OK this maybe a really STUPID questions to some, but I want to know.

Are their guys that help and teach guys/girls to build RC Planes and RC Jets?

I have never built anything in my life, never picked up tools to work on anything. So I would have no idea where to start on an ARF.

Plan on getting a few aircraft but I am holding off because I do not want to buy them, screw them up and waste money or start them and they never get finished.

Thinking of getting someone to build them for me, but I have been quoted over $6000 in labour for each aircraft and no way on god’s green earth will I paying anyone that.

I am currently in Japan, but will be moving to the UK for a 2 year stay, so I was hoping there is someone in the Birmingham area that can teach me about building RC Aircraft so when I return to Japan I can build the planes I am after.

Tried to find someone here in Japan, but most are over 300 Miles away and then there is language problem which makes it hard, I speak Basic Japanese because everyone I know speaks English, but the guys building RC do not speak a word of English and their Japanese goes over my head faster than a Skymaster F-15 on full throttle!



Advice and help PLEASE.



Aussie in Japan

Have you started flying yet? It's fine to have a goal of flying jets and other complex aircraft, but the building skills you'll need aren't taught by those models.

Much of the path you take depends on the types of models that you'll eventually want to fly. Are they kits? Are they ARFs? ARFs won't teach you anything about kits, and kits require different skills than ARFs.

There are some things that will be universal, such as the glues you'll use and many of the tools. If space is an issue, build some small Guillows models just to learn about the glues and build some skills with a knife. If space is not an issue, find yourself a trainer, ARF or kit. A trainer kit will teach you to build. Good ones have very detailed instructions and plans, full of tips and how-to type suggestions.

Thanks MikeL,

I am looking at a Kyosho Trainer(RTF) to teach me to Fly then the Kyosho Sports(RTF).

After I want to purchase the following aircraft(ARF)

TBM Zero

Spitfire

Cessna (Gaint Scale)

Comp-AFP Embraer Tucano

Skymaster F-15J

Skymaster F/A-18F



I have looked at the Instruction Manuals for a few of the aircraft and the Electronics, Airlines, Turbines etc, have me going HOLY COW BATMAN ... I learn by hands on. Have never learnt a thing from a Book, Someone teaching me with Hands on and I can learn fast, from a book and my head is done in.

You may have to go through a couple of those trainers first.

A friend to build with, even if he didn't speak English will be invaluable to you

This friend could teach you to fly in a lot less time than you trying on your own.

If you cannot find anyone who can help you in Japan, try looking in the different forums here on RCU. Abufletcher lives in Japan, and is a good builder. Once you get to the UK, see if you can find another RCU member, called, Oldgit (AKA John Livingston). The builders won't come and find you, so you have to find them. There are hundreds of RCU members who will be glad to help you learn. If you find a thread that is applicable to the plane that you want to fly, then join in the conversation, and let them know that you are a newbie, and need, (and most importantly), want help.

Bill, Waco Brother #1

F-15J JSDF
QUESTION HAVE YOU LOOKED AT ANY BUILDING MANUAL'S FROM SOME ONE THAT HAS BUILT A PLANE FROM A KIT THAT WILL GIVE YOU A GOOD IDEA OF HOW TO BUILD A KIT AND WHAT KIND OF GLUE THAT WOULD BE NEEDED OR TOOLS MOST KITS IN THE TRAINER TYPE DO NOT REQUIRE ANY SPECIAL TOOLS OTHER THAN AN X-ACTO KNIFE AND POSSIBLEY A RAZOR SAW I WOULD BE WILLING TO HELP YOU WITH ANY TYPE OF BUILDING QUESTIONS YOU HAVE SEND ME A E-MAIL SOME TIME

JIM

I've done a build thread on a LT-40 trainer where I tired to show the building process so that hopefully it would help people learn to build. Take a look through it and hopefully it will help you out.

[link=http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_3439708/tm.htm]Sig LT-40 Build Thread[/link]

Ken

Thanks guys for the replies and advice.

I have down loaded Manuals from the shops selling the aircraft like the Zero and the Skymasters Jets, read them, re read them, and they have still done my head it.

Give me an assault weapon and I can strip the thing and put it back together with my eyes closes, 21 years in the military and high risk protection. Firearms is all I know.

Give my a ARF plane to build and I am LOST, well at the moment I am anyway.




Think I will buy a few Trainer ARF and pratice building them and see if they break apart in flight, before moving on the the list of Aircraft I want.


Will have a look at the Sig Thread also ...

RCKen and MinnFlyer have created videos that go step by step through the constuction of a trainer kit. I think they are great videos. There are many great tips. They also take a lot of the "fear" out of building a plane.

http://www.gettingairborne.com/videos.html

A kit or an Arf are no different than an assult weapon Each part has a place and you just fit them where they belong. As has been stated, find a build thread that fits what you want to build and get involved. Ask questions and don't be afread to try some thing.
I hated the old M-1, the BAR. and 30cal mg[:@] kits have more parts and ARF's just need to be joined together.

That would happen to anyone that doesn't have any building experience. The more advanced the model, the more the writer of the instructions assumes that you know. Building models is much like flying them. In order to be successful, you have to start with the simple things and learn the fundamental skills involved before progressing to more advanced activities.

Don't get intimidated by your goals, but at the same time don't expect to be able to just jump right into the deep end of the pool. Take the time to progress in a way that allows you to be successful.

Live Wire & MikeL,

I might try and team up with someone in the UK when I touch down and get them to show me the ropes. I am more for the ARF then kits. My Goal is Skymaster Jets.

But I will start simple as it is better to NOT dive in the DEEP end if you can not swim as you have stated.

So at the moment I might just keep to learning to Fly before I start building, there seems to be more builders and pilots in the UK then here in Japan. Well for Jets anyway, most in Japan have the 3D type planes and I am not interested in them what so ever, more War Birds / Jet Fighters type of guy!


_Chuck_,

I tried the link for the Videos and the page will not open. Maybe it is my ISP that is causing the problem.

Only wish to state that you goals are very distant so be patient. What you wish are the more difficult of aircraft, warbirds and jets. The prices you mentioned for having them built apparantly were for large very scale aircraft. so forget them.

$6000 was for LABOUR only .. that did not include the Aircraft or scaled parts .... I fell off my seat ...

It seems as soon as you tell people you live in Japan the PRICE goes through the ROOF ... it is NOT the first time this has happen ...

People think you live in Japan you must be loaded with cash. [:@] ...

I decided to build a EV Bike, the motors and controlers from the US company was priced at $1300 which was stated on their website, but once I said I was in Japan the PRICE DOUBLED to $2600 plus postage on top another $1000[:@] total came to $3600 all because I am in Japan, the company claimed it was because of the Exchange rate, which is RUBBISH ... Decided to order the parts from Taiwan at 1/3 of the price.

The "old fashioned" way was to start with the cheapest of Gillows or Proctor kits (rubber-band powered or free flight) and teach yourself following their instructions. Takes about 12 models of increasing difficulty and you'll be ready for anything.


I don't know anyone who gives building instructions professionally. But I know dozens and dozens of guys who will help you with tips, suggestions, kibbitzing and advice. Our club is full of them and so was my former club A local Explorer post arranged for four of our club members to build Sig LT-40s (in teams of four students per instructor) and it was one of the most enjoyable things I've ever done with R/C. If you can find a club and mentor to clamp ont who could show you some of the basics it would be (IMHO) the best way to get introduced to building.

This is very good advice
This is how most of us got started

Yes, but most of us were 5 or 6 when we started to glue sticks together.

Well, I guess you are right. My dad built models and I started out at 6

I came from a broken home and the stepfather I got was a right **** so never learnt anything from the ******, but that is another story.


I have build a Westfield and a AC Cobra but they are cars and I had mates help with the builds, at the moment building a Electric Bike called the Cheetah

This is my Electrical Diagram for the bike




But this stuff is easy for me ...

Me too, I was about 6 but I was building the plastic models, Bipes for the most part. I wanted to know if he was wanting to learn to assemble ARFs or build kits?? It's easy to teach ARF assembly to someone but teaching kit building takes a lot more time. I still have a coupld of Gillows out in my shop for people wanting to learn how to build. Anyone wanting to assemble an ARF I have them buy there own plane then I will teach them, that doesn't take much as much time.

If you've done all the stuff you are talking about you should have no problem a good ARF.

No kidding!!!!!!

So building a ARF is not going to be as bad as I think then??

For us it is the same old same old.

They all go through the same routine like disassembly/reassembly of a rifle

OK well thanks for all the advice ... Will email people if I come across problems, will wait until I get to the UK and join a club to learn to fly and with any luck some guys will be building ARF and will let me watch and learn. At 41 I must be getting in to the hobby at a late age, looking at most on here they have been in it for a long time.