Great Hobbies
 

I have been looking at Great Hobbies web site and saw a Dehaviland Beaver kit for $199 Canadian. The kit is produced by Unionville Hobby. Has anyone had experience the LHS, the kit or manufacturer?

Great Hobbies
 

I have.Great Hobbies(previously East Coast Hobbies ) is the biggest R/C mailorder supplier in Canada.It has a good rep and decent prices.The Unionville Beaver kit is a builders kit.I built the 8 foot version.The wings and fuse have open bays which can be sheeted.Has a nice fibergalass cowl.Should fly good on a 120 4 stroke up to a small gasser(G-26).Floats are available with hard points shown on the plans.Instuctions are lacking in detail so you have to read between the lines somewhat.
Its a pretty good flier like the smaller and bigger 12 foot version...SteveD

Great Hobbies
 

I've bought tons of things from these guys. There great to deal with. Never had a problem with them. As for the unionvile beaver I can't help you because I haven't built one.
James

Great Hobbies
 

I Guys,

I want to thank you both for your prompt replies. Since I was looking for an ARF I think GH is for me but not the kit. I also saw that Vmar puts out an ARF of the same plane. Do you fellows have any experience with Vmar?

Great Hobbies
 

My only expirience with VMAR has been looking at one in the LHS. I was not impressed with the construction all and would not buy one myself. As far as I know two guys here had VMAR ARF's a while back. They both had structural failures within a year of purchace and both were destroyed in the resulting crash.
I looked over a trainer in the LHS here and it looked like the worst built plane I've ever seen. I would definetly not buy any VMAR ARF after seeing that trainer.
James

Great Hobbies
 

Great Hobbies is a good mail order house. I think it is as good as Tower. (Flame Suit - ON)

Great Hobbies
 

Again, thanks for the feedback-no Vmar or me. Its been said before on this forum"I am too old to learn just from my experience but have to rely on the experience of others". Does anyone have a Unionville [built] Beaver for sale?

Re: Great Hobbies
 

I would like to take exception to Jwoolridge's post. I have 300 flights on my Vmar Extra, a delightful plane with an OS 46FX. I was so impressed that I recommended one to my friend, a scale warbird builder. He bought one, liked it, and sold it for room later. The buyer loves it.

The Extra may be unique among the Vmar offerings, since I hear some of the other offerings bashed, like jwoolridge was doing. Don't include the Extra in that bash-list, it is sturdy and aerobatic. Not for beginners, but a good second or third aerobatic plane.

I would recommend it, with the caution to seal the edges of the covering with CA.

Good luck,
Dave Olson