Part of the problem is that the quality of particular models varies greatly.

One poor model is no way indicative of the quality of any other and also the reverse can be true.


Case in point the Cessna 182 1.40 is very well done and an excellent buy... ( check out the threads where the guys are building these birds ). It has the be the hands down best 182 available in ARF form today... ( and yes there are still a few things that need attention ).

Other kits can be hit and miss.

I just picked up the .50 sized Giles 202, and it's a wonderful ARF, especially considering the price.

The hardware is actually decent, the hinges are pin joints, landing gear carbon fiber, pushrods carbon fiber, aluminum pull pull bell arm, etc... I'm quite impressed with this 90.00 ARF!!!!

Then there are the "misses" of course... some of these are not terrible, but they may require more work and fixup than what some people may tolerate... a few however may be downright bad ( ugh my original non CMP Hellcat, which thankfully NP saw fit to discontinue... ).


If you haven't put together a couple of ARF's before, tread lightly... these are not for beginners. As indicated the instructions ( what instructions? ) are poor pictograms or bad translations. My Yak 1.40 came with one large SHEET, nothing more...

Hopefully you've already learned many of the construction "tricks" from other ARFs. You can also pick these up by downloading manuals for other preferably similiar planes...

Do that and be prepared to re-inforce, replace some hardware if required, re-inforce, reheat the covering, and in some cases clear coat the covering too, and you'll do fine.

My little NP Ultimate 40 just completed it's 150th flight and has thus far survived three crashes...