I have put together a Giles 202 50 sized, low wing trainer, Ventus 2.6 meter sailplane, Cessna 182 50 sized, and may start working on a T-34. I have been around long enough to remember an ARF used to mean the wings were sheeted for you. You still had to build the rest.

Are the planes from Nitro good for the beginner, not without help from some one. The directions at best, should only be used to mix epoxy on. I did not have a problem with putting them together. I also tossed the hardware I did not like and used the stuff I thought would work. They are not for the first time person. I have done 5 orders with them so far. I have not had a problem.

My first plane from them was a Giles 202 50 sized. It does look good when you get it together. Total beauty. Flies as well as or slightly better then it looks. I did toss a lot of the links and replaced them with Dubro ball links. It is a great flying plane and I am glad I bought it.

The next one was the low wing trainer 60 sized. I ordered (4) of them, one for me, my brother and one each for my brother in laws. We did a Saturday build session together. I had no problems with it. It went together very well. My (2) brother in laws would not have been able to put it together with the supplied epoxy mixing pages. They were lost on the first page. I asked to see both copies of the directions and then put them in the trash. I built the first step and they looked at it and then copied what I did. Sort of here is step one, then step two. I had mine complete on the first day. I figured out the CG was off by an inch. They listed it about 1 inch in front of the spar. It was very nose heavy setup that way. You could not really slow it down for landings. I rebalanced on the spar and she flies like a dream. It will fly slower then my Tower trainer 60. In a 10 mph head wind, it almost stops forward ground speed. For less then $80.00, well worth the little bit of effort and changing of the hardware.

Next order was for a Ventus glider. It is a 2.6 meter span fiberglass fuse sail plane. It has a few issues. The hardcore sailplane guys say the air brakes are in the wrong place. They are forward of the spar and they say it should be behind the spar. Mine work so I am happy about it. We have done 2 build session to finish them. We used the included retract and gear doors. I think she is well worth the $120.00 we spent. We did change a few things in the way it was setup. I changed the way the servo for the air brakes is setup. Changed some hardware, but well worth it.

I just finished the Cessna 182, well almost done. I need to pick up a 70 4s engine for it as well as a lighting kit.. I have all the rest done. It is a nice plane. It is no trainer. I have it setup pretty much like the Chinglish directions say. I sort of followed the pictures. I have tossed a lot of the plastic links and replaced with Dubro or Goldberg stuff. The fit and finish is pretty dang good for $99.99. There are a few places that leave you in the dark. But as stated, these should not be the persons first build unless they build it with some one who knows what they are doing. Over all I really like this plane. I can not wait until I get my new engine for it.

I have the T-34 sitting here in the box. I am trying to decide if I want to build it with a .46 2s or wait until I can get a 70 4s. Over all it looks good. I am going to use some Luster cote on it. I will put two coats of clear on it before I start. It has been said the nose gear retract is very weak. I fly off of pavement or concrete so it should hold up. The people who had real trouble flew off of grass.

Each ARF I have put together over the years has had issues. One of my all time favorite ARF's was the old Spectrum from Hobbico. It was a 40 sized pattern ship. It had cheap self stick shelf paper for covering, the whole top was a blow molded plastic piece you glued on. Of course when you touched the Ca glue to the fuse and plastic top, the coloring of the shelf paper would run. I flew the heck out of that plane. It was a great plane in the air. It just had issues getting there.

I have a Model Tech Formula 3D. It was on close out for $90.00. That was a pretty good ARF. I tossed about half of the plastic hardware and used Dubro stuff. I just finished an older Global / Model Tech Lucky Stik. It is a 40 sized Ugly stik. I would say it is about 5 years older then the Formula 3D. What an improvement the Formula 3D is over the Lucky Stik. 100% better then the older stuff.

Every ARF out there is going to have something some does not like. It is hard to please every one. Try putting a kit together for the cost of an ARF. I have tried, no way I can do it. For the price they are better then I have seen people build.

I did have a problem and I posted a question in the Nitro planes support form and John took care of it. I do believe that they have improved the service at Nitroplanes. So far I am happy with what I have bought and the service I have received. Will that change, never know. Tower Hobbies has let me down before.

Just my 2 cents worth.


Dru.