Was bored on the computer with nothing to do, so did this thread.

I love watching the build threads - getting a big kick out of watching cwrr5's building thread of his Air Scout, but I am not seeing enough of beginner's build threads and would love to see more, with lots of pics. There are not that many in the 'Kit building' section either, and I am just wondering that with the building being such a huge part of RCing why there aren't lots more. Let's not be afraid to show our building skills, if I can do it anyone can. Let's get those building threads coming. Here's some of my builds still under construction - PT40, Air Scout, and my Skylark 56 Mark II

Best regards

~Steve~

Ok, I hadn't planned on actually asking this question yet because I'm wasn't anywhere near getting ready to start, but something happened tonight that made me want to go ahead and ask this question. I will probably be starting a build on a basic high-wing trainer (probably a Sig LT-40) and I was considering doing a build thread on the build, and doing a "how-to" for the RCU magazine after it's finished. I'm talking about doing a thread from the very start of opening the box to the very end of balancing and doing a trim flight on the plane. Of course I will invite all questions along the way as the build progresses.

Now for my question. How many out there would be interested in watch/following a build thread on a trainer? Let me know what everybody thinks.

Ken

Not a trainer, I may peak in from time to time, but I have a .10 shrike kit on its' way to the house and definitely would love to share the build with any one interested on RCU. The shrike is not a huge plane so the build will be less than a weak from nothing to fully covered.


To answer your question tigerdude426 , allot of people including myself by ARF planes. I built a Carl Goldberg 550 and did a build thread on it awhile ago. I hated to come home and had to smell the CA glue in order to finish the plane. The one experience I did like was learning how to cover the plane.

That would be terrific Ken. I for one would watch the build from the start - I coincidentally have a LT-40 kit being shipped as we speak, and would love to follow your build and thread one of my own - I promised cwrr5 that I would start a thread on the full build of the LT-40 when I receive it, and if there was another trainer thread to follow that would be really great.

How about a Cub thread? I'm starting a Sig Cub in a couple of weeks and would love to see someone sharing their building experience with this or a similar kit.

RCKen,

I would say that this would be great endeavor. Showing a basic build, from start to finish, would be valuable to anyone interested in building their first kit.

Do a straight forward build with no modifications. Explain the plans, show the tools needed including buildboards and setting up a basic workspace. Cover the selection of parts not included in the kit, engines, electronics, hardware and coverings. Cover the construction and installation of engine, hardware and electronics. Do a typical covering. Balance and trim, engine break-in, Preflight and maiden. Also include a running tally of costs.

One suggestion, take 10 times the number of photos that you'll think you will need. You don't have to post them all, but when it comes time to produce a more concise How-To, you'll have more material to edit from.

Scott

Ken I say go ahead and do it as a seasoned builder I feel you will be able to cover more items then a beginner builder, not a slam here but experience counts. Now if I can ever get my low back fixed and back to the shop I plan on doing a build along with my GP's Phantom!

Build threads are my favorite! I would not be interested in most trainer builds anymore, but I am very fond of the LT-40 and would love to see another LT-40 thread and the RCU article.

Go for it all of you who are about to build!

Patrick

Is there a prize for the longest running thread on RCU? If so, I'll volunteer to do a building thread!

I've got a HOB AT-6 that needs to go on the table after my current project is done.

I plan on building a Sig Somethin' Extra after Santa stops by this year.

Will be doing a thread on this build.

somegeek

I think a trainer like the LT-40 is appropriate for the beginner forum. If you were to do a more advanced plane it might actually belong in the "kit building" forum where the beginners would miss it. Since many of the beginning builders are the ones who really benefit from such threads, I'd like to see it here.

Think of it as for the beginning builder, not the beginning pilot.

Thanks Bruce, I was just going to say the same thing

A build thread on a trainer would be appropriate for the beginner's forum, but others really belong in the Kit Building forum.

There may be a lot of people (myself included) that don't get into the other forums that much. Some have only been here and didn't even realize there is a kit builders forum. Explore people, there is a lot of information available in the other forums too. Things you may not be doing yet like giants or pattern but you may get into in the future. Start dreaming and planning now. Oh yeah, save some money too.

Please Ken do a thread on the Lt-40 i would love that. I am going to be building and LT-40 this winter that i might give to my dad for an xmas present or i might get him a kit of his own and build this one to teach people here in my home town. Your thread would be an excellent thread for reference (not that the other LT-40 builds have not been) but i am sure that you can add things that beginners would not think to.

Flyboy76

I've got my venture build going on now...didnt get to work on it last night though...

I think the definition of a trainer kit is two-fold being both flight and construction.


...least it felt that way.

somegeek

I love to follow the build threads and even posted a couple pics of my own but never have done a start to finish thread. One reason for this is timing and I wish some of the people who do build threads would consider it as well. So many times, I've gotten into following along someones build and then it stops for a month, the builder drops off the face of the earth or they finish the kit in the middle of the winter months from being able to give us a timely rundown of the maiden flight.

Ken, I really think you'd do a great job doing the LT-40 thread because you're a good builder and I see you on RCU every day. So please go for it.

Looking forward to seeing that build. Your last thread on the LT-40 build was awesome.

I like build threads. I'm a bit amazed at the amount of time and effort a lot of people have put into their threads (mountaineerfan, kiswa, somegeek, and others). I started doing one on my Uproar 60 but didn't take enough photos to keep it up. Also, my building goes in spurts. Sometimes the Uproar would sit for a month untouched. It's totally finished and balanced now; just needs control throws set (need my brother to help me with that) to be ready to fly.

I ordered a Great Planes 40 size sport scale F4U Corsair and Magnum 70 four stroke this morning. I may try a build thread, but I'm not sure.

RCKen, I personaly would love to see you start that thread. I am building my LT-40 right now, I have just started and plan on starting a thread of my own build this evening.

Wow! cool! at least THREE LT-40 build threads all at once! Too cool! Can't wait to see this!

tigerdude bought my LT-40 for the price of a build thread, "cwrr5 style" (LOTS of pictures, and lotsa detail, with commentary ).
Looking forward to seeing that over the winter, if I can talk him into waiting a bit. (I doubt it. )


Might be somewhat confusing for some, but how about a "cooperative" effort? If you guys have any problems, then Ken can show how it's done almost right away.... and would be a real goldmine of good info with several builders contributing, each possibly with a different way of doing things. [&:]

Ok, from the answers I've seen on here I guess there is enough interest for me to do a build thread. Here is the situation right now. I don't really want to go into a lot of details about who the plane will be for, but I have recommended a Sig LT-40 for a trainer. I haven't heard back yet if that's what he will get, but I'm pretty sure it will so that is what I am planning on. I recommended it because it's a very good flying trainer and the kit itself is VERY complete since it comes with all the hardware needed to build it. It will probably be at least a week or two before I have the kit here, so I won't be able to start it right away.

My plans for the build thread will be to try and document every step in a kit build, starting with opening the box and doing an inventory of the kit all the way through the trim flight. I will be taking numerous pictures along the way, so I should be able to flood you all with them. I'll try to explain every step in the build, and hopefully clarify any mysteries that some of you may have. If there is anything special that any of you would like to see please PM me now and I'll make plans to try and address your question. I'll also explain any extra steps that I take that aren't in the instructions, and will tell you why I do some things differently.

I will say this much right now, I don't use a building board where you pin everything down. I have a magnetic building board that I have built and I use exclusively. It's only about 100 times better than using pins to build the model. If anybody is interested you can find the instructions for building one here [link=http://www.airfieldmodels.com/information_source/how_to_articles_for_model_builders/tools/magnetic_building_board/index.htm]Airfield Models, Magnetic Building System[/link] . If you plan on building more than a couple of planes in your life putting together this building system is well worth the effort and money. But using the magnetic system shouldn't make a huge difference in the build thread. If there are any major differences in the way anything is done then I will try to point them out at the time.

My other difference is that I don't use CA for building. I use Elmer's Carpenter's Glue for my builds. But the difference in glue should make much of a difference in the thread.

Ok, I think that about covers it for tonight. When the time comes for the build to start I will make sure that it's posted up in the forum for all to see. I want to thank all of you that let me know you'd like to see the build thread. I'll try to keep it interesting for you all.

As I said above, if you have any ideas or questions for the build please PM me or post it here in this thread.

Ken

RCKen: Sweet I can't wait! Thanks in advance for your effort.

And to everyone else who has taken the time to do a build thread, Thank You! I love 'em!

Flyboy, I have been meaning to ask you if you actually live in a place named Lanigan. I ask because that is my last name. I find it very interesting, since Lanigan is not a very common name.

Patrick

RCKen,
I'd enjoy seeing your buildboard.
I too was inspired by Paul Johnson's website. Here's a link to a photo of mine:

http://www.rcuniverse.com/gallery/ga...s/lg-15351.jpg

http://www.rcuniverse.com/gallery/ga...s/lg-22692.jpg

Scott

Saramos,
I've got the main sheet of steel off of the board right now. I wasn't happy with the sealer I had used on it to keep it from rusting, so I pulled it off so I could re-sand it and seal it again. While it's off I also drew a grid on it. If got a project on the board right now that I should have finished in the next week or so and as soon as that is finished I'll put the main sheet of steel back up on the board. I'll definitely take some pictures of it for you when I can. I've actually got 3 building sheets of steel. I have a 12"x24", 12"x36", and a 24"x72" which is my main board. I've got the smaller sheets so that I can work on smaller sub-assemblies while the main board is being used for something else. I purchased 300 of the latch magnets to build my system with. I have approximately 130 of the for general building and the rest were use for making the fixtures, which I have a bunch of. I also took angle aluminum and cut them into 1" pieces and applied sheet magnets to the base of each, which I use for steadying all kinds of items, especially ribs in a wing. I also have a few other shapes and magnets for this or that. It seems that since I've built this system I am always on the lookout for magnets. Case in point, I have a client that is a doctor. They were cleaning out all the junk that pharmaceutical reps give them as "freebies" and some of the stuff there were going to throw away was a bunch of magnetic clips like the kind you put on your fridge to hold your kid's "fridge art" up with. I immediately jumped on them and took them all home with me. The biggest benefit was to peel off the sheet magnet off the back and reuse them for other items.

As I said in my last post, this kind of building system totally blows away a board that use pins on the hold your parts down. I highly recommend that anybody who wants to build planes consider building this system. It's well worth the time it takes to put one together.

Ken