Hey guys,

I'm new to the forums but not new to the hobby. I am interested in hearing what people like and dislike most about model aircraft kits.
I'd like to know what makes you choose to build from kits over buying ARFs. Also, what about kit building pushes people towards just buying an ARF?

Personally, I think the process of building an aircraft yourself feels good, especially when it comes out straight and true. At the same time, there's an element of frustration in the fact that building it yourself means you may make mistakes. I know making sure everything is lined up perfectly is not the simplest of tasks. Additionally, the process itself can be time consuming, which I know to some might be a nice way to enjoy some leisure time.

Thoughts?
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The way I see it; Flying is a Sport and Building is a Hobby

If you don't LIKE to build, or you live in an area where you can fly year-round, then there is no point in frustrating yourself with building.

On the other hand, if you ENJOY building and/or woodworking - especially if you live in a cold climate where you have several months of non-flying weather, then it give you something to do to keep from getting cabin fever.

Then there are people who enjoy building so much that they would rather build than fly, while others have no interest in building but really enjoy stamp collecting.

So it's really all up to the individual.

I have never looked at the hobby at any point as a sport, I think of it all as one big hobby. I enjoy the do it yourself part of any hobby. When shooting I liked to load my own shells and did my own gun smithing. When I was into cars I did all my own work from engine building to painting. My off road cars I have even designed my own frames. I just like the hands on part of any of my hobbies.
Most the people I fly with don't build, pretty much none of them. Makes no difference if it's lack of skill, lack of space or any other reason, they enjoy there ARFs. It's just a choice thing and I choose to build my own.
When I'm out flying I'm not having any more or less fun then the other guys, I'm just more into the complete part of the hobby. I just don't like having someone else do something that I can do myself.
It's a me thing. I can fly all year long too and have no winter build season. I end up doing most of my building during the summer when it stay's light longer. Just choice.

Like MinnFlyer says I only build in the winter keeps from getting cabin fever.

When I lived in N.E, Ohio, I would build more in the winter than in the summer, but I flew & built all year round. Now I live in N.Carolina & fly more in the spring & fall, (due to heat) but still build all year long. I am probably 50/50 in loving the building just as much as the flying. In all 32 years, I have never done an A.R.F & have really only considered it only once. Kits, or scratch building has been the only way. There have been a few swap-shop type buys through out the years, but those are not true arfs in my book.

For those that like the building aspect, do you prefer having to lay down blueprints, cut pieces, and measure lengths or are the kits that are pre-cut and easy to assembly preferrable? I realize they may take away some of the "challenge" and so the hardcore builders probably would rather do most of that work themselves. There are some kits out there that are like puzzles that you just need to assemble - no cutting. I think it's cool - but it does take away from the "this is my own plane" factor knowing everyone else with that kit had the same pieces and just assembled them.

Kits are fun,, easy and fast,,, Nothing more satisfying than having a one of a kind, scratch built from 3-views, plane though.

I do both. I have found some really good arfs that fly well and get in the air quick. I also try to built one kit each year; get great satisfaction when someone comments on the good looking plane. I try and find kits of not so common planes.  I am tried of seeing the same stuff at the field.  I am currently building a 1/3 scale Sig Spacewalker and will do a vintage pattern plane next.

I'm with MinnFlyer; for me, flying is a sport, but the challenge of building is the real hobby. The more of my ideas I put into a model, the greater the satisfaction. Assembling an ARF is OK, building a pre-cut model kit is better, building from plans is better yet, and designing and building a model is best. Flying my newest one-off creation is my greatest satisfaction. Even though I live in So-Cal, flying gets a little boring at times, designing and building is a much welcomed change.

Taking a simple proven kit , and KITBASHING it is I think a really great route to go.. if you don't get crazy with it , its will look different but still fly well... the four stat kits and planes like the Ultra Sport are great for this kind if kit action !

So far I haven't seen a kit with everything pre Cut?? I have built laser cut and die cut but othere then being cleaner needed less snding I don't see a lot of differece between them.

Hi everyone ___Hobbyists, Sporters(?)and readers.

The question of whether our acivities with model aircrafts as being a hobby or a sport seem to come up regularly.

It seems quite obvious to me that if an individual design, build from scratch (another debated word) or from a kit involvng many hoursof leisure times then this individual has a hobby and may be referred to as a modeler of aircraft.

If an individual only buys manufactured aircrafts available ready to put together and fly, I thenconsider him / her an assembler.and pursuinga different hobby. To me he/she is not a modeler but can be considered the hobby of assembling things.

If an individual only buys ready to fly models then what is he/she ? To that person the item is a toy to play with.
We all have toys of one kind or another to play with. I do not consider that having a hobby. For a leisure time activity to be a hobby it has to have more than a superficial interest. It has to involve research and seeking technical or scientific knowledge ormanual dexterity in fabrication, not only in usage.

Well ___you have myoutlook and you have no reason to care. I do not care either what reference we give to the varied type of people using and flying model aircrafts.

Whatever pleases the individual and whatever way he/she can spend his/her money is fine. There is a whole industry out there to satisfy everyone.

Cheers,

Zor

Gray Beard,

I wastalking about the laser-cut kits with "interlocking" pieces. It just requires putting them together like a puzzle and applying some glue. Not as mundane as assembling an ARF but not as creative and open-ended as cutting out kit-parts yourself.<br type="_moz" />

I build kits and scratch build as a hobby and a way to leave life and it's trouble and allow me to revel in my own world for a time. I love to fly but love building more. Good Luck, Dave

Wow, you make it sound so easy.
I have built several kits, laser cut, die cut, and it is a lot more complicated than putting together a puzzle. I doubt you would ever have to sand a puzzle to contour edges or make sure it balances within 1/4 of an inch on center of gravity. Most kits need some modifications along the way that only a "modeler" would understand.
Obviously scratch building is the ultimate but don't sell short a person who builds from kits.

The Pamster
AMA 202345

My bad! haha. I am not attempting to discredit anyone! Actually, I have produced laser cut aircraft for 2 years now for school projects. I design my pieces, and put it together. Having pieces interlock saves a lot of time in assembly and reduces errors. I suppose it comes easier to assemble when you know where everything goes because you designed it :P The whole reason I was asking about what people like is because I was interested in producing the exact type of kits you think I'm putting you down for making. I would love to design kits, laser cut them to have easy-to-assemble pieces, and sell them. It appears the market for that is a tad on the small side though. Something to do as a hobby maybe...

I applaude you in your efforts. Kit building is a lost form of modeling that is being lost on a whole new generation. A well designed kit does not really take that long to build and when you are done you can show up at the field with something that noone else has, a plane that "you" built.

The Pamster
AMA 202345

You wrote "Kit building is a lost form of modeling" . . . . .

I do not know if you meankit building in the senseof buying a kit and building or assembling it. or if you mean putting a kit together to sellit like manymanufacturers or distributorsdo.

Zor

Seams like Both to me

<div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; ">It is pretty sad that for the most part kits can only be found online.  Of the 3 RC LHS near me, only one stocks kits of any sort, and usually it is a trainer of some sort. They dont even stock the motors for them unless you want electric.  Before Christmas, the one shop had a Sig Cub, when I went back a few weeks later, they had sold it, but had a Sig Kadet. I bought that one,  The rest of what they had were rubber powered kits. <div>
</div><div>Now if you wanted an ARF or RTF, they had hundreds of them, provided you went electric. I think there were 2 glow ARF's. </div></div>

Never better quoted! As a father of 3, grandfather of 5, building can't interfere with a father's/husband's obligations. That in itself said, there are times after the kids are in bed, or the mornings they sleep late and Mama isn't in a mood, where one can sneak in some quality time needed to build. Being a parent means adevotion to a build will take an eternity or one will end up building more than that just a plane bycreating a family animosty toward a MIA Dad and his hobby.As addictive as this hobby is, guys, don't let it replace that quality family time. YouWILL regret not spending itwith thefamily. I think I'm actually enjoying this more at my IHOPdiscount age than Iwould have at ayounger age.

You are probably correct.
I wish we did not have to ask for more clarity.

Zor

By and large, I feel if you build the aircraft, it will be of much better quality, that will last longer. Also, the final assembly part of the build (which is basically all there is with an ARF), I find much easier with kits or scratch builds. I like to have all of my linkages installed prior to covering. I also like to install rocket tubes in the wings to make cable routing easier. I find it takes 3-4 times longer to final assemble an ARF over a kit. Plus, I just cannot stand plastic film coverings. Especially on a fuselage. They just wrinkle and do not last.

To each their own, and I'm sure there are lots of nerves on a ARG maiden for the money factor, but your heart is really in your thought when you have the money and a bunch of time invested. That's a thrill.

[&:] Not this argument again. How about " I'm a model airplane enthusiast" that should cover it all; I build, I assemble, I repair, I fly, I watch, I remodel, I like MODEL AIRPLANES.