ORIGINAL: outdoorhunting
There ARE exceptions, however, normally " you get what you pay for". Don't expect an #1- classy ARF with NO problems for a $100.00. More times than not , you will have to do something to it. Extra epoxy here, a little C/A there, replace some cheezy hardware. That is just the facts of life, why should our hobby be an exception? Guys, when you see an ARF that normally costs a couple hundred bucks for a hundred bucksIT AIN'T GONNA BE THE SAME PLANE !!!!!!!!!!!! So stop whinning about your "junk planes" , MAN UP.!!! You bought it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Fix it & go on or build your own !!!!
As I see it (an outsider looking in) the problem lies with the new flyer who does not know that there are some rebuilding issues that are required, and purchase an ARF expecting it to be just that. They follow the instructions, and then suffer the consequences. I have looked at the instructions for the so called warbirds in the .60 size. Nowhere does the instruction manual even mention adding glue to the known weak spots, nor do they mention fiberglassing the wing center sections. These are the guys who lose interest in this hobby when they suffer an immediate loss on the first or second flight due to structural failure. So knowing that these issues are there, and are real, how do we address them? Do we ignore them and hope that the distributor will have the manufacturer correct these issues, and continue the blanket condemnation of anyone who questions these issues, or do we demand that the purchaser get what they paid for? The selling price does not necessarialy seperate the junk from the good stuff.
Bill, AMA 4720