I guess you can call me an intermediate balsa builder, etc. I have never attempted a plane of this scale and I am aware of the risk and expenses I am risking, but I can definitely handle it since I have the utmost of patients and awareness. I have researched large scale planes for QUITE some time and I have some other questions I wasnt able to find the answer to.

1. Where can I pick up decal schemes for a B-17?
2. How in the world do you transport a bomber with a 11 foot
hoperfully without removing the wings? I have seen some
people with automobile trailers. But do ya' hang it up in there?
Im a bit lost?
3. What exactly comes in a kit? The balsa sheets already have
the pieces pre-cut, right? I sure do hope so!

I plan on gettitng the Don Smith 1/9 scale plans pretty soon, probable for Christmas or something. lol
But wont buy the kit and I wont start building until I have suffiecient funds, which I estimate should be ~ $1200-$1500***
Is my aim right?

*** kit + 4 Saito .91's + scheme + details, etc.

I guess this post is overwhelming but it will defienitely fill in the gaps of my understanding of this new venture. Thanks in advance fellow modellers!

RORY_S

You say you are an intermediate balsa builder. Have you built any model airplane kits? From your questions it appears not. An 11 foot span plane will definitely have detachable wings. Is it 1/12 or 1/9 scale? I'm a little confused.

Rory,

I am from New Jersey as well,

From your questions, it DOES sound like giant scale is a little new to you. Don Smith designs a great plane, but it is not for a beginner. My recommendation is for you to get a copy of the plans first and have a look at what you are getting into.

How do you transport it? You remove the wings. Typically people hang the wings in the trailer (not always) and tie down the fuselage (not always). Either way, you want the plane to be secure.

What comes in the kit? Depends who you get it from. Ask questions from the kit manufacturer about what comes in the kit, what woods are used etc. For instance, my kit includes aluminum tubes and sockets and such. Not all other people's kits do.

Mace Gill
The Aeroplane Works
http://www.theaeroplaneworks.com
(732)-356-8557

Have to agree with everything that's been written above.

I WILL say that balsa sheets in any kit I've ever built come as just that, balsa sheets. (Usually 3 or 4 inches wide, by 36 or 48 inches long. You have to edge glue them, then cut them to fit. They don't do the work for you.

And I've never met anyone who tried to transport an 11 foot wing in one piece.
Dennis-

Von from some of your questions and the fact that you chose to post this in the beginners forum, the next should probably be: have you learned to fly yet and what kits have you built?

By the way the costs you have estimated are wildly optimistic. That would cover servos alone with enough left over to maybe cover plans.

John

I think you are way off base on you cost estimate. You forgot radio. There's noooo way you are going to use a standard radio on a plane like that. You need a top quality radio for a plane like that. I'd say $600 to $1000 for a radio and the same amount for quality servo's. I am in no way saying this to be mean, I am only bringing this up because my first giant scale model (the 27% Extra in my avitar) was VERY expensive. Way more than I planned and I didn't have any scale details to speak of. I have almost $2000 in my Extra. Why?

$250 Plane
$350 Radio (JR XP642)
$400 Servo's You can't use standard ones on a plane like that.
$450 Moki 1.8 engine, muffler, spinner, spinner nut on and on...
$500 Of nickel and dime stuff like pilots, 7 rolls of covering, fiberglass parts, servo reverser's, fuel fillers, on and on.....

Please don't take this as a negative post. I'm just trying to save you the sticker shock that I had. Your engines alone will eat up the $1200 number. I would start at tripling your figures and go up from there......

what is your experience with radio control models as there is nothing in your profile.
dont try to run before you can walk, you could end up wasting a lot of money.