Hey all. I'm a beginner builder (and flyer for that matter - yep, got a trainer currently and learning on that) and am thinking about taking on my first building project. I love warbirds, love the scale aspect, and want to build something that will ultimately be my third plane. Because of these things, I just don't feel I'll be happy with ARFs down the road so I want to start learning how to build. I figure the best way to do that is to start building, even if my flying skills aren't up to part YET with whatever warbird I end up building.

With that said, I've been reading the forums and have been looking at the Skyshark Val or their ME-109. From reading the posts, it looks like these go together rather easily due to the laser cut parts and from what I've read, the directions are superb as well. So would either of these planes be a good place to start for a newby builder? I'm hoping also to get some help from my R/C plane club too, but if I was left on my own for the majority of the build, should it be relatively straightforward (sure, I've got a lot to learn), or would I be way in over my head with one of these?

Thanks in advance for your opinion! [sm=thumbup.gif]

Build a nice low wing sport plane first. Warbirds are sometimes too complicated for the beginner to build. You will also need at least two planes between your trainer and the warbird. The low wing sport plane can serve as one.

Dr.1

Thanks for the reply. A low-wing sport plane is a good step towards learning to fly, but that could easily be an ARF. In other words, I would rather not build one unless it is really a necessary step towards building a warbird, even if it is a needed step towards learning to fly a warbird. Think you really need to build a low-wing sport-plane before attempting one of the kits I mentioned originally?

Thanks!

Second that. Especially since you are new, your enthusiasm can easily allow you to bite off more than you can chew (but don't ever lose it!) Build a Sig Somethin' Extra as a second plane, learn from it (it is a truly enjoyable build that will teach you more than a few things), fly the hell out of it, and then start your dream plane. The SSE will hone your building and flying skills, and will make that third plane look better and last longer.

I am still a beginner builder/flyer. Actually my flying is pretty good; I can't get landings down yet.

I have an ARF trainer and decided I wanted to try a kit. I bought a SIG Astro Hog because it is supposed to be a good second plane and it looks cool to me. When I read the instructions I knew it was over my head for a first build. I built a Great Planes PT-60 (yes, a trainer kit) and learned a lot. The instructions are great. The plane was a great flyer until I cartwheeled it down the runway trying a deadstick landing. I thought I could do it so I asked my brother/instructor to let me try and I got myself disoriented and stuffed it down. Total 'dumb thumbs' on my part.

As a second build I chose a Tower Hobbies Uproar 60. Instructions are pretty good and the build is fairly simple. The plane is ready to fly but I'm not sure I'm ready for it.

I looked at the manual for the Skyshark Val online and I don't know if I could build it or not.

All of this rambling really leads to one thing and it's only an opinion from someone who does not know you. Build at least one kit before attempting to build the scale warbird. The SIG Somethin Extra and Four Star appear to be good first builds and take you beyond the 'trainer' stage. There are several build threads running in the beginner forum. The Skyshark Fantasy and Bruce Tharpe Venture 60 are other possibilities.

Thanks guys. Unless there is an expert builder in my club willing to hold my hand for my first build, I'll pass on a warbird until I've got another build under my belt.

Good call- you'll be a better builder and get a much better finished product after you've cut your teeth on at least one "easy" build. Allow me to one more time recommend the Somethin' Extra as a first kit- great great great confidence builder on the bench and in the air. I put a Saito 82 in mine, and its a freakin' blast to fly. It was my first kit, first Monokote job, and now I get nothing but compliments on all my re-builds and covering jobs. Here's some pics:

The other thing to look for is a semi-scale, or sport scale aircraft. These are airplanes that look similar to the original, but have been significantly modified to make them easier to fly. The Goldberg Super Chipmunk is a good example here. While it looks like a Super Chipmunk from a distance, it's got a squared off fuselage, and different airfoil (among other difference) that make it much easier to fly as a model.

Good decision. I would also say the Sig Something Extra, Four Star, or similar plane would be a good choice for a first build. You will learn a lot from this type of build.
If you are interested in the particular warbirds you mentioned, the Val, with it's fixed gear, would be simpler to build and operate. Of course, what is a good plane to start with building is a wide open question. A lot depends on your background. If you've build some rubber powered planes as a kid, or have mastered other crafts, it may be possible to attempt a more complex kit. Just don't try to take on more than you truely believe you are able to handle. Getting into a project that is beyond your abilities is a good way to kill your enthusiasm for the hobby. Better to finish a too easy kit and be ready for another one, than it is to have one that was too complicated sitting in the attic years from now.

After you've built a sport kit or two, and are ready for that warbird, I would recommend checking out the series of videos from Dave Platt.
Another source of great information on building, which I would recommend now, is the website by Paul Johnson at
http://www.airfieldmodels.com/index.htm

Welcome to the hobby, I hope you find joy in building

Scott

You need to get proficient in flying your trainer and then graduate to a low wing trainer such as a SIG 4 star. The warbirds are nice, however, it helps a lot if you have a little more building experience. They also have their own flight characteristics as each one is scaled down from the real one. Also, talk to some of the more experienced fliers in your club for their advise.

Thanks a ton everyone for the advice and encouragement!

Saramos, funny you mention it because I did build a couple of rubber band flyers as a kid. I seem to remember that building up the wings and fuse was time consuming, but not rocket science. The covering on the other hand was tissue paper if I remember correctly...that part WAS rocket science heh.

I've built and raced the heck out of 1/10th nitro R/C cars for about 4 years so I'm not green to R/C at all, but building an R/C plane I'm sure is a whole lot more involved & time consuming. I'm in no hurry though as I do have my current plane to fly.

Thanks again all for the advice and for steering me in the right direction.

Looks like you did a great job. Thanks for sharing. [sm=thumbup.gif]

SeattleFlyer,

I too love warbirds! I built a couple of profile C/L kits as a kid with my Dad. My first build as an adult was a GP Super Sportster 60. This kit though not a warbird was a lot for me to build. I took my time and the results where great. I think when deciding to build your "first" kit you need to read the manual online and then reflected on what you think your capable of.

If you have some previous modeling skills then a kit that takes a little more than building a box might be ok. There are a lot of good kits, but the big question is other than building it, what are you going to do with it. If your heart is in warbirds then build a kit that will get you closer to that goal.

The plane should be a tail-dragger that is fast (speed wise) with a little heavier wing loading. If you go with a quick plane, warbirds aren't quick. You should learn to fly a low wing that not designed to turn on a dime.

Good choices (chime in anyone who has others) might be:
Super Sportster
Rapture
King Kobra
Skyshark Fantasy
Ultra Sport

Remember, that these planes are a push for a second. They are not as forgiving as a Tiger or Four*. I learned to fly on my Dad's Kadet and my first kit was a Super Sportster. She was at the time a handful! Eight flights and "Look at me, I'm inverted! -- I'm spinning -- I'm ... up, up, up .... Oh #&@%!#. She is back together (almost as much time as the original build) and another 50 or so flights and she's not a handful anymore.

I also have an uproar. Man this is a fun plane to fly, but she will not give you a lot of warbird skills. She fly's at about 60 mph, can go nearly unlimited in the vertical and spin a nearly 120 Rpms (if you don't starve her of fuel). But this plane is so quick, you can get into it quick but right out of it quick too! This big issue that you have to learn for warbirds is you tend to try to stay out of trouble, but once there, nothing is quick about a warbird (scale, semi-scale). I also have a Yak-3 from RedStar RC. Build and Kit were assume but even though I can handle just about anything the Super Sportster or my Uproar can through at me, my Yak-3 has 7 flights: 1 tip stall on landing, one dead stick 20 feet short, a loose engine and a bad CG (read me post on this one), 1 nose slide on landing, 1 landing long -- ate a few weeds, and 1 landing that I powered the plane back to the pits -- had to re-bend the landing gear.

Good luck on your selection and build. Start a post so we can follow along. Besides, if your taking picture after each build session, it forces you to keep your bench clean (LOL).

Hey thanks for the link to Paul Johnson's site. A ton of great information there!

Here's an update: I went to my first club meeting last night and met up with a very experienced pilot & builder. It turns out he lives close to where I live and he is going to "take-me-under-his-wing" and help me learn to fly my trainer and I've got someone to help me in the building department as well when I start building something. We didn't have much time to B.S. last night at the meeting, but he gave me his card and told me to contact him in the next week or so and he said he'll be "building-like-crazy" this winter. Can't wait to get my plane in the air with him buddy-box training me and I feel like I've got a go-to-guy to turn to for advice on my first build project. I'm not sure yet what that is going to be, but I'll pick his brain on the matter and then get a kit going. The Sig Somethin'-Extra sure seems like a good place to start.

The other really great thing about the meeting last night is one of the "ol-timers" brought in a whole slew of large pictures of his life's work building scale model airplanes. THere must have been 20 or so different planes and man, his stuff was truely amazing and very inspiring. I wish I would have caught his name...

Thanks again everyone for the feedback.

Keep us posted on your building and flying.
Best regards,
Bob Chatigny
Weatherford,Ok

Seattle, Just as you are learning to fly, you need to learn how to build.

There's no point in building your first warbird just to have it come out looking like it's been through a war!

There are many little things you'll need to learn first-hand... WAY too many for us to try to list here.

So the best thing to do is to start building your second plane, that way you will get TONS of experience before tackling your "Baby".

Some planes that make an excellent "Second plane - First build" are:

Goldberg Tiger
Sig 4*
Great Planes Rapture

And BTW, as for your first Warbird, take a look at the Great Planes P-51D Mustang:

http://www.greatplanes.com/airplanes/gpma0175.html

It's a good build, and a great flier. And if you build the "Rapture" as your first build, you'll alreadt be familliar with many of GP's building techniques.

Another great low wing plane that's easy to build would be the Bruce Tharpe Venture 60. Bruce has a great reputation for the quality of his kits, and his personal attention to any questions that you may have.

You can find out more info from the website @ www.btemodels.com

Another good second plane first build is the SkyShark Fantasy. Can be tail dragger or trike http://www.skysharkrc.com/fantasy.htm .

The GP P-51 is a great first warbird. It fly's more like a sport (actually uses the same wing form as the Ultrasport).

For my first warbird, I wanted something a little different, not just another mustang. You should really check this kit out, easy build and very good flyer (more like a warbird than the GP P51).

http://www.redstarrc.com

Try a Carl Goldberg Super Chipmunk .60 kit. I've built this kit and it goes together easily and would make a great low wing sport to learn with. Keep the deflections low and the plane flies real easy. Turn them up and this is a seriously acrobatic plane! That, and overall it's a really inexpensive plane to build relative to some other kits.

The Fantasy was my second plane and it is a handful coming from a high wing trainer. They have designed out the elevator flutter problem, so it should be a good kit. First, it is fast. Second, you really have to learn how to land it. I've seen experienced guys making 5 or 6 approaches before they could slow it down enough. There is a trick to it, of course. You just stay high on final and pull the nose almost level. It will settle into a nice angle on its own. Don't touch the sticks until you are ready to give it a hint of a flare around 4-5 inches off the ground. The wing is a real floater that low. Don't pull back on the elevator after landing as it will take off again when you swear it is finished flying.

The SSE is an easy build and it makes a great second plane with the throws kept down. Everybody should have one sitting around.