I decided to build the Senior Telemaster and was really "underwhelmed" with the quality and completeness of the kit. No hinges? Leading edge not pre-shaped? Ribs, etc very difficult to remove from the sheet, etc, etc.

I've built kits for a long time but I guess I have been spoiled by kits like Sig's. For my two cents I think the Telemaster folks ought to upgrade their kits a bit (actually a whole lot) - even if it costs a few bucks more.

Plus they package a bunch of soft balsa sticks with the kit that are no usable for many of the stress areas. You end up having to buy better balsa. Think a guy is better off doing the plans from AMA and having a kit cutter do a proper job of buiding a kit. I'm sure it will cost more but save you time and money over the long run. I built the Giant Tele last year and it was the same thing,

I haven't quite gotten underway with construction but in anticipation of just sort of a problem I have already dug out my sheet of plywood.

I like to think I can "fix" about anything but I really don't feel that we should have to - the kit ought to be better,,, period. I tried writing to the factory but I doubt it will have any effect.

I thought those of you out there that have yet to buy the kit might want to know what I've seen. Kit wise it's a dud,,, hopefully the plane will live up to its reputation once I have it airborne.

I just took a couple of photos of my Senior wing, just completed and ran into no such issues, you fella's must have gotten some old stock. All wood is excellent.

This is a builder's kit. I like building and thought the kit was good, but did take some skill to build. A lot of these have been built over the years with much success. Try contacting Hobby Lobby if you think the kit is deffective, they are very good at customer service.

Good luck

Larsen

I left out one item, the leading edge and trailing edges come pre- shaped as you see them in my pictures.

I don't know that I've seen too many wings with square leading edges.

To put my complaint in perspective I understand that shaping and sanding is part of kit building. In fact the 1/5 scale Sig Cub I'm so fond of has a lot of rounding to do on the tail surfaces BUT it's not difficult to make a simple shaping sanding block when the curve is just 1/2 of a circle. To make a similar tool for a leading edge curve is another matter.

They took the time to "sort of" shape the leading edge,,, why not just do it properly?

Oh well, by the time I have it floating around the sky I'll most likely have forgotten about the kit's shortcomings. Probably try the 12 footer next (:-).

All you have to do is take a razor plane to the LE and rough shape it. Takes about 3 minutes.

I made a sanding block from a piece of 4" wide x 12" long countertop board. It's pressed particle board. It's 3/4" thick. Since it was manufactured in a plant. It's been pressed, glued and cured under heat and pressure--it will never warp. 4x12 is the perfect size to wrap a sheet of sand paper around it. 3/4" won't flex--no matter how hard you push. Long sanding blocks don't cause warps in your LE or sheeting. Short sanding blocks are good for Martha Stewert.

After you shape the LE with the razor plane, all thats left to do is sand it. Start with 80 grit to knock off the majority of it and give it shape. Go to 120 to clean up the groove marks left over from the 80 grit. Finish with 400 grit.

The whole process shouldn't take more than 10 or 15 minutes per wing.

Whats the big deal? It's a $125 kit that was designed 20yrs ago. Where ya gonna find a kit that size and with that much heritage and nostalgia associated with it for the same price? Where ya gonna find a huge trainer with a flying stab and enough square inches to accomodate engines from .46 up to 30cc? Where ya gonna find another kit THAT cheap and it flies THAT good?

Stop whining and build it. It will be beautiful when your done. They fly so sweat, it's almost a sin. The Senior Tele makes a perfect "mule" plane or utility plane. You can load it up with all kinds of accessories and it won't even notice the weight. Camera mounts. Skis. Float mounts. Glider hook. Bomb drop doors for candy or other cool stuff. Test plane for new engines. Night flying.

BTW--Mine is on the way. I won't be building it this season. I'm probably going to build an 80" Midwest Citabria first.

One half of 12 footers wing, engine installation on Seniors fuse.

It's a pity the kit is so bad, and yet the plane is a great flyer.

As to the kit quality, I'm building one now plus have seen two others in the box. The wood in the box from one to the other was pretty much the same, crap. The worst things I found were the spar slots in the ribs were oversized by 1/16"-1/8" and the sheet front fuse sides after joining were undersized to the plan by 1/4". The rest is sticks which were warped every wich way. Also, I took measurments on the plans which were off to much to dismiss as papers natural expansion/contraction to temperature change, plus the lines were to thick to make an accurate tracing of parts. They are probably a copy of a copy of a copy etc....

My Sr Telemaster took to the air in the spring if 2004 from a kit purchased in 1999 from Hobby-Lobby. The wood was flat and true.
I had stored it in my dehumidified basement and built it in November when it was dry.

As for the no hinges comment: To each his own for building style and technique.
I used ca hinges and a slot-cutting tool.

At just 9 pounds and a FA-80 swinging an APC 14-4W it just is a joy to fly.
It will do about any slow non-3d trick in the book and keep flying.
I would call it the model airplane equivalent of a Willies Jeep.
It can haul just about anything you can mount internally or out.

I had a chance to fly mine side by side with the New ARF kit. The ARF
was always busting something near the tale. One flight after a 3-point bounce
and go around the whole tail section came loose.

The stick built kit is a far stronger aircraft than the new ARF.
Then again the kit cost double the ARF if you count covering
glue and accessories, but worth every penny spent.

Yeah, but in all fairness, it should be noted that the new ARF is designed for electric motors. The airframe isn't designed to withstand the vibrations of the glow and gas engines. If the one you saw had a glow or gas engine--it's no wonder it was falling apart.

I built mine in 97 or 98 and I used every stick of wood they gave me and never used any of my own. Hinges, I used all Du-Bro and never use the CA hinges. Like Piper says, each his own. I thought it was an outstanding kit and A great trainer, three people learned to fly with that plane. I did cut the ailerons down and made flaps, added A candy drop door and used an old OS 60. In A good stiff breeze it could fly backwards. Also made the wing A screw down instead of RBs. I still like flying the Masters when I get A chance.

What's fair is fair so I must say that (now that I'm over the shock of the rather crude kit) the plane is going together quite well. While building I keep thinking back to the early 60s which is probably when the kit originated.

I decided to cut the dihedral in half. Hopefully the plane will still be a gentle flyer since I have some young family members that will soon be ready to enter the hobby.

I have a OS 52 four stroke that should be adequate. I guess time will tell on that.

Even though the wing appears to be fairly strong I thought I'd go with bolt on and struts. Anyone else adding struts?

Actually, HL pushes the plane as an electric, but it was really designed for glow. The plane even comes shipped with a fuel tank and the motor mounts are built in. They have to be modified for electric power.

I stand corrected.

I did a little kit bashing on mine. Irvine46 for power and flaps. We actually had it standing still in a headwind with flaps deployed.

Nice job modding there Bud. I considered sheeting the Tele but opted to stay standard on the wing (other than 1/2 dihedral, no rubber bands and relocating the aileron servos). Instead of flaps I decided to use flaperons. I have seen some negative comments about them but thought I'd see for myself. Nice thing about non-scale is you can add your personal touches.

Speaking of scale I see you're a Cub man. Mine (1/5 scale Sig) is not yet finished ,,, it took a back seat to the Telemaster kit.

Thanks sacgate, I forgot to mention my tele is the 40 size and I dropped the dihedral 1" I made a tree landing, actually the tree jumped out and grabbed it. Tried to get it out for hours and gave up. Went back about 6 hours later after a torrential rain and wind storm and it was still there. I was about to threw a rock with heavy string at it when a gust of wind came along and blew it out. No damage until it landed upside down in a bush and did some wing damage so it's been sitting for several years. I was upset with the covering (coverite) because I finished it with water base urethane and the fuel residue made it sticky, I just this week recovered it with solartex and am real pleased with that product after being talked into trying it.

Yes I am a cub man! I have the Dave Patrick super cub with an O.S.160 twin and electrodynamics on board glow. got mine when they first came out and I love it. Thinking about recovering it with solartex and adding some scale detail but will probably wait till flying season is over.