Has anyone had any experience with Kit Cutters Inc? I emailed them about cutting a kit for me and they said they could take my order but it wouldn't be completed til early Feb. Is this normal practice or are they that busy because of it being building season for a lot of people?

Thanks

http://www.kitcutters.com/

I'm surprised that they are taking any kit orders. For years now, their website has said that they are "not accepting any orders except for plans".

I seen that after I sent my email.. I was surprised It says that on their home page. Their response to my email was:

Try National balsa. Maybe they do the kit you want, or can scan your plans for you. I ordered a Ziroli Stuka and got it in a week. The wood is almost perfect for every application as well. I was very impressed, and I am a professional woodworker who machines parts daily.
Being that they sell balsa, They would seem to have a good selection to choose from for the cut parts. All parts were shipped still in the sheets for protection. Avoid PCK. They are terrible.

The kit I want cut is a Flybaby from these plans https://www.rcmplans.com/index.php?m...oducts_id=1771 I already have the paper plans. I have received a reply back from National Balsa about cutting the kit for me and they would prefer to have the plans in a dxf or dwg file. They said it would be very expensive for them to do the conversion for me but would cut the kit. Where can I get the plans converted?
I also got another response from Kitcutters and they said if I were to wait until January they should have the time to cut the kit for me.
Here's their page with the kit. http://www.kitcutters.com/RCM/RCMSport/RCMFlybaby.htm Thanks for the heads up on PCK!
I was looking over the plans today with a buddy and was seriously thinking of cutting the kit myself. All I have is a scroll saw and some sanders. I think I could do it.. The hard part for me would be figuring out how much wood I would need.. I would order from National Balsa.

You need a large plotter. You might check with a Kinkos to see if they can scan and put the file on a flash drive for you. When you get copies of plans at Kinkos, they have to be scanned first. The problem with the type of file that you need is those are usually found in CAD software. The DXF files are the types use that a CNC machine reads. That is needed for the laser cutter. Otherwise, you might contact a local custom woodshop or a machine shop that uses CNC machinery. At my job, we have a large scanner and run 4 CNC machines. If I had access, I could do it, but it would not be possible as I could not get permission. The best thing would be to make some phone calls to these places and see if they can do it reasonably cheaply. Then you could just email the file to National, or snail mail the flash drive. If you can get National to do it, you will be happy.
Here is my Stuka kit..... The quality of the cut, and organized nature of the parts is pretty clear. These guys have found a dedicated customer here.

That Stuka kit looks great! I will check with Kinkos about getting a copy made and put on a flash drive. What kind of file would they be putting on the drive? PDF? Thanks for the info!
I may just have another paper copy made so I could use it for making templates.

Well, hopefully they can put it in a DWG or DXF file. Then you will be done. Not sure if National could use a PDF, as that is not what they asked for. What they want are the plans in a format that the software for their laser cutter can read. Then they can lift the parts off of the plans and nest them into the sheets, programing for the cutting process. I think you will be lucky if Kinkos can convert the file. That is why I mentioned trying to find a local shop that may be willing.

There may be some other options. Possibly the AMA could do it, or a manufacturer like SIG. The AMA has a laser cutting service, they may convert you plans. I used to have my own kits cut by sig back in the late 90's and they may be able to do it as well. Not sure if Sigf offers these services anymore. I would bet you would have to mail your plans to them.

Oh, ok I understand. Thanks for your help!

Ok, thanks!

I sent some emails to Sig and the AMA to see if they still offer laser cutting and asked if they could do it from paper plans.. We'll see what they say.

drube--check with blueprint companies in the area that handle construction plans.Up here in Atlanta i use Image Reprograghiics.

Due to first hand experience, under no circumstances what-so-ever, deal with Michael Neal of Kitcutters. (Note, this is not Kitcutters Inc.)
Do research on here if interested in finding out more.

In the past, I never wanted to cut my parts, and I frequently used kit cutters, including National Balsa. Last Winter, I decided to cut my own kit for a 72" Velie Monoprep.

I enjoyed the process more than I expected, as I found it to be a rewarding experience.

This success led me to do a larger project, starting out with a set of 3 views, blown up to a 102" wingspan Ryan Brougham.

I think that you would enjoy cutting your own kit. Don't be afraid to give it a shot.

PS: I suggest that you listen to the advice in post 14. Years ago, there was a long thread, here, about this company.

When converting plans from an image file like PDF to a vector file lile DWG you run into two major problems.

First is time. The conversion process requires that you import the image as an image and then trace over every line on the plan. This is very time consuming and therefore expensive. Software is out there that can automate some of this process but the problem is accuracy, the software often will induce errors that you must find and correct. All of this takes time and money.

The second problem is errors in the plan itself. It used to be when I built from plans some of the parts didn't fit quite right. I assumed at the time that the error was mine and that I didn't cut the part out accurately, maybe I cut to the outside of the line instead of the middle or inside of the line. When I drew my first pan in CAD I discovered that the problem is the plans themselves. They contained errors and plenty of them, and they all needed to be corrected.

If you send a PDF file to a laser cutter and the parts don't fit properly you will likely blame him for the errors. If you send a DWG file there will be no one to blame except the person that created the DWG file. Much safer for them.

I once considered entering the kit business and had a draftsman convert a small .15 size plane from PDF to CAD so I could have it laser cut. The charge was around $500 for his time.

Why not do like I have, learn a simple CAD program like DeltaCad and draw the plans yourself?

A Flybaby would be the perfect plane to try to cut yourself. The fuse and tail are mostly sticks, and the wing it is straight, ie no taper, right? Many of the ribs will be similar. Cut a few plywood parts for the load bearing fuse structures, and you will have a kit. A scroll saw is all you need really. Cut the part oversize, and sand to the line. If you have many holes to drill, especially lightening holes in the balsa, buy a forstner type bit as they make really nice holes in balsa.
Mr. Crump is correct in saying that is satisfying to do it all yourself. When you are done, you will want to punch the first guy that asks "Which ARF is this?"

drube, The Cunningham Flybaby is an easy airplane to build and it's very easy to cut your own parts for it. I've built two of them as well as several other of Chuck's designs. I would save the use of kit cutters for more complicated projects.

Is that Glassed or covered???

I agree with everything said above. I am a drafter by trade and yes you will have to import that file as an image and trace over it all. The command is "imageattach." Then you'll have to go in and clean it up to make sure everything fits properly. It's not that hard of a process, but it's time consuming. I wish there was an easier way. I was thinking about doing it for an F-100 Super Sabre I saw in RCM years ago designed by Col. Art Johnson. I have the plans but have never taken the time.

Go online and download an educational version of AutoCAD and you can do it yourself. The only problem using an educational product is that the plot will have "educational version" around the border, but I think if the kit cutter, or someone else opens the file in a licensed version of AutoCAD and saves it, it will get rid of the educational stamp on the plot. Come to think of it, it probably won't matter to the CNC machine if it's an educational version anyway. All the CNC machine needs is a dwg file.

Good luck on the project. PM me if you need any help. I can help get you started in the right direction.

Brian

Kochj, Its covered with yellow Ultracote and the red trim is painted on.

Thanks everyone for your help! I received an answer back from the AMA and they don't offer a laser cutting service. I will call a couple of blue printing companies to get some prices but it's looking more and more like i'll be cutting the kit myself.
Russmall, your Flybaby is part of the reason why I want to build one. I remember seeing the post where you had pics of yours and a friends that you built. Do you by any chance still have a list of all the wood needed to complete the build?

If you REALY like building like I do try cutting your own kits,to me that is half the fun of flying.just a thought.

Back when I was learning to fly, my instructor had this Flybaby. He let me fly it. I was amazed at how well it would fly for a rank beginner.

No matter which route you take to get there, I'm sure that you wil enjoy this project.

Good luck, and, most importantly, Have fun !

The Flybaby was designed by a model builder.His name was Peter Bowers. He made it very easy to cut for a full scale. He copied and simplified a homebuilt that a friend of mine owned. . I think his full scale plans are still available. One of its attributes was it built like a model airplane.
I built and flew a Balsa USA kit of the Fly Baby bipe. That kit has been reissued. Why not contact them and see if they have the parts you need?

Pete had a set of biplane wings and a set of monoplane wings that he could install or change for whatever mode he was in.