krossk

Did you post your color scheme in a previous post? I can't remember having seen it.

The hatch looks great by the way.

-tychoc

Does bruce88123 have the hat? AHHHHHHHH!!

~Michael~

Just one of them. [sm=bananahead.gif]

Oh, and very nice hatch krossk, where's the rest of the plane?

Thanks - yes, it was posted [link=http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=3363997]here.[/link]
I may be adding a slight variation to the "Somethin' Extra" decal from the kit to the right wing panel, but I'll wait and see what it looks like when I get there.

Sittin' on the bench in all of its grand nakedness, right next to the hatch

Seriously though, I think I'll be doing well to have the covering done by Thanksgiving. It looks like my work hours are going to be increasing (good for the $$, not so good for the time), so my available build time will suffer. I may get started on the control surfaces tonight, but no promises. I'll probably try to get the canopy tinted over the weekend if the weather is not decent enough to fly. There's no real deadline as she won't see any air time until next spring. Well - OK, so there is a deadline in that I want to get started on my Sukhoi, but the "start-the-next-kit" date is always a given.

Just to complete the kit, you will need things like wheels, fuel tank, fuel line, glue, and covering. The covering cost depends on what you use and how complex your design is. 2 rolls of anything shouldn't be more than $40. The more colors, the more dollars. As far as tools and building supplies, it depends a lot on what you are starting with. Assuming it is nothing, you will need sand paper, sanding blocks/bars (which can be made or bought), hobby knife & blades, pins, a building surface, etc. You will probably want to invest in a trim iron (I use mine as much or more than the regular iron).

I've made a number of modifications from the stock kit, so I couldn't even begin to tell you what mine has cost. (I've heard your dad's advice before, and it's probably a good *starting* point, but I wouldn't count on that being the final number.) I just start working and when I need something, I buy it when I have the money to do so. And when the plane is finished, then I'm done.

All I know is that I really enjoy building. And unless I have nothing left in flying condition, I can't ever see myself buying an ARF. In fact, if I had it to do over again, I wouldn't have even bought my second Avistar. I should have started flying the Tiger 2 right then. But I was afraid if getting in over my head and didn't want to move up too fast.

I know when I started to gather the parts for my 4 * 60, I had to get a bunch of stuff. The kit was $89.00. All the building accessories (not including electronics) were $150.00. The electronics were $120.00 and the Motor was $120.00. My wife didn't understand why I couldn't just fly for the kit price. I had to explain it to her, but now I have the building materials for future kits. I still have not purchased the Iron and Heat Gun (another $45.00).

Michael, If you need to borrow any building supplies (sanding blocks, etc.) let me know.

kiswa - Don't let that graphite get into the carpet. I'm betting it will be hard to get out.

BTW - I had to give the hat to RCKen in another thread. He really asked for it.

The SSE kit I bought was $77. Once I bought everything else (electronics, engine, all building and covering supplies mentioned) the final tally for this bird is $360.

Now, if you consider the ARF is $206 and you'd still have to buy electronics and engine... price isn't any better. In fact, if you buy Tower Hobbies combo for this ARF, the price they give you for everything you need is $478.29.

That makes my kit over $100 cheaper. And a lot of the build items I bought can be used on the next kit I build.

I have to find a store that has some before I can get it all over my carpet. [:@]

And you get to modify/beef up the structure as you wanted and put on the colors you wanted. All worth much more than the mere satisfaction of a good build

Yep! And I know that the construction was done to my standards ('cause I did it!). Can't beat that; save money, and get more enjoyment out of the plane. Kit building is definitely the way for me. I intend all my future planes to be kit built.

Try here for your graphite:
http://www.napaonline.com/cgi-bin/nc...&usrcommgrpid=

or another auto part store.

Hi kiswa

If you have not purchased a soldering iron already. I used J-B WELD on my tail wires. Home Depot has it and I guar-on-teee it will hold them forever !!! Just shine up the wire tips with some sandpaper. Only problem is it takes overnite to dry. If you can't find powdered graphite Depot also has some stuff called " LOCK-EASE " (Liquid Graphite) Works really good on squeaks, sticky pushrods, hinges etc...


Dale

Yeah, I was thinking I would be up there near $200. I know when I do get my plane, I'm not going to just build stock. Probably going to bash a little bit. Larger surfaces, mes with the rudder a little bit, and put some counterbalances and everything on it. How much mods could I do and still be comfortably be able to use Futaba 3004 servos. I used them on my last one and didn't have any problems. Could I increase the length of each surface by like 1" and still be fine with the 3004's?

Well, I already have the iron and heat gun like I said, luckily I got them for Christmas last year. I'm loving that. My covering never gets loose; I guess it needs to go around the neighborhood a couple times and then see if she gets loose!![sm=bananahead.gif]

It's funny, my dad actually suggested using graphite on my pushrods also. I did, and they do alot better, very smooth now. I used something from a tube my dad had laying around. Man, that stuff is slick.

Actually my covering scheme I'm thinking about is just two colors, CHROME and CARBON FIBER. I want the fuse and top of the wings to be Carbon, with the bottom of the wings, Chrome and the ailerons chrome. The tail feathers would be chrome with carbon fiber rudder and elevator, or vice versa for the tail feathers and surfaces.

I know I might not be able to see that in the air, but I stay close to the ground, and I usually know what attitude I'm flying. That scheme would look hot on the ground!!

Thanks for the help Spectere, I might need something until I can get something, but I might just get everything myself so I will have it for future builds. Thanks though

Man, when I get to typing, I write too much, sorry guys.........

~Michael~

Kiswa, everyone.
Just joining the thread. And I think it's awesome that it's now up to 740's, good chance for that record Kiswa[>:].

I think your build looks great and for the job, the wife's dress (still missing the picture) and the flowers your wife get's at work[sm=punching.gif]it just makes this thread one of the more interresting ones i've visited. As everyone's saying I can't wait to see her in the air. Keep it up.

Me neither, I'll be dissapointed if you can't get a video kiswa. I can't wait to actually see a video of this baby up in the air. I'm anxious to see how well you can see everything. Do you have the stuff to video and load to computer kiswa?

Again, the build is looking great. Hope everything is going well

~Michael~

The plane or his wife? [sm=bananahead.gif]

BTW - Do they fly coffee tables in Norway too?

As a Norwegian, I can answer that one: No, no coffe tables, however, a wife or two has been know to fly[sm=bananahead.gif]

-tychoc

Warms my heart when I see statements like that.

Hmmm.... must just be a Florida thing then. I always thought that place was a little strange.

Oh, I almost forgot: [sm=bananahead.gif]

What about his coffee table flying? Great idea![sm=bananahead.gif] Put some cups on it for decoration!![sm=bananahead.gif]

~Michael~

While talking about stuff that may not be ment to fly through the air....

check out this link: http://modellfly.easycgi.com/cgi-bin...else/hmk13.jpg

and it really flies great, it hovers, loops and rolls, awesome attraction at the gatherings in our club.

Wow.. lot of posts today. I'm not even going to try to answer them all. The only one that sticks in mind is about the video tools. Yes, I have a digital camcorder and a FireWire card in my PC so I can grab video directly from the camera. It wasn't working right a month or so ago, and never really tried to find out why, but I'm sure I could get it fixed for this.

And I have Sony Vegas 6 (not just the Windows Movie Maker) so I can edit video. Well, the software can, I'm not very practised at editing.

By the way, I didn't get to do any work on the plane today. I really need to set aside some time to get some more work done on her. I'm getting tired of having to wait, and I'm sure all of you are too.

Oh yeah, in response to one of the previous posts, I do already have a soldering gun. I appreciate all the information people have given though, and I'm sure others will find it helpful too. I think just about any search term you could use for RC related things would bring this thread up in it's results. Lots of information has been shared in the course of my build, and I hope others can make use of it all too.