Another option is to advertise your building skills and offer your services to people that want a "special" kit built, but don't want to build it. You could have them buy all the materials and pay you for your time. I would love to have someone build me an IL-2 or LA-7 or find an ARF, but there aren't any.


Jeff

MMATTOCKX,
I like the cut of your jib man! As a fellow engineer (mechanical) who loves to build I also have pondered this dilemma. It happens that a solution fell in my lap out of nowhere.

I always build my own planes from plans or kits of older designs and they get a lot of attention at my local field because nearly everyone else flies foreign made ARF's. One day a friend in a kidding way said he wished I would build his next plane. HaHa, right? A couple weeks later a different friend said he had a pattern ship ARF still in the box after 6 months but was afraid to start it because it was really expensive and he "didn't have time". Wanting someone to practice pattern with I told him I'd build it for him. He instantly offered to pay me $300 to assemble it. I would have done it for free but he wouldn't have it.

I built that ARF in 10 hours (direct labor not counting boning up on all the new technology) and learned an enormous amount along the way. He loves that plane and has a better one for me to build - when I'm ready. He's told everyone how wonderful his pattern ship is and now two other guys have me assembling mid-range 3-D ARF's for them.

I've enjoyed the work so far because its stimulating to be learning new techniques and technology (carbon fiber, fuel dots, on-board incidence adjusters, titanium, digital hi-torque servos, fuel injected supercharged 4-strokes etc). My friends/clients are technically VERY demanding but also spend freely for the "BEST" equipment and don't rush me to finish. I email them hardware shopping lists and the parts are shipped direct to me. I'm expected to know the best servo and clevis set-up for a given application but don't have to hit deadlines or email progress photos,etc.

I don't know how it is in Calgary, but my two local Austin clubs are full of young, professional guys with lots of discretionary income and just enough time to fly 2-3 hours a week and nothin' else. I'm talking with a FIA pilot in San Antonio who heard about me and wants a competitive pattern ship next spring. Reputation and word-of-mouth is my marketing. I would probably not do a full stick-build on commission because theres just too much labor to make it feasible and I wouldn't build anything without a customer for it before the project starts. If I need to sand balsa I'll build some old classic bird for myself.

Share your builds with your local club and also share your technical knowledge. The commissions will come! Good luck, Mike.

Seem to me that building for hire is a difficult thing to do and make any money at, unless your into a nitch market like CrateCruncher seems to be. I used to do a lot of building for a good friend (that has gone to that great R/C field in the sky). It was a great arraingement as he demanded the very best and asked for planes from trainers to scale twins, just what ever struck him at the time. Some times he would stop me in the middle of a project and want a different plane built first! He just did not have the time or the tallent to build what he wanted. ARF's and kit mills were out of the question.

JEB

This is another thought, they always have built models hanging from the ceiling when I go in. I never pay any attention to them because I roll my own, but I will have to ask next time I am through.

Mark

Jeff,

I think I want to avoid this because it then becomes work and I don't want that. I am a SLOW builder due to my time constraints and I don't want someone phoning me every few days asking if their plane is done.

Mark

Mike,

Calgary is in the heart of oil country and we have a lot of oilfield people with no time and lots of money, so it is probably similar. I will be starting at a new club this summer and will keep this in mind when I am out at the field.

Thanks,
Mark

Mark,

I'm glad there are folks out there like you... creative, artistic, skilled, and enjoy doing it. I'm all thumbs, and I'm not a very creative person. When it comes to putting things together... they never look as good as I'd like them. But that doesn't mean I don't get the urge once in awhile. Its hard to explain, sometimes I really just want to sit down and put something together.... the problem is, I'm usually disappointed with the results... needless to say there can be large spans of time before I get such urges.

Now, I'm new to this hobby. I've only been flying maybe 6 months or something like that. The ARFs are sort of cool.. and its what I've been sticking with. I'd rather wreck an ARF than some nice hand-made plane (kit or scratch). However, I'm starting to look for my fourth plane. I think I want a biplane. I've looked at the Hangar 9 Sopwith, now they've got a Fokker DVII coming out, and I've been looking at the Goldberg Monster EP. (Ah, I forgot to mention I haven't ventured outside of electrics and I think I'll stick with electrics awhile because they're more convenient for me). Here is the thing, though... as I get better, and more confident, I want a nice looking plane. Those ARFs look fairly nice, but I'm darn sure that something you(Mark) build is going to look better. I also don't have a massive disposable income to spring for an Arizona model.... the Albatros really gets my attention.
So I kind of want something in-between.... I really don't have the space or the skills to fly a nice looking plane (better than ARF), but it would be nice to think about flying one.

There are folks out there like me...I know we take some abuse from the guys that have been in this hobby awhile... that ask, "youngster, why don't you build it yourself? Why are you flying that silly ARF?" The truth is, I just don't have those skillsets... and I really only enjoy that type of thing in small quantities.

So, there probably is a market for folks like you that enjoy building. I'd certainly take a look at a few pictures of planes that you built (kits/planes that you built because they looked fun to you) and see if something struck my fancy. Got anything in your basement now? Post some pictures.
Any biplanes around a 38" wingspan? hehe

Then irony sort of set in with this thread as I read further. See, CrateCruncher lives in my town. I just learned this, never met him. (Hiya Crate). I didn't know we had any local builders here. Thats my fault.... he's probably talking about the two local clubs I haven't yet been to.
I guess what I need to do is get down to one of those airfields this weekend and start meeting more people in the hobby. Crate, are you flying this weekend? If so, which field? I realize the wind looks pretty unpredictable with this cold front. I'd love to see some of the planes you've built. (Now, I've gleened from your post that you're building pretty fancy stuff... I'm nowhere near that.. I'm still a newbie). So I'm not really saying I'm seriously in the market for a plane from you, but it would be fun to chew the fat and learn a little.
Do those other Austin clubs allow electrics? I've been apprehensive to show up because I wasn't sure what the expectations are.

I've built for people before not a bad prospect. I built a dynaflight chipmonk for a guy in trade for a champion models hammer 40 and a Sig four*60.

So no one is misled by my post -- I do not make anything near a living wage from building airplanes. I just do it for fun and to learn more about the hobby. If I happen to make enough to offset some of my hobby purchases, thats a bonus.

Mike.

Hi Sackohammers, I just sent you a PM about Austin clubs.

I always need to build the same model several times before I'm happy with it. There's always some little structural thing you'd do different the next time, a new finishing technique you'd try, areas that could stand to be lightened or beefed up, better wood selection, etc.

With original designs, I whack out a quickie as a proof of concept, then start in on a refinement process in subsequent editions if the prototype shows real promise.

All right, before this gets out of hand, I am currently NOT interested in building for anyone besides myself. As I said, that sounds to me like a sure way to turn a hobby into a job. Definitely not something I am looking to do. I am flattered at the response here and on PM's, but it isn't going to happen at the moment. I was curious of how others have handled this and their experiences, and there has been some great advice and points made. But I am not going into professional building tomorrow.

But, judging from the responses there sure is a market for some builders out there. That makes me think I should have no issues selling the planes I do build if I choose to start selling them locally. As mentioned, I think shipping would be a major headache and expense that would really kill a deal. Something to be avoided if possible IMO.

SackOHammers, I understand being unhappy with your building results. Even the best builders out there screwed up the first few attempts at building a model. If you want to gain proficency at building, start with an easy kit (most of the major manufacturers do a decent job on manuals and such) and go to it. Yes, the results will not be perfect. Then do it again. And again. After a few kits, your skills will be way better than when you started. That is how all of us got better.

Just an aside, I bought my very first ARF this winter, a Wingmasters Midget Mustang. It is considered to be a well built ARF by other people flying them. If that is good, I don't want to see bad. It does look to be straight, but the landing gear mounting is very flimsy and if I ever covered a model like that, I would remove it and try again. So, I guess I won't be moving into ARF's any time soon...

Mark

mmattockx,

what would you charge me to build one of these..............

http://www.proctor-enterprises.com/p...s/albatros.htm

I`m going to build a couple of GP UltraSports .40s . You cannot buy them in ARF form , not yet , anyway . And I ve had a couple of club members ask me about building them one.

My problem , is knowing what to charge ? By the time you add retracts and any mods that need done , it can be quite time consuming and spendy . Makes me wonder if it`s worth it ?

Mark and cutaway,

Thanks for your encouragement. You're right. You eat a pound of beef one slice at a time. I think that if I can just watch someone locally build something, or maybe let them look at my work once in awhile to answer questions it would probably go a long way. And you're right, I should probably just pick up a beginner kit and just go to it, fearlessly. Thanks again.

Summerwind,

Heh, I think he said he wasn't interested... however I would like to comment... that you have similar tastes. An Albatros D.III / D.V would be about the ultimate for me. I've always loved looking at that plane and flying it in simulators. I haven't found too many ARFs (I heard someone once speculate the reason is the shape of the fuse would be hard to mass produce - who knows - could be rubbish).
But I think as a long-term goal, I would eventually like to own and fly such a fine model. Good luck with yours!

Thanks,
Hammers