What Tools Will I Need?
 

I have decided on my first radio (Futaba 6EXAS) I have not yet decided on my first plane but it will be a Sig Kadet Senior or a Goldberg Eagle II both in kit form because I want to build what I fly. I am leaning toward the the Eagle. Now what tools will I need for my workshop and what tools would be good to have but not a must have. I want to have all the tools in place before I buy my first kit. I want to know everything I need to do it right.

Thank You
Scott

RE: What Tools Will I Need?
 

Rather than trying to recreate a list of tools, I suggest you go to Cafeenman's site: http://www.airfieldmodels.com . He's got a great list of tools, and lots of useful building advice.

RE: What Tools Will I Need?
 

Like anything you do whether you be a carpenter, a mechanic, or a Brick Mason like me, there alot of tools that you can buy to make your job easier, but not all are nessasary. Building airplanes is the same. There is a tool for about everything, but not all of them are nessasary. Here are a few building tools and supplies that I would classify as nessasary that no builders bench should be without.
1. Hobby Knife (Exacto or similar)w/extra blades
2. Hobby Iron
3. Sand Paper 220/440
4. Straight Edge
5. T-Pins
6. Masking Tape
7. Thin CA/Med CA/Thick CA
8. 6 Minute Epoxy/30 Minute Epoxy
9. Balsa Filler
10 Rubber Bands
There are others but I will allow some other people to add to the list.

Not nessasary but nice
1.Balsa Plane
2.CG Meter
3. Incidence Meter
4. Throw Meter
5. Hinge Marking Tool
6. Hinge Slotting Tool
7. Monokote Trim Stripe Tool
8. Clamps
9. Builders Matt
10. Heat Gun
11. etc. etc. etc. etc.

RE: What Tools Will I Need?
 

I totally scratch built a couple of planes with nothing more than the basic tools listed above but now that I have a scroll saw and a 5" disk sander, I wonder how I ever got along without them. Of course you don't need them to assemble kits but you will soon be scratch building....I can just sense it.

RE: What Tools Will I Need?
 

That is my goal. To be able to build from just a set of plans. I
have thought about buying the Sig Kadet Senior kit and while I am learning to fly it building a new set of wings with reduced dihedral and ailerons.

RE: What Tools Will I Need?
 

Might as well turn it into a taildragger while you're at it. I can't think of a better beginner's taildragger than a converted Kadet.

RE: What Tools Will I Need?
 

Have you ever built ?
IMHO there's no other way then ARF
I started with PT60 trainer in a kit form that i bought off e-bay.
Shortly after i started building process i realized that I'll have to invest about twice more to complete the kit.
As i was so hot about flying i spent hours building the plane and finally finished it,that happened already after i learned to fly :eek:
This PT 60 still sitting on the shelf ready to cover. Too bad. I lost interest in flat bottom wing and slow and forgiving characteristics. As for me right now -there's no other way but 3D :)

Decide for yourself.I'd go with any ARF trainer. Save time and money

RE: What Tools Will I Need?
 

I understand the benefits of an ARF, however ARFs are not built. They are assembled. Assembling a typical ARF will teach the fledgling builder very little about actually building a kit.

It's very easy to put an ARF together, go out and fly. It's not so easy to repair after a crash.

There is a sense of pride and accomplishment you can only get from building.

Dr.1

RE: What Tools Will I Need?
 

Well said Dr1Driver!

RE: What Tools Will I Need?
 

my first plane was givin to me.....the second was an arf i had to slap together on shrot notice.

Personaly, i will take a lot moreo enjoyment watching the 4* 120 im building take off than any of the others.........

On top of wich, building a kit isnt that hard. Ive **mostly* completed a seniorita, and im getting close tojoining the wing halves together and have the trial fit on my four star(maybe later tonight or tommorow)

RE: What Tools Will I Need?
 

Mitty
One of the things that interest me about this is the satisfaction that comes from building and flying what I build. Yes I did consider ARF but that is not what I am looking for. I hope that building what you fly does not become a forgotten part of this hobby. That is what has brought me to want to take up R/C Airplanes. Yes I understand that it takes many hours to build a plane, but I will enjoy the time I spend building.

Thank You

Scott

RE: What Tools Will I Need?
 

Yes, there are other ways than ARF. Flying is not the only thing people enjoy about this hobby. In fact, for many people, building the plane provides more enjoyment than actually flying. If someone wants to build their first plane, great! If someone wants to assemble an ARF as their first plane, great! This hobby is all about doing what each of us enjoys, rather than conforming to someone else's idea of what's most economical, or fastest to get into the air.

RE: What Tools Will I Need?
 

Amen reverend....uh i mean piper.....(and yes im just being a smart ass i agree wiht you ;))

RE: What Tools Will I Need?
 

Tools! Didn't Skirkham ask about tools? How'd we get off into the ARF vs KIT question, again?

While I have a Zona saw and had an X-Acto saw, I use a real live genuine dove tail saw much more frequently. It is an accurate and precision piece of equipment I would feel necked without. Go to a hardware store and buy or have them order you one if they don't have it.

I regularly use my Pin-Vise.

I also make very good use of a combination square or tri-square (the kind which has both a 90 and 45 degree edge and will slide on the rule). I use this for marking, checking and cutting square corners, cutting straight cuts to 1 foot in length and to measure control surface throws.

I have used every type of hinge slotting tool there ever may have been and finally broke down and bought Great Planes Slot Machine and I really love this thing!

Maybe most important is a complete X-Acto knife set, the kind with the three handles is adequate.

You don't need to have every tool you will ever use before you start a kit. After 20-30 years of being in this hobby, you will still be adding tools as you go along.

RE: What Tools Will I Need?
 

Because every now and then people need to be reminded that there's more to this hobby than getting in the air the fastest/cheapest way. :D

RE: What Tools Will I Need?
 

Your absolutely correct, Piper! However, Skirkham started this thread by stating he wanted to know about tools. So, it was my intent to bring the thread back to Skirkham's topic, which I feel is a great topic!

Another tool I just bought and feel is worth it's weight in gold is the Great Planes' Dead Center Hole Locator. I also have two aluminum T-Bar sanding blocks, one 1 foot long and another 2 feet long with 120 and 240 grit stick-on sand paper. I also keep one sanding block which has 80 grit paper on it, ready for use, all the time. This heavy grit paper is great for roughing balsa, ply and hardwoods to rough shape.

As far as adhesives go, right now I regularly use:
Thick, thin and flexible CA.
R/C 56 canopy glue.
5 and 60 minute Epoxy.
Gorilla Glue.
Elmer's yellow & white wood glues.
Duco Cement. (Would use Ambroid's if could find).
Plastic cement, (both tube and bottle).

My favorite CA is the Zap line.

I seem to have collected a goodly amount of Allen wrenches over time. I have a collection in my field box and in the workshop.

Another good subject, (which may have already been discussed) is the tools people feel absolutly essential in their field boxes.