OK, The other day I was reading some posts in the clubhouse and they where talking about all the cookie cutter ARFs out there and they were tired of seeing them at there field. I don't wan't to start a ARF V builder thread, but there was one comment that got me to thinking. Someone said that he saw someone cleaning his proud ARF that he didn't build. (or something to that effect.)

Well, Can you be proud of an ARF??

I didn't build my Harley, but I'm sure proud of it. I didn't build my truck, and I proud of it too. as a matter of fact, There's alot of things I have that I didn't BUILD , that I'm proud of. If I had time to build a plane I would, but as I am a truck driver I don't have time to build. Sat and Sun are the only days I have off. 12 hour days really make it hard to build anything.

I took pride in trying to set my H-9 Sukhoi up with the best gear I could afford and get it to fly the very best I can make it fly. Can I not be proud of that?

When people not in the know tell me I have a beutiful plane, I say thanks. If they ask me if I build it, I say I assembled it. Can I not be proud of that too?

Maybe when I retire in 35 more years I will have time to build, but until then I will be proud of my ARFs


Kelly

Even those in the know would agree that the H-9 Sukhoi is a looker, and something to be proud of. You will have to overlook the narrow minded to enjoy this hobby or any other pusuit. I'm proud of my ARFs too. I got a few, and they all fly well. I think the builder vs ARF guy is more about folks (builders) wishing they could build as well as some of the ARFs come . And to do it cheaper ain't happening.

I built a plane or two, but I still like ARFs and the fact that now days you get in the air cheap and fast. Maybe that's what the "builders" don't like...ARF guys fly more for less.

Really I think building is a passtime and a pursuit unto itself. Some folks build for the pleasure of building. I'm sure if the people in the kit building forum weren't building planes they would surely be building something! The ARF guys like to fly. And either don't have time as is your case cowboyway88, or the desire to build anything more time consuming or complicated than the latest and greatest ARF.

Just a thought.

Jim C

Of course you can be proud of an ARF. When I finish my seagull edge I'll be proud of it cos I sent it up with all the gear that I wanted. Just because I didn't glue the wood together does not mean I can't be proud of it.

All I fly is ARF's. I have a high maintenance wife, a 2.5 year old son, a dog, a fish, oh and a full time career. With very little time to build, ARF's are the only way for me to go.

Tell me people will not envy you when you fly something like a EF or QS Yak 54!

We can be proud of everything of our own no matter
what or how it is. The reasons are not the same though.
There are many " proud " in our mind.
So I think it is good that someone is proud of something
since it means that he loves it much and takes care of it.
Every airplane can be loved by the owner.

Tsutomu Mabuchi

Bottom line "Who cares what anyone thinks". I fly arfs ,kits, plan built, had me downs. As long as your haven a good time the heck with what others think.-Mike

I like to build, but I like to fly more. An ARF is a good way to get into the air quicker, and some of them are built as good as anything else flying. There will always be those people who harrumph and grump because you're not doing it their way, but ignore them. This hobby is all about having fun, and if flying an ARF is fun, then who cares what anyone else says? Never compromise yourself just to try and please someone else.

I fly helis, too, and I sure as heck don't stand in a machine shop making all the parts for them, either!

This is one of my pet peeves. It's amazing what some dolt will say when you're having a good time!I think some of them are jealous and just get their jollies trying to sneak in a put down. As long as you enjoy yourself, it's nobody's business or concern if you build from scratch, kit or arf. This is just a Ford/Chevy, Honda/Harley thing! Its a wonder they don't expect you to grow your own balsa wood......jeeeesh

Just my opinion.

Jim

Be proud of your choice of planes. Be proud of the way you set it up. Be proud of the way you fly it. Be proud of the way you maintain it.

Don't worry about those who might think less of you because you chose to invest money instead of time on this particular plane. For some reason, some kit or scratch builders have a problem with people buying ARFs. The reason doesn't really matter. What matters is the problem is theirs, not the people buying the ARFs.

When someone complements one of my ARFs, I usually feel a little embarassed that I didn't actually build it, so I tell them it's an ARF. I can feel proud that even though it's an ARF, I've been able to keep it looking new through good maintenance and careful flying. Same goes for my Harley (although I don't tell people it was an RTR)

It's a matter of degrees I think. I scratchbuild, build from kits, fly(and assemble) ARFs, and have even been known to throw a RTR or two in the air. The more work I have put into a plane(not to mention the blood, sweat, and sometimes tears), the prouder I am when it actually leaves the ground and flies in some semblance of "control".

Can you be proud of an ARF? Sure! I think the point that the "builders" are making is that on any given day, you might see 10 (insert ARF here) lined up in a row, all the same. Part of the appeal for me is seeing and building/flying unique or different designs, but everyone has their own way to enjoy their addiction.

Two more cents...

Hell, I'm pretty proud when I get an ARF in the air.. I love it when is says on the ARF box, ready to fly in just 12 hours! Then, three weeks later, you're scratching your head and say, "where'd I go wrong?"

It's all relative, sometimes ARF flyers make comments about foamie park flyers being toys, then kitbuilders bash ARF flyers, then scratch builders think they are a step above kitbuilders, but still they are using someone elses' plans, probably designers are the only true originals in this hobby. But, aren't they usually copying the design of a full scale aircraft? To me it doesn't matter what you are flying, there are truly so few of us in this hobby that we should embrace all aspects of anything that flys and encourage each other. Can't we all just get along?

You bet you can. A friend has that H9 Sukhoi; a beautiful model. And who wouldn't be proud of the puppy below (EF Yak 54 ARF)?

I hear this a lot at my field. Those guys are mostly scalers, and as far as they're concerned, anything other than a giant-scale warbird with 27 tons-per-square-inch wing loading is a "sh^t plane". Their models all have proper color schemes/markings and scale details. Then you look closer, and you see servos with paint overspray all over them, receivers and switches older than I am, sloppy wiring, etc., etc.

And watching them do their thing is a hoot. They spend a LOT of time on the ground, either sitting or on their backs, fiddling and tinkering. One guy spends so much time under his model, I told him I'm going to buy him a creeper for Xmas. All of this for one, MAYBE two flights. But they're enjoying themselves; and the sport contingent enjoys watching them... its better than TV.

Moral of the story: Don't be a snob unless YOUR feces is consolidated.

Im VERY satisfied and proud of ALL the ARF's I have built!
I think through experience, I have become a pretty good arf assembler,now with that said,I have seen some pretty poorly looking asembled new arfs, so I think you have to have a little patience and talent even with ARF's.
You just don't throw an ARF together if you want it to look desent and im particular on cosmetics of the plane.
As for the builders of kits,unless they are retired,I do not see them at the field very often,either working or building the airplane,I myself like to fly and not build,I am in the process of building a kit but a very slow go..hard to keep focused.

the same people complaining about arfs are old geezers who think the only rc plane made is a cub with a futaba attack 4 radio and os 40 fp engine they would be 30 or 40% less people in the hobby if they wasn't arf's

Sometimes I think a kit would be easier to do then an ARF buy the time I get the firewall, landing gear etc all rienforced.. Then open up the bottom for battery placement and make sure all the control rods are braced peoperly. Then get the stabs, wings and thrust all lined up... Bottom line though a ARF costs a lot less then a kit... Funny thing is at our field it seems more and more people don't/can't even do
the ARF thing... They are paying other people to assemble the ARF's for them... They just want to fly...

I think we're sorta saying the same thing...

Most definitely you can be proud ! Like most of us these days I have very little building time so ARFs are the only logical choice if I want to get much flying time in. Also, I have never built an ARF exactly according to the instructions. I always make a mod or two here and there to get the plane more to my liking. In that respect, even ARFs are unique although they may look alike.

Building is an artistic skill that not everyone has. Not everyone has the same skill set. When balsa impaired it is expected that others with skills will scoff at the finished result.

I’m proud of my hand me downs, Junkers, and kludged up repairs but understand they must look terrible to the craftsman. Some solace is taken in that they all fly and are reliable and never crash for mechanical or aerodynamic reasons.

I've got lots of comments on my ARF, currently my only flying plane.. It's a GP Extra 300s .40 sized, and IMHO looks pretty good. It's simple and clean and is put together with pride. I have recently joined a club and mostly fly during the weekdays after work. I'm a younger guy (27) and find mostly the older gentlmen at the field on weekdays, guys that have been around forever and spend more time at the field socializing than actual flying. I find that usually their first question to me is "Are you a member here" which they have every right to ask. The second question is "do you know what your doing" I assume because I have a "nice looking" plane that isn't covered in different patches of covering, with cracked windows, bent gear, and an engine from 1982. These guys crack me up, their the ones with beat up old planes, take off across the runway cause there is usually a crosswind, waiting for something to fall off their plane, and scare me when they come in for landing asking me if I know what I'm doing. Anyway to my point, yes you can be proud of an ARF, I'm pround of the way mine looks and the way I fly it.

I hope I don't get flamed here, but I have to say that I personally don't have the same level of pride with my GP Wagstaff Extra. Or maybe it's more accurate to say I don't have the same level of personal satisfaction as with the Midwest Extra I built (RIP). However, now that I have two young children there is no way I have time to build. I much rather spend time with them than at the work bench. So, if it wasn't for the ARFs that are available these days I would not be flying at all.

Dan

I recently purchased a Goldbery Sukohi and was pleasently surprized by the high quality of construction. During my modeling career I have scratch built, built from kits and now I'm into ARFs'. The reason why I have switched were caused by time and money. Have you seen the quailty and availabilty of balsa wood? ARFs come in many forms, from excellent to poor. Must available kits are fair in quality. By the time you assemble a kit it usually exceeds the cost of an ARF.
People at my local flying field are amazed by the beauty of the Sukohi and so am I. Goldberg has just released a Pitts ARF which I will probably purchase as my first biplane.

Of course. You can be proud of anything if you allow your ego to identify with it.

Pride is an aspect of ego attaching itself to an object. Attachment is a particular folly in R/C unless you appreciate and equally enjoy the pain you are inevitably creating for yourself. [:@]

What really takes the cake are all the 69.00 Sky Raider ARF’s offered by World Models.. These are really nice planes …. Seems like everyone around here has at least one…