I wantr to build the TF 182, how long does it take to build because i would like to have it ready by the end of july.

We-ell, I decided that I was going to build the same kit. It was my FIRST attempt at building, but I've always been good with my hands, and follow directions well, so I thought the intermediate builder's kit would be okay.

I started it about 7 years ago, and after 250 hours of construction I burned out on it. That 250 hours brought it to the point of being ready to do the plastic stuff and start covering, but that's where it sits today.

And yes, that 250 hours is very accurate because I kept a log by writing the time it took to complete a step next to that step in the instruction book.

It's a good kit with terrific instructions, but unless you're retired and willing to spend 50 or more hours a week at it, I doubt you'd get it finished by July. (I've estimated that it would take another 100 hours minimum to finish mine. [&o])

Now, if you really want the Top Flight Cessna finished by July, I might be persuaded to part with mine, but I don't work cheap, so....

Good luck.
Dennis

I know what you mean because it took me 4 years to build my super skybolt. And with school, an track it was hard to find time, and i was workin on it 3 days a week, for 3-4 hours at a time. An with no problem put atleast 500 hours into it. KNow im workin on one of my dads sterline models stinson reliant. Since i have heard many people say it will take me at least 2 months to build, and thats workin on it 5 days a week. BTW i have been build kits for 10 yearsDo you have any pictures of yours, i would like to see. Thanks.

DB cherry, i also sugest, you try an finish that model. Plastic parts will take you5 hours, at most. And covering will take about 5-10 depending on how skilled you are. Get that thing up and flyin!!! You could probally do it by the end of june.

The plastic stuff with the Cessna is definitely more than a 5 hour job. From what I've heard, the 3 piece ABS cowl will take longer than that! [:@] I'm thinking I might order a fiberglass cowl for it.

I also bought the cockpit kit, and that has at least 40 to 50 pieces in it. The seats (two buckets and the rear bench) have about a half dozen pieces each, the floor and walls are a real Bi*ch to fit, and then there's the carpeting, seat belts to make, the instrument panel.... I'm guessing 40 hours minimum to fully detail the cockpit the way I want it. (Probably twice that. Time seems to get away from me.)

There's plastic fairings for the wing struts, top and bottom; there's plastic fairings for the landing gear struts, plastic tail pieces on the fuse..... Then there's all the "window glass", and I've heard you need to carefully sand a groove in the balsa for the rear window opening (so the "glass" fits right).

I had originally planned to fiberglass and paint the aircraft, but have decided against it (I think ). It's really not scale enough to go through all that extra trouble, but it would give me more experience with glassing and painting.

Whew, just thinking about it makes me want to start MY Skybolt!
Dennis-

If you've got a fair bit of building experience, you'll receive replies that are more applicable in the Scale forum.

It's very, very difficult to determine how long it will take to build to completion any particular kit. The time not only depends upon how long each building session is (long sessions at a stretch get more done per hour than short ones), but what your skills are, how you like to build, how much time you spend fitting the pieces together, and what level of quality you're looking for.

Also, ask yourself this: What's the purpose in building the model? If it's for recreation, for something to help relax you, what does the amount of time actually mean? If you need to get a model in the air fast, don't bother with much of a kit.

With the Top Flite Cessna 182 Skylane, we've seen people throw one together and get it flying with under 100 hours of labor. Sure, it's no show model, and has some rough edges, but it's flyable. We've also seen models with hundreds of hours put into them that had the perfection of a Swiss watch. What do you want to get out of the project?

Sure, I'd like to be able to give you a time frame on how long it will take to build the kit, but can't. There are just too many variables involved.

And thats the exact reason why im not gonna buy the kit becasue im more of a perfection artist. Three years ago i had said i would get my skybolt done in 5 months, well 5 months turned into 3 years, and about 500 hours. So i think im just gonn get the GP cessna 182 arf. I done like throwin together, a peice of cr@ap. Whats the point of spending all that money to ahve it look like cr@p?? lol

Well shoot... There goes my project.
I'm building a Tower Uproar just to use my scraps of Monokote.
Dave

And I'm sure that's why I have 250 hours into mine at this point.

I tend to be a bit of a perfectionist myself, and here's an example of the way I look at these things. The Top Flight Cessna kit has internal linkages to the tail control surfaces; there is no provision for accessing any of the control linkage in the tail once the fuselage is finished, and that just didn't make sense to me. So, I very carefully constructed a small access hatch in the aft end of the fuse.

They also give you the option of using standard wing tips or Horner tips (which are undercambered). Of course the Horners take a couple of extra hours of sanding in order to make them right, but what's the point of NOT making them?
Dennis-