I have been in this for a while now. I have built one kit, a Goldberg Tiger 2. I have bought 3 RTF planes, A Megatech nitro airstrike that I crashed because I had no help and made a stupid error.I left the antenna somewhere not in the radio. $450 dollar oops. I have a hobbistar 60 mkIII great plane, would not really call it a great trainer however. It needs a faster touchdown then an avistar or tower trainer, it looks a bit scary to a first timer. It freaked me out compared to the megatech. I also have the hanger 9 P-51 PTS. I have assembled several ARF planes. I like these better then the RTF myself.

Let me get to the point here, none of these planes were really ready to fly. All of them needed a going over by someone that knew what to look for. All of them had things that should likely be addressed. I handled the last one on my own. All of them had wood and glue joints that needed hardened at the least. All of them needed a good deal of fuel proofing.

Some of them needed structure additions to make them a bit stronger, one a phoenix models strega, could have used entirely new landing gear blocks before it ever rolled down the runway. Absolutely all of them required a little knowledge of covering.

The Megatech was not a good plane, I should have found help before I ever made the purchase and would strongly suggest anyone do the same. I love my Hobbistar, I can fly it in wind like no other in my hanger. It amazes me just what it will do every time I fly it. It however punched the control rods through an aileron on the 4th flight. Since, I and some help have modded in another aileron servo and it uses control horns instead of the rod inside the aileron.Something I would have had no clue about without help from the club.

My Tiger 2, best overall plane in my hanger bar none. I built it, I covered it, I flew its maiden. I HAD TO HAVE SO MUCH HELP FOR THAT PILE OF STICKS I COULD HAVE PULLED MY HAIR OUT !!!! (mostly covering, glue was easy)
The best thing I could have done was build this kit.

I understand so much more about the structure of the planes I love to fly that I now go over every joint and piece of wood in my ARF planes as I build them. They all have something that could be better. EVERYONE should build at least one kit. It will help, and when that thing leaves the runway the first time and actually flies and flies well, what you feel is something everyone flying should feel at least once. When she comes in and the oldtimers come and pat you on the back and you are really in the club, well that is another great feeling. I am the only one in my club that actually likes ARF planes. They all have them but they love kits, plain and simple.

All of this rant of mine has some simple points. Everyone will do better in this "hobby" with help.
No plane is ready to fly until someone that knows what these planes need says its ready. If it is your first plane you are not that somebody.

I guess I am posting this because I do not feel like a beginning pilot anymore, I just want to post the most important things I have learned for someone that needs to know.

Find a club. Ask questions. Learn to fly on a buddy box.Let someone else check your plane out we all have our own way of seeing good and bad in a build.
Do this right. It don't get much better.



Phoenix.

Amen Phoenix!

When I started to fly RC models, (after flying rubber band and control line models) I knew I had some knowledge to start with, I went with a friend of mine to the local field, there were not RCU nor either computerized radios, but there was a great guy as an instructor and owner of the field, he taught me how to fly RC models on mode 1 (that was used by then) I asked many questions, I flew with a buddy box many times and I learned a lot from him, not only flying techniques but some behavior on the field and a lot of attitude to help others on basic things that I could handle (I never crashed my trainer which was built by my friend's father). A few years later I moved and started again from the beginning (now on mode 2), this time there were ARF trainers and computerized radios, however I went with a 6 channel radio and a Royal ARF trainer, I was also lucky and found a great instructor and friend, I flew a lot but after a couple years I decided to quit because of marriage and job. Meanwhile, even that I did not go to the field I was acquiring some stuff, like my wood box, electric starter and some kits that I built. Among those kits that I built there was a Tower trainer which I still have and I hope to share it with my kids. As you can see, I like to start from the basics, every time, using a trainer which is the best way to get the feeling, now I can fly aerobatics and scale planes, but if I would need to get out from the hobby and come back later again I would start with my trainer and my computerized radio which I already have. None of my initial planes were ready to fly, they all required building or assembling (great way to learn) the cost was acceptable, no fancy planes but just what I needed to have plenty of fun. I believe that I will be into the hobby for all my life, maybe not flying all seasons but I will be building and checking RCU all the time I can.

Phoenixangel, You hit the nail on it's head.

It reminds me of when I was about 12, "Mom, how come I have to learn things the hard way" Looks like you picked up a couple hard lessonsn along the way, and I'm betting a dollar to a dozen dounuts that there is a line a mile long waiting to learn the hard lessons and they think they are in the fast track lane.

One thnig about the hard lessons, they are remembered long after the easy ansers are forgotton.

Don

Everyone should build at least one kit! I enjoyed it so much that I don't buy ARFs at all any more

I got into this hobby a couple of years ago for my son. Went to the hobby store and bought a parkzone super decathelon as per stores recommedation.
Went to the park to try and fly it and that took all of less than a minute. Since then i have been repairing and flying ( just at the local parks ) I have gone through many parkflyers in this time. ( and glue). I have replaced all parts and have learned alot on my own. I have tried to help people with my experiences in hope that they don't make the same mistakes i did. But i am glad i learned on my own and i am glad i did make all those mistakes. I have learned what to look out for and how everything works.

I say let them learn as we did. At least they will have the same respect for the hobby.

I have read many articles in these forums and it seems some people have a hard time knowing which way to turn a screwdriver.

Are some people too scared to do things on their own? " What type of glue do i use ?", " How do I cut wood?", " I have a screw, what type of plane should i put in into?".....
Wha, wha, wha !!!!!!!!

For the love of god!!! Just try it !!!!

I know this may sound harsh, but the truth usually is.

My 2 cents worth.

I really like my Hobbistar 60 too and feel its a wonderful trainer. And I'm still learning, have built several kits (not all RC) over the years and feel like you - that ARF's still require a lot of attention that you wouldn't realize needed doing if you'd never built a kit.

While I abhor rigid rules and would never make it mandatory; I truly believe that anyone that takes the time to struggle thru assembling a kit via plans and instruction manual will personally benefit beyond the aggravation of doing it. Most will be glad they did it and feel some sense of accomplisment. At the very least they will appreciate more what makes one tick, they may discover a new creative passion and almost certainly will admire those folks that can design and build from scratch. If you're like me I'm amazed at how little it takes to make something fly but how attention to detail can result in something that flies smoothly and looks like it was poured from a mould. I know the ARF manufacturers have a fantastic process because the intricate structures and coverings are way beyond my building capabilities. Its only because I've built from kits that I appreciate the craftsmanship in the ARF. Now if they'd just glue'm up like would.

Regards,

Clay

I did not buy park zone RTF as my first plane I built a kit to learn about rc airplanes it is a PT-40MKII it took me two months to build and over $500.00 if you took this road I don’t think you would be so care free about your first flight, I will be using a trainer and not because I am scared but smart.