Ive read so many threads on the ultimate Goldberg/lanier kit and Arf.Im interested in knowing considering the price of the ultimate bipe arf is the quality of this plane worth the 300+ bucks or would it be better getting the kit.Ive read it flies great,not to repeat myself but ive read the quality of the arf has declined through the years............ suggestions please!!

Dear King:

Build the kit. Then you know it is done right. And you get the color scheme you want. Plus you get the satisfaction of knowing that you built it everytime it goes up. I get as much satisfaction from seeing my birds fly in other peoples hands as my own. Build it and enjoy.

Plus, if you build the kit you can reinforce the firewall for rigidity should you choose to install a 1.20 engine. See Higley's book "Bipes" if you have access to it. I've been wanting to build this kit, but I still have too many in boxes waiting.

I would go with the kit also for the same reasons already mentioned

This IS the Kit Building Forum after all, so what do you think we balsa bugs are going to say???

Build the kit, of course!!! If you have the time and like to build, nothing beats the satisfaction of seeing a bird you created from a box of balsa and plywood take to the air and perform.

I would say... go with the kit. I dont really know anything about biplanes, but i do know that you get a great feeling of satisfaction when you build it yourself instead of letting some poor person build it in a factory who lacks motivation and just builds for the money. The first flight with your new personally built custom made plane makes you very proud to see it fly. Everyone tells you how good it looks and how well it flies. Also, you are aware of all the problems that may exist, and you know to look for them, unlike an arf, unless you rip of the covering. Also, I am poor and i dont like to spend money on an arf when you can build it for a third of the price of the arf with a kit. But that is just me.

Go for the kit, it's the other enjoyable aspect of the hobby, besides, winter is around the corner .
Joe

Ha Ha..... there is no real winter in the Bahamas,but I understand. By the way, could someone post the building instructions for the goldberg kit?It will be so nice to have a look before taking the leap.

FlyingPilgrim,

Can you please expand upon your remark regarding strengthening the fire wall for a 1.20?

I built the kit ten years ago, to specification (i.e., no beefing up anywhere except for leaving some of the fuse cut-outs in place) and used an OS 1.20 Surpass. The plane is still flying with its current owner, last I heard.

I'm doing the ARF right now, with a Laser 150. Do you know something I should???

Steve

Steve,
The firewall is (relatively) small, and hangs out some distance from the rest of the larger section of the fuselage. It is held at the top by some small square balsa stringers, which are subject to torsional twisting. The firewall itself has the die-cut punch outs, which further make the firewall less rigid. Higley's book on Bipes suggests using basswood (or other hardwood) spars behind the firewall, and using larger size than the balsa sticks as well. Use some solid plywood for the firewall. Take the die cut part and trace it onto the new solid plywood in order to cut the part. You could also just leave the cut out parts in the supplied die cut part and glue them in as well if you don't feel like cutting a new part. The results are a much more rigid engine mount that is not susceptible to torsional twisting. This sounds like it would be a worthwhile upgrade for those using a high torque engine such as the YS 1.20 or 1.40.

Hello; I have built two of these wonderful planes, very enjoyable build, both planes fly great, I used to have a Saito 120 in one but took it out to put in an OS 91 which seemed to make the Ultimate more maneuverable and much lighter. I used an after market landing gear as the original gear didn;'t last too long, which damaged the firewall. I put an aluminum doubler in behind the firewall to double the undercarriage, and have had no problems since. Wonderful flyer, lots of fun.