I know, the main reason for being in RC is the flying! But, do you really get "buzzed" when you open that box of seemingly unrelated "stuff"? Read, re-read and re-re-read the instructions countless times? Then you begin your "labor of love", taking those diverse and many, many pieces, put them all together into a recognizable mass that is your next "Baby". You make the covering special and unique to you, so that when you are at the field, evryone knows, "Hey, looky there! So-and so's got a new one!" Do you love that? Or, would you just not want to get all wrapped up in that, and just fly?

I think building is more fun than flying.....although I never flown before ...I am building my first kit..and I love it!

Bonafide Balsa Junkie

I Love the smell of balsa dust in the morning,,,,, noon, night & late night

I really enjoy building. The problem for me is the time issue. I started a kit around last Thanksgiving that I still need to finish up. In that Time I have built two ARFs and a SPAD. ARFs keep my flying, kits keep me busy. I would build more kits if I had more time but with working and kids finding time to work on my planes usually ends up being late at night for the most part. When I build a kit I tend to be more picky and want to do it completely to my specs. My current kit would probably be done if it came with and enclosed cowl. Instead I am building one myself which slows the process down. I have considered building a plane from plans next but I keep wondering if it will end up taking me two years to finish it. I love the balsa dust but I especially love to get out and fly.

just finished my 1 plane.
got to bye another
got to bye another
got to bye another
got to bye another

lionheart

Although it's true , there is some satisfaction, in the attention that is given a new plane at the field, that really for me is not the most important reason for building,

Im a person who personally doesnt care if it takes a year to complete a plane,I use the time as a respite from the day, a very relaxed, non rushed time, something I do not get on the job, or in fact most other areas of my life, the satisfaction of turning a box full of sticks into a precise flying machine is enormous, personalised color scheme, radio compartment and every other detail of the plane, is where the true satisfaction of building comes from.


Highlander

I love to build. when I got into the hobby die cutting was sort of new and you had to cut all your pieces out that were printed on a piece of wood![X(] I have a huge shop and about 40 kits waiting to be built and am doing an Ultimate right now, love the smell of balsa wood!

I don't even buy kits anymore. Just gimme a plan man.

If I have something built already and I can fly it, then yea I don't mind building. But if I have trashed the whole hanger and I am building to fly, then I hate to build. Personally I got into this hobby to fly,not build. But I find that none of the arfs are built the way I like em. Not that they aren't of good quality, the last arf I got was built better than I can, but it wasn't built they way I like nor was it covered in my taste. It was almost (I said almost) a relief when I crashed so I could make some changes to the plane.

Started building in the 30's when that was the only way to have an airplane. Just never got over the habit. Have to confess I assembled 1 ARF and an ARC. That's it. Never again. I sometimes design too. Mostly successful and occasionally a disaster. The quality of some kits is superb and some kits a disaster. Prefer to buiild from plans so I can assemble my own kit. Try to get everything together in the shop before starting on the plan built types. Problem is lack of hangar space and piloting skill. One of the reasons for plan building is a preferance for scale or semi scale. If it doesn't look like a real airplane, Ugly Sticks, most yard bird and park flyers leave me out.

Ballgunner....I could have written your post about me with one change. I am newer to this I started building in 1950. I would rather pay someone to fly my planes than pay someone to build them. (ARF'S)

I am a builder. Not a very good flier. I like to build period. I am now building an advanced trainer from plans. I can build better than any ARF out there. So i just build a lot and fly a little.

Mark Shuman

I love to build. Sig's kits are some of my favorites, (Astro Hog and Hog bipe, two Kadet seniors, a Cub, a Kougar, and a Kavalier). Not to mention most all of the rubber powered stuff.
HOWEVER Right now I am flying all RTF's-Several electric park flyers/wings, a Great Planes RTF glider, Seagull models Spacewalker II ARF, a H-9 Arrow, and, Alpha RTF's
Why? Simple: time. I am flying RTF's for instruction, and the others as "sport" planes while I build another Kadet Senior and others.

Jetts

I was at the field yester day an a guy asked me if i like kits better or arf's better. I told him kits becasue theres alot more skill involed. An hes like no way arf's all the way. I told him i rather spend a year workin on one plane. An the guy was like one year, it only take 4-6 weeks to build a kit. Juging by the way his planes looked, it looked like it only took him 4 weeks to build.

I also like the building but it's only really worth it to me if I'm going to be doing a scale model. For example, I'd never bother building a trainer or something like an Ugly Stick. What's the point. I'd rather just buy an ARF and get out there to fly. As for "paying someone to build for me" I'd guess I'd end up spending more on a scratch-built plane than on a kit. Also while I enjoy gluing balsa together, what I really love is the challenge of figuring out how to replicate this or that scale structure using whatever materials and/or processes needed. For example, when I needed an aluminum cowl for my Eindecker to replace the too small ABS cowl that came with the kit I started out building from. I looked around and finally found an aluminum camping pot in the right diameter and with the right curves and had at it with my dremel tool.

I guess the real test is whether, given the choice, you'd choose to spend the day at the field or spend it building. Personally, I've been trying to "time manage" and do both. I try to build only at times that I couldn't be doing other things -- like playing ball with my kids.

Oh, and here's that cowl.

Patience for building is not a virtue I currently have. [:'(] I prefer to have a plane I can take to the field and fly straight away. I chose the RTF option of this poll simply because I am lazy. However, I do what minor repairs I can to keep my planes flying. If it goes beyond my limited building experience, I trash it. I currently have 3 whole wings, 2 sets of tail feathers, a couple of cowls, canopies, wheelpants galore, and many other assorted components. None of which will match to make a complete airframe. [&o] Also, my luck has run well with RTF's and very poorly with the ARF's I put together myself. Maybe that says something for my building prowess.

I build so I can fly. However, I do enjoy building. I do not do ARF's or RTF's. What's the point of that? anyone can show up at the field with a plane that way. Build it yourself, and design your own color scheme, and then you have something you can be proud of.

Great stuff all..... Keep it coming. Like so many things in life there are no right or wrong answers to this question. Personally, I've been building model aircraft since the mid-sixties. I've built everything from the old Gullows balsa and paper rubber band fliers to the most modern multimedia high tech kits of today. I just love to build! . But.... I also LOVE to fly! I also admire the ingenuity of the SPAD builders.... They can make anything fly!

I think the point is: To show up @ the field, and fly.....

Absolutely.....

That is your point ................. My point is: BUILD someting that will fly. Lots of folks build planes and never fly them. In fact more static models are sold in the hobby shops than flying models. I do like flying and the friendships I have made at the flying fields.

I enjoy the building as much, if not a little more, than the flying. I've only ever had one ARF, and will not likely ever have another. Something about opening up that box, looking at all the balsa, and knowing when I'm through it will be a flying machine just appeals to me. Covering, now, is a different matter.

Jetts,

Do you like your Kavalier? I'm building one now and am choking on all of this balsa dust!