ARFs and WEIGHTS
 

:confused: I would like to hear comentsfrom people about the weight of their ARFs before or after construction as compared to the weight of the ARF in magizine REVIEWS..( model airplane news rcm modeler etc.) I have 3 exam. below not to pick on model airplane news but they used the same motors and basic radio gears as I did.....MY befor construction weight is the least these planes could ever be ..it dose not include any glue changes in hardware..firewall..landing gear. pilots etc...it is basiclythe STD. kit with my motor radio gear battery etc not put together yet laid on the scale...( please no bathroom scales I use a digital gram scale i use on the farm )....my ready to fly weight includes all changes.. modification and balance needed for flight....

BF109 KYOSHO arf MODEL AIRPLANE REVIEW
before con.. ready to fly FEB 2002
2608 grams 2832 grams 2354 grams
91.9 % 99.8 % 83 %
NO RETRACTS RETRACTS YES


SPITFIRE KYOSHO arf MODEL AIRPLANE REVIEW
before con.. ready to fly NOV. 2000
2644 grams 2788 grams 2580 grams
93.2 % 98.3 % 91 %
NO RETRACTS RETRACTS YES


SHOESTRING ARF GREAT PLANES MODEL AIRPLANE REVIEW
before con... ready to fly JULY 2002
3489 grams 3688 grams 3232 grams
123% 130 % 114 %

AS you can see my weights where all a lot heavyer then the reviews ( please no coments about my scales they are tested every year.)....IN the 2 KYOSHO reviews they used retracts and they will add 4 to 5 % to the kit ( 2 hobbico retracts + futaba s136g servo = 143 grams )...in the bf109 review the fly weight was 83% with retracts ..my before con. weight was almost 92% and no retracts and my fly weight was 99.8 % WHAT WING DID HE CUT OFF TO GET THAT LOW OF WEIGHT.....IS SOMEONE LYING

ARFs and WEIGHTS
 

Hey porsche 911,

I notice you are from Blenheim. I grew up in Chatham and drank alot of beer in Blenheim. Oh those were the days...

I am sure that the test models that model airplane news gets are not just pulled off the line if you know what I mean. They probably get the pick of the litter. Most if not all of the arfs are made over seas and I know they vary greatly in weight due to wood density and even from factory to factory. I recently finished a DP extra and after talking with more guys that I can remember we determined that there were quite a variety of aileron strengths and contsruction techniques. Some had bracing, some didn't. Some were strong and some were soft. I bet the all up weight of this model varied by at least a pound in both directions from kit to kit.

On a similar topic they often claim flying attributes that planes simply do not have. I guess its not in their best interest to review heavy planes that fly poorly. You don't sell to many ads that way.

T

ARFs and WEIGHTS
 

Two examples - hanger 9 sport cap, with saito 91 - came out LIGHTER than what the box stated...I was exstatic!

Sig extra 300xs - box states 12- 13 lbs. I put in a saito 180, which is extremely light compared to say, a moki . Even left the wheel pants off (5 oz). Plane is 14 lbs 3 oz!!! Now add 24 oz of fuel...

ARFs and WEIGHTS
 

The problem has to do with wood :(

Kit manufacturers can't guarantee a special grain or wood density will be used to build / pack the model.

FYI, My H9 US 40 weighted 7 lbs ready to fly .... I scratch-built my own US 40 replica using Contest Grade balsa and the plane came in at 4.1 lbs ready to fly. All the dimensions are exactly the same !!

...The funny thing is I spent less money building my own plane than what the ARF model costs :)

H9 US 40 Wing Volume Loading: 10.12
My US 40 Wing Volume Loading: 5.93

all kit manufacturers lie about weight
 

It's not just the ARF'S. I have never built a kit that was close to the stated weight on the box. You can't build as light as the kit or ARF is supposed to be without sanding and grinding half of the wood in the plane. I have baby scales that I check at 2 1/2 and 5 pound weight before I check the weight on anything. I use super glue mast of the time and sand everything as much as I can and I have postal scales to weigh and use the lightst components I can get and none of the planes ever come out even close.