alright, i taught myself how to fly rc (at the cost of many a crash, and several planes). ive been flying now for close to three years, and i am getting the urge to build one. all i have done so far have been arfs, and the itch is here. i have this tendency to jump way in over my head, but that is just me, but i do like to do things right, a perfectionist if you will (kicked my arse so many times during my self training[>:]). here is what i am thinking, and remember, i have no clue to actual building. im thinking about a top flight kit where the parts are pre cut (is this considered a true build?). i have also been reading about covering, i dont want to monokote, i want to paint, so, i need not only all the advice there is in the community, but i also am very interested on how to cover a kit for painting. i have not selected a kit yet, but its going to be in the 60 range, nothing bigger. so, lay it all on me. im just hoping that it looks like an airplane when i am done with it. and i will keep you posted on the progress, the purchase of the kit itself is near. (either corsair, p-47, or spitfire.) SPEAK TO ME THE WISDOM OF THE COMPILED MINDS, SO AS MY FRANKENSTEIN WILL FLYYYYYYYYYY.

I hadn't built in 30 years, so when I wanted to "learn" again, I picked a kit that gave me some of what I wanted, knowing that I would have to relearn some things. Just my opinion, but maybe you would like to do a basic build, and fly it, then work on something more advanced like a fighter? A 4 Star, Venture 60, Sig SSE, (not a totally comprehensive list, but a good beginning) each are somewhat simple builds that won't cost a fortune to learn on, and you can get your feet wet on most of the techniques you need for a warbird. You will end up with a plane fun to fly, and be encouraged to go a slightly more difficult route for your next build. Good luck...

thank you very much for the response, and i totally agree with you, but i have this horrible tendency to go WAY OVERBOARD. i have thought about what you have said, and i am still drawn towards the warbirds. however, i just got back from the hobby shop, and in there plastic model section, i noticed some small balsa .020 sized aircraft..... anyone know anything about these? it looks like they cover everything in a 60 size build, yet in a much smaller, quicker to learn on kit. OR AM I JUST CRAZY [>:].

I personally wouldn't do a warbird for a first kit build. Some people may be able to handle it just fine but I sure couldn't have. I agree with the other reply, look at something like a 4*, Venture .60, Sig SE or something along those lines. You'll learn the basics of building plus have a nice airplane to fly. I saw a Venture .60 for the first time at the field today; it was a great looking plane, I may just have to get one. The only warbird I can think of that may qualify for a first build is a Great Planes P-51. As for the covering, I'd go with Monokote or Ultracoat. They are easy to apply and look nice. Save the painting for down the road when you get to that perfect looking scale warbird stage. This is just my opinion of course based on my own experience. You may take a different route and be completely successful.

Can't go wrong with the 4* or Venture and the mods you can do are endless.I built many 4's and Venture in fact I have a 4*120 and Venture kit sitting on the shelf with a lot of extras in them waiting,but the guys have me into gas trucks right now so they will have to wait for a while if ever.but anyway do one of them for the first and get the feel for building,you may stay with them for they fly great

Gotta agree with the rest. Something along the line of a 4*, venture, and so on. I personally like the Super Sportster 60, a pretty rugged plane that has good sport flying qualities. What you need to learn with these types of kits is building sequence, what wood to use where, what glues to use where, covering, equipment installation and high stress points. Kits of this class generally align themselves pretty good but it wouldnt hurt to learn how to do alignment checks on the firewall, wing/stab incedence and fin offsets. At some time you'll run across a plane that just doesnt seem right even though you're sure its built right. Usually one of the alignments are off. (Not all kits are created equal) Keep a close eye on hardware quality. As time goes on you'll develop your own way of doing things (which usually wont be too different from a lot of other builders).

I would highly recommend you put the warbird off till later. But like Chuck says, the GP P-51 kit shouldnt be too bad based on its reputation from people here on RCU. I have no actual experience with it though.

Edwin

And forget about paint - the prep work is WAY more difficult than using covering (That's why covering was invented - it's easier) Use Ultracote - it's the most user-friendly of the coverings

ok, im listening. as far as the monokote, i really think it suckes. ive never seen, in my limited time out in the rc world, where it did not come off from the fuel residue. im willing to put in the extra work on the covering, im not concerned there. but in my running around and looking lately, i am starting to think that the warbird should be a 2nd venture. now, will i paint a 4*, probably not, i would probably opt for the monokote there. if anyone has suggestions on the covering and painting process though, i would much appreciate it. thanks for all of the great input, i heed all recommendations. thankssssssssss.........

If Monokote is applied properly fuel residue won't cause it to lift. It's all in how it's put on. I have planes coverend in monokote that have over 400 flights on them and they still look as good as the day I did the maiden flight. Any covering will come of if not applied properly, and this is especially true for paint. Really, it all just boils down to doing it right no matter what covering is used. That usually just comes from experience.

Ken

I would like to know what you have been flying?

Also, good choice on waiting for the warbird. Is there anyone around you that builds?

hey, thanks again for the comments. as far as the planes ive been flying, i taught myself on the aerobird extreme, moved to the hangar 9 pts p51, then to a hangar 9 corsair, and have had two complete trainers given to me (talk about lucky, but ive only flown one), and i just recently moved into the 3d world with a hangar 9 twist. they have all been arfs, but im really itching to build. as far as the monokote goes, i only know of a few people near me that fly, sometimes i get a chance to go to a field about 40 miles away, and i do have to say, i have never seen the monokote not coming off in one place or another on any of the planes, but i do believe that it is in the installation. there is a person that lives somewhere around me that builds kits from scratch, ive seen his b-17 pictures, and one of a p-47 that he scratch built, awesome. ive never met him, nor do i know how to contact him, just pictures, and that is what has got me all fired up on building a kit, and also painting. the paint on these two planes was totally amazing, especially the way the camo patterns blend. ive done a little brushing, but not much. monokote just doesnt give justice to patterns blending in. but as for me, i am just in sort of the middle of nowhere when it comes to rc flying, and ive been bit bad. so, i truly appreciate all of the input, please keep it coming.

On the line of painting. I've given up on monokote for the same reasons you don't want to use it. Silkspan and dope are great (thoe expensive and smelly) alternatives. Look at some of the pics of CL stunt planes done with this method and you'll see there's no comparison, it would be imposible for even the best monokotier (is that a word?) to achiev anything close to that.

thanks grant... it will be a totally new thing for covering and painting for me. ive heard of this dope and silkspan, and seen pictures of it, but do not fully understand what it does. as far as the painting goes, i will need to look up the best type to use when i start... it will still be awhile, maybe the middle of next year before i even think of painting..... BUT IM ON IT!!!!!!!!>........ THANKS AGAIN.

I know you were mentioning a .60 sized plane but if you really want to build a warbird that builds as easy as a 4* and flys just as good, Herr Engineering makes a cool 1/2A Mustang kit ( in know it's tiny...). I powered mine with a Norvel .074. Running on 25% fuel, it is a blast to fly. Here's a picture of my latest 4* also to give you an idea of the modification possibilities.

SO, doesn't sound like your limited by your piloting ability's, your flying a good mix.
The Top Flite kits are more like a carving kit, not a good first build. Perhaps the Great Planes P51 is suiting. As for painting, a lot of guys are using Super Coverite with latex paints! Myself, I'm building my first scratch built model with Super Coverite and Klass kote epoxy paint.
This is after many kits and kit bashing!

Building a nice Sig Something Extra and finishing it with UltraCote would be a great start into kit building as well. 100 dollar kit that will give you a million dollars worth of confidence

Monokote is really hard stuff to do right though...even when one knows how to do it right. Its hard for me, although I dont pertain to be an expert at it either though.