Hi there,

I'm not sure if I should post this question here or in "Setting up shop" forum, but I'll post it here anyway. So, I'm planning to buy a trainer kit, I still don't know which one, I'm still debating over the SIG LT-40 and the Midwest Aerostar. But to have a better estimate of the overall costs of my entry into the hobby, I must know wich tools I will need to build the kit succesfully.

So here's my initial list. Do I need all theses tools, are there any that I must have and are not on my list??
[*]X-Acto w/ #11 blades[*]Dremel Multipro tool[*]Razor saw[*]Electric power drill w/ a good selection of drill bits[*]bar sander w/ a selection of sandpapers[*]Sealing iron[*]Heat gun (Will an ordinary hair dryer do the job?)[*]Scissor, pliers, screwdrivers...

Thanks!

You can always make do without certain items. Dremel Multi tool is good to have as well as a bar sander, but they are not really necessary if money is an object. You can get by with several pieces of wood with sandpaper glued to it. I built my aerostar with this, and it is fine. Suggest you take several small pieces including several 1x2x12, with various grits glued to them. I used spray contact, and it works well. Paint stirrers work well also. These will last for several planes. A drill is necessary, but you only need a basic drill set. As you progress, you will find that you will collect a lot of items, but you can get by on basics for the initial stages.

Forgot-
Definately invest in a heat gun and a sealing iron, if you intend to use any covering like monocote. These are the items that are really worth investing in.

appx 33 yrs of building models, 25 years of using Monokote, and I've NEVER used a heat gun or "Monokote Iron". I've always used a CHEAP travel iron. (Garage sale $1)

You won't need the Dremel much for a LONG time. Its handy for some fine detail work, but really isn't necessary at all.

You will make use of a razor saw when you are building kits. You won't use it for assembling ARF's

The X-Acto (or Excel or a couple of other brands...) knives are handy.... virtually neccessary.

You'll find you only use 3 or 4 bits out of a common 12 bit set. A battery operated drill is much handier than a heavoier drill. (I use a lot of Black and Decker "Versa-Pac" tools)

Avoid loading up on "stuff"... you'll find out what you need from the kit instructions.

Even the flight box and most of the field equip can be delayed until after you solo... get the kit, engine, radio, then 1 gal fuel and a hand crank fuel pump (and about 6 ft of fuel tube) Don't get the glow ignitor... it just tempts you to start the engine without the help of someone who can show you ho to safely operate it.

Guys! one of the most basics: a flat building surface!

Make sure you have an area where you can build the plane parts, and leave them while the glue dries! And large enoug to lay out the plans, and generally build comforatbly. There are many mediums to help 'protect' your building surface, and accept pins to secure parts. i use a sheet of gyprock / wall board, some use ceiling tiles.

Also, some pins to ensure the parts are secured to the building surface, and don't move. So, buy a packet or two of 'T' pins.

Wax paper, so the plans / building board dosen't become part of the model! lay it down, over the plans before you pin the first spar in place..

A good steel rule as well. get a 36" one for general 'flatness checking' and to help cut covering material. Also, get one half that length..

And clamps. Get a few little clamps. you can start off with a few 'bull dog' clamps; to hold firewalls, etc.. while the epoxy dries. Dollar stores usually sell some 'cheap' ones, as well as the big 'home renovation' stores.

A cheap 'elementary school geometry set' for the triangles. you'll need something to help you get 90° angles. And these are usually small enough to get into places like wings & ribs.All the other tools you'll aquire over time.

A drill press is probably the best 'large ticket' item to buy. You can do a lot with one of these..

Ask for 'hardware store' gift certificates next christmas!

Tim,

I've kept a running microsoft Excel sheet that shows exactly what I've bought up to now for this plane. I was curious at how much I'd end up spending, so really EVERYTHING is on this sheet including exact cost. Of course, the current total is really depressing to look at.

Inany case, here's a few tips (all prices Canadian).

* The #11 blades vary widely in price, I think the best price I found was at Omer Deserres. I bought a pack of 15 blades, but they also sell a pack of 100 blades for 23$ (considering that 15 blades is nearly 10$ at the hobby shop...) I didn't need more than 15 blades, though covering uses up blades like crazy.

* I used my dremel quite a bit actually (cutting pushrods, brass tubing, griding, sanding, etc), but it's not really needed, think of it as a luxury, it just makes the job easier at times. You might want to look at Sears for one, in their discount bins. I once saw a craftman dremel-look-alike for something like 30$.

* No need for a Razor saw on the Aero-star, but I did use the Razor plane (amazing for bevelling edges and before sanding the leading edge of wings - 10$ at the hobby shop, no need for spare blades). Again, both of these are probably luxuries

* Electric Power drill: I bought mine at Réno-Dépot (or Rona? that home improvement store at the Carrefour Laval mall). It was the cheapest one available, 35$ and 12$ for a set of 24 bits.

* Since you looked at my website, you've seen the sanders I use, 3.50$ each at Canadian tire, and a packages of 320, 220 and 80 grit sandpaper. In the Aero-star kit, you'll have enough scrap plywood to make yourself a 10 inch bar.

* A Heat gun is another luxury, I covered my entire plane with the less expensive covering iron I could find, (from Hangar 9 - 23$), I was recommened Ultracote, and it worked fine. As you start covering the first surfaces corners arn't going to look too good, but by the time you finish the airplane, you'll have learned the tricks.

* As for other tools, I used a (only can only the french name, 'Une equarre'), aluminium meter stick, screwdrivers (try to get a set with some really small bits) (T-Pins, 1 pack of 100 medium size is MORE than enough), 4-40 tap and tap handle (find this at Rona, you shouldn't pay more than 12$ total for the handle AND bit - I've always found Canadian tire prices to be way expensive for tools), Pliers, etc. There's more, but a lot you probably already have. You really don't need that much for building the plane.

oh, and about that building surface, I went to Rona and found myself a ceiling tile, and taped the corners to the desk I build on. I checked it often with the meter-stick, and it stayed very straight. For 4$, can't go wrong!

Sorry if I repeated a few things from the other posts, but anyway, this is what I've learned from my building [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

head to UDISCO on Dedarie for the tools. I find he's teh cheapest in town - Montreal. He also does mail order..

Don't forget lee valley tools. The closest one is in Ottawa, but agsain, they do mail order. They have some really really nice tools! and other neat little things one 'can't live without'!