane with a kind of starburst finish, nice quality and good fiberglas cowl. I doubt they were pivotal manufactures, but they were nice planes.
The first ARF manufacturer that had consistently good rankings in the online forums was (as I recall) World Models. It seemed there were a lot of posts expressing surprise at the quality.
I can definitely say I had an older ARF that was great, and I know it had a lot of bad ratings : the Cermark Sukhoi. Wonderful aerobat on a .91FX, pretty sturdy, and pretty good looks. Other people hated it, and I couldn't believe the old posts I read about it. Ah, well.
Good luck,
Dave Olson