I think as a lot of people who got into flying by buying an ARF or RTF are starting to show an interest in "Modeling". Old guy that I am I have always built from kits, plans, and occ. "Scratch".,

A friend of mine, who just started flying with an ARF, came to me a few months ago, with a problem, his wing seemed to be flexing in the air. I showed him how to remove the covering on the wing and we inspected the structure. We found a crash waiting to happen. The center section was not glued together well at all. We built another dih. brace and extended it out two more bays and added another brace near the trailing edge, then went through the entire plane and re glued many joints. I had him add epoxy reinforcement to the motor mount area, it was loose after just 5 or 6 flights, and we found the control horns were glued on with NO BOLTS or Screws holding them. After we reglued everything and fixed the control horn attachments, we covered the plane in Mica Film+ Balsa Rite to glue it down. The plane has served him well, including surviving several "mild" crashes.

Now he has just purchased a Laser cut kit for his next level plane and I have agreed to give him a bit of advise here and there if he asks for it. I believe as we continue to increase the "flyers" at the field, we will slowly increase the numbers of us who will build from kits at least part of the time. One thing is important. Volunteer to give help as needed when you can, so that the new "Builder" won't give up to easy and go back to RTF or ARTF planes.

Ralph