ARF Kit Engineering
11-26-2007 | 02:03 AM
#1
Thread Starter
ARF Kit Engineering
Im begaining to find that some of the ARF kits on the market leave a lot to be desired
in the engineering dept. I just purchased the TomHawk ARF from Hobby People and
found that the instruction manual poor and the rudder and elevator linkage system
poorly designed.
Just recently I had a nitro models Bobcat 50 and a friend of mine has the Bobcat
120 we dont think much of the kit engineering and neither of us will purchase them
again. I think for me im going to stick with kits that I know have decent inst manuals
and someone has put a some thought into the kit design, I know kits that I have had
from Horizon and Great Planes have been fine and im sure there are some other
fine kits out there as well. I have also had some Model Tech kits from Hobby people
a few years ago that had decent manuals and were ok.
Just to sum up im not going to be quick to purchase kits especialy those new on the
market without haveing first hand info about them.
in the engineering dept. I just purchased the TomHawk ARF from Hobby People and
found that the instruction manual poor and the rudder and elevator linkage system
poorly designed.
Just recently I had a nitro models Bobcat 50 and a friend of mine has the Bobcat
120 we dont think much of the kit engineering and neither of us will purchase them
again. I think for me im going to stick with kits that I know have decent inst manuals
and someone has put a some thought into the kit design, I know kits that I have had
from Horizon and Great Planes have been fine and im sure there are some other
fine kits out there as well. I have also had some Model Tech kits from Hobby people
a few years ago that had decent manuals and were ok.
Just to sum up im not going to be quick to purchase kits especialy those new on the
market without haveing first hand info about them.
11-26-2007 | 02:48 AM
#2
My Feedback: (221)
RE: ARF Kit Engineering
Welcome to the 'wonderful' world of todays ARF.
I believe many of them are produced by non-hobby people in China and elsewhere, who simply have the factory facility. Or so it would seem. Some are contracted to produce ARFs by known designers and distributers, and then reproduce, cheaper knock-offs and throw them in a no-name 'white box'. These planes are lacking all the extra good hardware, manuals, and accessories added after the distributer gets them back.
They are often 50% or less of what the name brand will cost, but are what has come to be know as 'builders' ARFs. No manual worth reading, very little usable hardware, and often structural things that need attention.
Early on, the fiberglass, paint, and clear canopies were awful on these ARFs, but these things have gotten much better, and now rival even the name brand kits.
Yes, I said Kits. Anything that needs assembly, weather in stick form or unit form, is a kit, to me, and I am also a builder of sticks.
Personally, I'm glad for the level of quality that does exist in many of todays ARFs. These little Chinese people have gotten very good with lasers and covering. Now if we could just get them to work on the gluing, wood selection, sanding, and authenticity (especially with war birds), we would have something.
I believe many of them are produced by non-hobby people in China and elsewhere, who simply have the factory facility. Or so it would seem. Some are contracted to produce ARFs by known designers and distributers, and then reproduce, cheaper knock-offs and throw them in a no-name 'white box'. These planes are lacking all the extra good hardware, manuals, and accessories added after the distributer gets them back.
They are often 50% or less of what the name brand will cost, but are what has come to be know as 'builders' ARFs. No manual worth reading, very little usable hardware, and often structural things that need attention.
Early on, the fiberglass, paint, and clear canopies were awful on these ARFs, but these things have gotten much better, and now rival even the name brand kits.
Yes, I said Kits. Anything that needs assembly, weather in stick form or unit form, is a kit, to me, and I am also a builder of sticks.
Personally, I'm glad for the level of quality that does exist in many of todays ARFs. These little Chinese people have gotten very good with lasers and covering. Now if we could just get them to work on the gluing, wood selection, sanding, and authenticity (especially with war birds), we would have something.
11-26-2007 | 04:50 AM
#3
Joined: Apr 2004
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RE: ARF Kit Engineering
poor instructions?
I once bought a Sukhoi 31 ARTF and the "instructions" detailed how to fit the nose leg!!!
They also stressed many times the importance of getting the correct c of g,,,,,,,,,,,,without saying where it was
Having said that most of today's ARTFs are good but still in many cases with poor hardware.
I once bought a Sukhoi 31 ARTF and the "instructions" detailed how to fit the nose leg!!!
They also stressed many times the importance of getting the correct c of g,,,,,,,,,,,,without saying where it was
Having said that most of today's ARTFs are good but still in many cases with poor hardware.
