quickest build time between companies.
#1
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From: charleston, SC
I am interested in which manufacture has the fastest build time in the ARF class. I have found that there is a bug difference in some ARF planes. In general which has the shortest build time for thosee of us who like to fly but don't have time to build?
#2

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From: Orlando, FL
I built quite a few ARFs in the last 3 years, and i have to say it might depend on the model and size more than the manufacturer.
The quickest to build of my recent planes:
My Funtana .40, and my son's UltraStick .40: Both were started on a Friday evening after work, and were test flown the following Sunday aroun noon. ( And I do a lot of extra stuff not in the instructions).
The worst ARF I have built that took me weeks to complete: Lanier "sea bird' float plane; it should have been sold to me as a Kit, Not an ARF!!![>:][>:][>:]
The quickest to build of my recent planes:
My Funtana .40, and my son's UltraStick .40: Both were started on a Friday evening after work, and were test flown the following Sunday aroun noon. ( And I do a lot of extra stuff not in the instructions).

The worst ARF I have built that took me weeks to complete: Lanier "sea bird' float plane; it should have been sold to me as a Kit, Not an ARF!!![>:][>:][>:]
#3
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From: Houston, TX
The fastest assembly I have done on an ARF is the Seagull Harrier. It's really just a matter of installing the radio gear, pushrods, engine, and a few odds & ends. Wings are plug in type, no epoxy mess or hassle. Very quick assembly and a great flyer.
Jim C
Jim C
#4
Depends a lot on the kit, the builder and what fitout you are installing. My cloud dancer was a standard build and went together very quickly. My Seagull edge however is taking quite a while, mostly because I am being very fussy and have changed things around (like moving the elevator servos, adding pull pull rudder etc).
#5
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From: Idaho Falls,
ID
The UCDs from Great Planes build pretty fast. You don't have to glue the wing which helps. My Mayhem from Sig was easy to build and has great hardware. Everything goes together easy on both of these planes. I'm getting better at the UCD46 because I'm building my fourth. However, I must really be slow because the advertisments say approx 8 hours. It usually takes me about 30 hours. But I don't worry about it because I consider that part of the hobby and enjoy making each one a little better than the one before. All in all most ARF are easy to build. I just wish I was ARF.Thanks,
Barry
#6
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I think they are all about the same unless your nickname is "Rainman." It can take some people a few days, a few weeks, a few months. Comes down to skill, time and money. I am in no hurry but i am not going to spend 6 months on a one month project. I assemble my arfs in a strange fashion.
I set a goal, if it takes me two hours to install wing servos then fine. If it takes 20 minutes. thats it. Or I want to get the wings done this week. Thursday they are done. Welll thats it for the weeks.
Plus Arfs need a little extra attention. Really does not take long but is necessary such as a little extra epoxy around the firewall. If you have retracts, remove them and apply epoxy to the mounting rails. Failure to do this will result in both of the above coming apart after only a few flights.
My order goes like this. I always do the wings first and get them operation to include retracts. Then I work from the back end of the plane forward. The engine is always last but this is me and how I do things. If you dance all around the plane you may forget something which will cause you a big problem
I set a goal, if it takes me two hours to install wing servos then fine. If it takes 20 minutes. thats it. Or I want to get the wings done this week. Thursday they are done. Welll thats it for the weeks.
Plus Arfs need a little extra attention. Really does not take long but is necessary such as a little extra epoxy around the firewall. If you have retracts, remove them and apply epoxy to the mounting rails. Failure to do this will result in both of the above coming apart after only a few flights.
My order goes like this. I always do the wings first and get them operation to include retracts. Then I work from the back end of the plane forward. The engine is always last but this is me and how I do things. If you dance all around the plane you may forget something which will cause you a big problem
#7
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With all of the ARFs I've built over the last few years (I average about 1 per month doing RCU Reviews) I can honestly say that there is a BIG difference between them. Seagull and Midwest are two that build in a day or two. Others have taken upwards of two weeks.



