I am thinking about building a Cessna 182 for my winter project. I need some info on the Top Flite kit and the Pica 1/5 kit. Any opinions would be appreciated.

Tim

I built the Pica a few years back, very nice airplane, had it all decked out, weighed 15 lbs, power ST 2000, used it with floats also, perfect combination. Size wise it is much more impressive than the Top Flite, it however is not as scale looking in the cowling-windshield area, very strong airplane, easy build, however didn't like the precut sheeting that Pica provides, the corrugation on the flight controls must be made, none is supplied in the kit, easily done with plastic triangle material, though time consuming. Final analysis, an airplane that will make you proud, great flyer, but watch out on the stall, it will snap and spin, I built 4 or 5 different Cessnas, they all do the same, it has to do with the tapered wings. Don't know where the pictures are, if I find them I'll post them.

I've nearly completed the Top Flight 182, but I started it about 7 years ago! It was my first kit, and a bit out of my league at the time. I was able to get it to the covering stage before I burned out on it; it's been sitting since. (Recently looking at it again. Just need to decide whether or not it's worth fiberglassing.)

Even as a new builder I didn't have any trouble with it. Biggest problem was adhering the top sheeting to the leading edge. In a couple of spots there's very little material to glue to, but.... Carving the Horner wing tips might have been one of the more trying things for me, but they came out great. The fuselage sheeting was probably the most tedious job I had. Getting the seams to match up right at the top was real finicky. (But I'm a bit of a perfectionist.)

I wish I'd had the foresight to change a couple of things. The biggest being, the routing of the control 'rods' for elevator and rudder run down the sides of the fuselage; as a result, I couldn't cut in an operable cockpit door after the fact.

The rudder linkage at the tail seemed to be a good place for some serious binding. The geometry was way off. (Which they corrected in later kits I've heard.) I solved it with a couple of ball links, but to be sure, I built a hatch into the bottom of the fuse at the tail, in case I ever had to access the connections.

The "ABS" plastic parts (cowl, wheel pants, strut pieces...) are actually very good quality. Quite thick and stiff. The cowl is in 3 pieces though, so I may buy a fiberglass one.

I have seen a couple of these fly, and the owners didn't mention any problems with flight characteristics, but I can't comment from personal experience.

Good luck with whichever you choose.
Dennis-

bfld, I have a Pica 1/5 182 that I have about 75% comepleted but have lost interest in finishing it. If your interested in buying it I can send you pics. I made mods to the wing so it has 4 servos instead of 2 and I have the Robart nose wheel for it. It's straight and strong.

Thanks for the offer rc_sport, but I want to build one from the ground up. Besides my wife lost her job last month and I'm kinda short on funds right now. So it really will be a winter project by the time I get the money.

Thanks everyone for your input.

Tim

RC_Sport,
Two questions. What are you asking for the 182? Also, is it a one piece or plug-in wing?

Thanks,
Doug