Just wondering how others choose there next project i find it so hard to just choose one when you have a couple lying around waiting to be put together.</p>

I work on three simultaneously so I never get many done. 

Then I crash one that is finished and flyable and buy an ARF so I can get airborne again quickly.

I think that's normal? [&:] I have one on the table now and it is a very big project. I'm already thinking of my next plane already, and I know I should be thinking about what I have in front of me- but for some odd reason I'm thinking ahead to my next project.

My airplanes are like "Lay's Potato Chips... can't have just one."

Addiction does cross my mind?[sm=spinnyeyes.gif]


Pete

G'day

I do it backwards. First I find an engine I like, buy it and then look for something to put it in. First and foremost I like engines. Planes are things to get engines into the air. Well, that's my way of doing it.

Initially when I was learning to fly I just tried to stay ahead of the crashes. In those days it was all kit or plan building, but when I bought my second four stoke (OS 48 Surpass), I wanted to hear it in the air ASAP so I bought a Thunder Tiger Trainer 40 (which turned out to be a great choice) and had the Surpass in the air in a couple of weeks. The combination impressed many people who would never have thought of putting a four stroke in a trainer.

More recently I wanted to try a Laser engine. I bought a 100 and then looked for something to put it in. It ended up in a Black Horse (I think) 60 size Decathlon. The result is great but abit on the overpowered side. At quarter throttle it sounds amazing. All you can hear is airframe and prop noise. It actually sounds surprisingly real.

So that's how I do it. Buy an interesting engine then look for a mount for it.

If I were to choose a next project, it would be a scale plane. I have 2 babies that I like to fly, both high performance (but different).

I guess my method is to have balance of different types of planes. Sport planes come first for me though - I prefer a plane that flies good over a plane that looks good.

Next plane will have flaps, lights, and maybe retracts. Been looking at the TopFlite Cessna 182, but might feel strange powering it with batteries! Saw one fly the other day, looked and sounded scale with an OS 4stroke.

Wish there was a 1.20 size, affordable airliner to choose from - that would be cool .

I usually can't decide.  Since I build rather than asemble I don't get to many planes in the air compared to others. so the decision can be difficult when it comes time to decide.  I've got a GP 40 cub (clipped) about  75% done... so i think next is the BUSA 1/6 Nieuport .

I pick the one I want to do least. Then its out of the way ;->

I guess I am really anal retentive.

I have the next 6 projects planned out.
I buy all the accessories for a plane ahead of time and put all those parts in a bin. That way when I start a project, I have everything I need down to the first prop.
I finish one airplane at a time.
When I plan my online purchases at TH, I get what I need, then buy extra "inventory" items like monokote, props, spinners, field gear, to get to the next highest discount level.
Crashing a plane, creates a situation where I have to assess the relative priorities of all my planes in the queue and figure out how badly I want to get her in the air again.

Do I need help?

Airplane = engine carrier. Ican relate.

The next three choose me. I gave up building for customers 4 years ago when I moved here. Last month I ended up with three kits to build for two friends so I had no choice as to what the model would be. A Cub and two profile planes. For myself it's a bit harder to choose. Depends on the engines and gear I have on hand, how much money I can spend on wood and covering. I like to build from plans so money is way up there to help my choices. I have quit flying the big planes so I decided on 60 size or maybe just a bit bigger. I'm sick of building old school pattern planes and don't need another Extra or IMAC type so I have been going through my plans catalogs looking. I keep looking at the RYAN and Gee Bee Y.

I just hit all the swap meets. usually can find and engine, kit or air frame. Or even servos dirt cheap. Once I have either of the forementioned, then I'm off on my next project. I recently bought a supertigre 90 off a guy at the local club for 25.00, so now I'm looking for a 60 size ARF or kit to put the engine in.

i have a general idea of the next 2-3 I want to build at any give time. Currently, I'm focused on picking up a 3D foamy. I do all the accessory shopping ahead of time, such as servos, batts, etc. Then I buy the kit. I usually only have one project under construction at a time.

After that, I'd like to get the next Extreme Flight 48" MXS. From there, I'd like to get a profile 3D from OMP and use the OS95Ax that's currently on my Big Stik 60.

SCRATCHBUILD SCRATCHBUILD SCRATCHBUILD!

When I see a full scale aircraft that I like, it goes on the "to do list".
Currently, in no particular order:

Kalinin K-7
Shorts Sunderland
Dehavilland Comet jetliner
Avro CF-105 Arrow
Okha rocket plane
B-36 with droppable nukes
Tupolev Tu-144
Tupolev Tu-134
Tupolev Tu-98
Illushin Il-86
Etrich Taube (actually being built...)
Supermarine S-6
Baade 152

And others....</p>

Yea currently my list it

Ziroli Stuka - Debating wether to scratch build or to order a full kit from precision cut kits and buy any sheeting that is unacceptible
BUSA 1/4 cub
CMP C-160 arf
Ziroli B25

It's hard to figure out what one i want to go with next</p>

My List:

#1: Rebuild and modify my Discontinued .60 Great Planes Fokker DR1
#2: BUSA Eindecker
#3: ESM Fw-190


Small list... I don't want to look greedy.

I tried that method of buying the engine first, then the plane. Well... I bought my Saito FA150GK this summer and I'm not buying my Fw-190 for a while. Just too busy with my Jasta development.
Pete

My current project is rebuilding a crashed LT 25 and I'm learning how fun and challenging that can be. So much so that at lunch today I dug out a crashed Big Stik 40 that my friend busted up a little and started stripping the Monokote off of fuse. The wings are toast but I can get a new one for about $55 I think it was was. I hear its a great flying plane and since I have a Magnum RFS 52 that needs a home, I plan on kit, er, arf bashing this thing to look something like a Eindecker E3 that it's modeled after.

Ill make it a tail dragger, cover it with antique Solartex and will most likely use spoked wheels.

G'day Which Taube are you building? I built the smaller of the two BUSA versions. I have only flown it twice as it was quite a challenge to fly. If you are building the larger version with ailerons it may fly better.

The real Taube used wing warping for roll control and the elevator was not hinged but warped up and down too. Without some form of wing input into rolls, the smaller model Taube will only turn with LOTS of rudder. I found I had to hold the rudder through the whole of a turn. This is not normally the case with rudder/elevator planes - holding the elevator once the turn is started is usually enough but not for the Taube.

The engine bay is rather small so I used a Saito 40 which worked well.

I really should put the engine back in mine and have another go at flying it but the engine is currently in a nice little 80% size Astrohog which flies perfectly.

Perhaps I should build the larger version?

You bet! Somebody's gotta pick up the Comet project. I saw that you posted on this before, so I guess someone has interest in the almost unmodeled plane. 4 Microfans sheeted directly over, to keep the same size nacelles that I now have at 51" didn't cut it, for a number of reasons, so here's the solution below. As of now, the completed exhaust thrust seems well within range. Absolutely a scratchbuild. It may even turn out to me more work than the Saro A1 was. [X(]
Bill

Yes me too. I quit building for people because I started getting sick of building. It started becoming a job instead of a hobby, so I got out of it in time before I started to dislike the hobby.

Well I'm back deciding what I want to build and fly next. (best part of the hobby) Decisions, decision.


Pete

At the time I had the worst case of building burn out I have ever had, I was talking ARFs!!!Every builder gets into that mood at some point. I build so many planes I have discovered lately I can't recall what they have been any longer. I can't recall the other two after the Cub. What did happen thought was I got out of my slump?? Rickster wrote me and let me know there was a big plans sale at MAN and he knew how much I liked a Sukhoi they have. I ordered a set of plans for it and spent my summer building something new for myself. That was fun and I didn't bother rushing to get it finished. Epoxy a part or two and go back out to the shop when I felt like it, glued in a couple more parts and would forget about the build for a while. Last one I built took about 6 weeks, this time it took me close to 6 months but I did enjoy the build. Another IMAC plane but what the heck, it's mine!!

Yup thats how I do it with props, Vice Versa with jets..

I think about what I have laying around, engines, servos. then I pick a plane that will work with them. But recently a flying buddy
dumped his 29% mx2 and damaged the covering on the fuse and tore up the right wing. He gave me the plane and a ZDZ 40cc
with prop spinner and Pitts muffler for $100. The right wing will cost 50bucks for a new one and then some nice high torque digitals.
So i guess sometimes the plane chooses you too.

Hey Chris. How's married life?

CGr.

Dick,
Married life is fun, we were together for 12 years before getting married so I guess it's not much of a change.
just a piece of paper and a finger cuff.

Here is my Senior Kaydet which has a way to go yet, Well the extremeties anyway! I call it the 'Custer Kaydet'.

John