I would suggest for any newcomer to kit building, that he/she look for a kit that is laser cut. Those that I have built, with this feature, have been a true joy to bulld. Other types of kits, some with die cutting that is more like die smashing, tend to frustrate even experienced builders, let alone a newbe. So, the laser cut kit is the way to go.

I am building my first kit this winter, Hobby Hangar Gee Bee. It really is nice to have laser cut parts. None of the wing ribs required any sanding at all. Makes frame up quick.

Couldn't agree with you more Scale Buff.....especially the FIRST kit - and the one after that and the one after that.....

Jerry

I absolutely agree, assuming everything else is equal. My last plane was laser-cut, and it almost brought tears to my eyes the way the parts fit together so well. I swore I'd never build a non-laser cut kit.

However, now I'm building a Tiger2, and it's die cut, and I'm surprised at the high quality. The parts fit fine, and the design is great.

So, yes, if everything is equal, go for laser-cut, but design complexity, an error-free manual, good hardware, and wood quality are probably more important than the way the pieces are cut.

--Mike

I agree! First plane I built was a Goldberg Electra...didn't go to smoothly. Next was a Sig 4 Star 60. Came out great! Was much easier also! I really like laser cutting!

Mike, I agree with you. The overall quality of the kit is more important than just one facet. But I would bet that if the instruction book is great, the hardware is great and the quality of wood is great, chances are that the die cutting will also be great. When I think of the newcomer, I feel that probably the most important thing is the construction manuel. Sig probably deserves the credit for beginning the superb instructions we see in so many kits today. But I would worry about a newcomer who ran into a kit, even with great instructions, who had to fight with pieces of balsa that just wouldn't fit because of poor diecutting or sloppy machine cutting. Chances are he/she wouldn't be back to build again, but turn instead to the ARF's.

My first laser cut kit was the Sig Somethin Extra, that was a lot of fun to build, it came out perfect. If anyone has a site with lots of different laser cut kits id love to check it out. Im interested in .40 size since ive decided to quit the big ones, the .40 size are a lot easier to carry to the field and dont cost an arm and leg to build.

When building laser cut kits do people do anything to remove the charred edges of various pieces? I know these black smudges don't effect anything structurally, but do they show up under lighter colored coverings?

I cut my teeth building Guillow's and Comet stick and tissue rubber band airplanes about 35 years ago. I even had a few planes where the parts were simply printed onto the wood and you had to cut them out yourself. For me anything is better than that, even the diemashed Falcon 56 I built a few years ago!
But I gotta say, I just built my first laser cut kit and most of the parts just slid into place real nice. That was fun.

Simark,

I did the same, and even had a Comet Corsair kit laying around (from probably ten years ago or more.) Last year I decided to build it, had to cut all the parts from the printed balsa. Real frustrating when the parts break and split two or three times before they're even free from the sheet!

I think I have another one or two stuck back behind some other stuff in my basement... maybe I'll go look for them next winter.

Best wishes,
Dave Olson

Have a look at the Skyshark kits...really nice. I'm currently building the TBM Avenger..a real pleasure to work with nice fitting parts.