Duncman

Thomas W., This is true, they do have a steep learning curve but if one has a desire to scratch design/build and basic drawing skills it should be just another challenge and learning opportunity. On the plus side, the programs are a bit more user friendly than in the beginning and nowadays most of the different programs out there have similar icons. You had the perseverance to march forward and look at the skill you learned.


I understand there are some products out there that are model specific, if one has the resources to procure one then that might shorten that learning curve up. I have not had the pleasure of using one so don't know.


This last weekend at a swap meet one of the local old-timer's brought his scratch designed/built Zenoah G-23 powered biplane, just had and idea in his head, drew up some rib templates and formers, (didn't even loft it) and went to work building it, came out gorgeous and flew beautifully, he showed all us CAD guys a thing or two considering he is blind in one eye and going blind in the other. The way I see it, learning CAD is a small hurdle, indeed.

Heliman4213

My Feedback: (1)

Hows this.

Here after 25 years is my giant Britten Norman Islander test flight. Completely scratch built and many things my own design and years being built. Paint and detail is coming next. I hope all enjoy this historic flight. Below is the You-Tube Link. You can subscribed to my channel if you would like for future videos.
Tell me what you guys think !!!!!!





https://youtu.be/EzNx5RLldh4

Tom Nied

That is excellent man, congratulations.

Duncman

Beautiful plane, great job.

BBailey711

Not the reason. Too many have gone to those Drones so they can fly near Apt High Rises and use those high powered cameras to look in window. If I shoot one down they're going to have trouble interpreting England's so called "Law". I will fire a volley of 7 rockets at it from a canister. After all, all I am doing is enjoying my hobby in his airspace, not on his lawn. I have one bugging me that is louder than an RC.

I am a Scratch Builder, I just found this Forum. I Update, Modify, or rebuild old planes from plans, or draw my own. I also look for Plans and somewhere on here is a Plans Forum that I can't find now. I do both wood work and metal. I have a Small Gun Lath and a Bench top Mill, I also cast metal parts and do Fiberglass work. I enjoy the Wood Projects, not the Plastic ones.

BBailey711

I REALLY like the Britten Norman Islander and Aero Commanders. Looks like a beautiful job from the pictures. Loved the Video. I kept thinking that pony needed more Flap, but you handled her perfectly. On the Video>>> What Music! ... LOL!
I don't know what you are going to do for internal scale finish but I saw you have plenty of room. Again ... GREAT JOB!

BBailey711

LOST my Message on the Britten Norman Islander. I will not re-type, but that is a fantastic job on that fast poney. Loved the Video too.

Steve S. Helland

My Feedback: (15)

Here is my newly built H-King Big stick. It flies very nice on a 2822-1200 Kv SK3 motor (sport) Not unlimited vertical but good/OK vertical performance. A 2200 30-50 C Lipo is fine, not getting hot or anything. The strip lED lights make this one a nice night flyer!

BBailey711

You did do a very nice job on that ... I'd like to see it at night ... What's the Wingspan on the plane? I've been working on plans for some of the websites and it has kept me busy. I'm not going to have much building time this year.

Steve S. Helland

My Feedback: (15)

It has a 42" Wingspan and the kit cost was around 30 bucks. I added some aftermarket carbon fiber landing gear because I didn't like the cheezy wire ones. I also built a light ADX plywood engine spacer-outer block just because it looked right. I had to go and look at the instruction manual and noticed that the kit calls for a much more powerful motor than the one I am using. It calls for a 2826-2200 KV motor spinning a 7" prop. I am using an 8 X 6 APC type. The one in the pictures are glow in the dark and are weak...designed for slow park flying. This airplane needs more of a performance type propeller.

FlyerInOKC

My Feedback: (6)

Really looks great Steve!

Leroy Gardner

The builds shown since the start of this thread does not represent the number of builders who build with a build thread. I always figured there was a lot of builders out there who don't post their builds as well as builders who use to post builds and no longer do it, I will become one when my present build is finished, presently it's too hot to build so it's on hold. Good to see some can build during the summer months, wish I could, there is some nice work shown here.

LG

Flyboywbl

I stated into RC when I was 10 with an RC10 electric buggy that my mom helped me build. Then I got my first smell of nitro with an RC10GT truck I saved up for for two years! I had a Nitro Viper Gt boat as well. When I was 16, I wanted to fly but it was far too expensive to do for real. I took the nitro engine out of my boat to the hobby shop to find a kit to put it in. I was disappointed to find out that a water cooled engine would not be the best choice for an airplane engine so I bought a Hanger 9 Easy Fly 40 with a thunder tiger .40 engine. My dad was given an old AM Futaba radio back in the 80's from his brother that he had no interest in. I just sat in the closet collecting dust. I used to plug everything in and be amazed with how complex it all was. I also found out that my dad's radio did not have a buddy box port at my first lesson at the club. My first purchase on eBay was an Futaba FM 4ch (which had been my buddy box til this day)

After many flights and rebuilds I finally I crashed the trainer beyond repair, I yanked everything out and decided to build a kit. My first kit build was then a sig 4*40. I was hooked from that day on. I think I spent 20 hours on it the 1st day. I rember my mom saying good night to me at 9:30pm and telling me not to stay up too late. She was amazed to still se me at it at 7:30 the next morning.

I I moved to MT for college but left all my RC stuff at my parents. That did not last long, that Xmas break I drove a total of 2000 miles to get my 4*40. It probably would of been cheaper to buy a new one. I have a love affair with that plane. I have built the 40, 60 and 120 with a Ryobi 31cc weed wacker engine. And have had the 40 and now the new 54 ARF. I will always have a 4*!!!!

Fast forward to today. I just got back into it after living in NYC for 3 years. I left MT to start a job in NY as an airline pilot so I had to sell/give away all my stuff. I also had to sell my full sized airplane. My wife and I had a beautiful baby boy in April, and so we moved home to MN to be closer to family. Last spring GP came out with their 30cc Citabria and I had to have it. It's just like the full sized 7GCBC I used to own in MT. I ordered it while still living in 600 sq ft in NY and had it shipped to my Mom's house MN where it sat for two months while we moved. I had it finished in a few weekends and it just had me yearning for more. This spring I bought a four star ARF and put it together in about 2 days and it left me still unfofilled.

Looking on Tower Hobbies I was happy to see some of my favorite kits still available. So I decided to get another Sig Hog Bipe. OS engines are a bit pricy now so I went with a Magnum .91. Being a stay at home dad, I now get about two hours of building in every morning while the baby sleeps in between feedings. It's absolutely incredible. I forgot how much fun kit building can be! I just bring the baby monitor into the shop. I've gotten hosed a few times mixing a fresh batch of epoxy only to have the baby start whailing. I had to finsh gluing the bottom wing halves with baby on my shoulder and only 15 minutes left of cute time.

I'm about 75% finished with the Hog Bipe and I already have all the stuff to build my dream plane, the top-flite DC-3 with twin Magnun .52's and TwinSync engine sincrinizer. I also have ordered an Uproar 40 with Great Planes floats and the Great Planes 60 Cub kit with Floats (land of 10,000 lakes!). I have my next builds plans out for the next year at least!!

I cant wait to teach my son to kit build and build a kit together!! My dad was never into RC and I wish he would of taken an interest. I would of loved to build with him.

Anyway long story but I plan on raising my child kit building!

Here is to hoping kit building is enjoyed for many years to come!

-Matt

I-fly-any-and-all

My Feedback: (1)

speaking of building, ive just received a fresh copy of plans for a "royal kit of the spirit of saint Louis", and will upload next week.
for now here is the build manual.

Muttdog

Just maidened this last Sunday. It's a Wrong Way RC 50cc Profile that was my first build and took me about 6 months. EME 60/Vess 24B, 80 inch WS with the area of a 100cc and about 16 pounds.

WhiteRook

My Feedback: (38)

builders , ha , some of you guys are real builders , but BARFS have taken over , i got a SWEET ,PICA P-51 1/6 KIT for sale
, nothing has ever been out of the box , and it wont sell , because no one , but a few are still building.

RichardGee

My Feedback: (156)

Builders? We're still here... just completed a Top Flight Taurus.

Duncman

I got so many kits and plans on the shelf for building one more and the camels back would break, as it is I spend 6 hours a day in the shop building. Love it. So why don't you build it?

BBailey711

Those are beautiful. Is there anyway I can get a copy of the Plans? I think that should be on my list. I am a Scratch Builder and only build from Plans or my own creations. And Dave Platt, Nick Ziroli, Don Dewey, or Laddie Matulasko I am not.

skylark-flier

Sweet! One day...

Actually, I'm working on the rebuild of my 1966 Stratus right now, after it vertical'd into the ground. MIGHT just have it back on-line by October.

... and WHAT is a "BARF"?

paladin

My Feedback: (9)

Bashed Almost Ready to Fly - BARF

I'm hoping to / fretting the convertion of my IMP Macchi202 from gas to electric (anyone want a ZDZ 40). my plan for the summer was roof, driveway, Dynaflite PT-19 and Macchi convertion. I have contracts for the first two so I started looking at the convertions and realized the macchi spinner is even bigger that the one for the CMP Messerschmitt 109 spinner. fiddled with that all last summer so it would not go into resonance. im hoping the bigger bearings in the much bigger rimfire 50cc will make that much easier.


I have a attic full of kits and arf's too.

Joe

rick hamel

My Feedback: (1)

My summer was a bath-kitchen remodel--got a file drawer full of sketches--managed to get some time in on my Q 200--these are pics of the plugs-just started molding--no R/C kits of this!

FlyerInOKC

My Feedback: (6)

I like that Q200!

FlyerInOKC

My Feedback: (6)

Taking in consideration the title here is where I am at on some of my projects

I have started adding CAP insignia to my SIG Cub and have the struts yet to paint and apply the insignia to the fuselage and the engine detail to the cowling.

This is the completed main spar to my 1/5th Ryan SC project and here it is with some of the ribs installed

Here is the progress fuselage of my Top Flite Cessna 182 next up is the interior kit and then the fiberglass the skin. Here is the completed flaps all the wing lacks is the tips and the ailerons installed.

TomCrump

I had hoped to paint my Lockheed Vega this Summer, but my deck/landscaping projecct got in the way.

Oh well. It least I was building something.