I was going to post this in scratch building but i guess its more of a kit question./shrug I want to have a kit cut from plans. My question is what exactly entails having it cut. All the information i have found talks about pdf files and all kinds of mumbo jumbo i dont understand lol. If i have just a set of plans for a plane can i send those in to have a kit laser cut?

Also do they only cut off of plans that list all the templates or do they have a program that allows them to cut off any plans? The plans are from Cleveland Model supply&co. if that helps.
I just ordered them yesterday so i dont know if it includes template pages, i couldnt find that information on Cleveland website.

If anyone is able to explain the process of having a kit laser cut i would greatly appreciate it.

Trax, most laser kit cutters can cut from plans. However, most will tell you that they will cut what the plans show, and if the plans are off, that is what you will get.

The Cleavland plans are usually good. Some of the laser kitters may already have the plans in their system so they can tell you if it is a good project or not.

A well designed kit, done in CAD is going to be your best chance for success. There is an awsome amount of work that goes into designing a kit in CAD so that every thing fits and the parts all fit without problems. That is one end of the spectrum of what you can expect. The other end is a scanned set of plans that were not much more than a concept for a plane and you need to fit each part, or do redesign work to make the plans work. In this case, the kit cutters are going to give you a bunch of parts that need to be fit to work and you may need to do a lot of work to make the kit work.

If the plan set you have selected is one known to the kit cutters, they should be able to tell you if it is going to be a good plan to laser cut parts from. A lot of phone calls and Emails should take place before ordering your kit.

Post the model you are thinking of building, and someone will be able to tell you if it is a good canidate for a laser cut kit.

The PDF files means that the plans have been scanned into a computer format, or were designed in CAD and printed to a PDF (Portable Document File) format. This eliminates some of the work for the kit cutter. It gives a more precise set of instructions to the kit cutter, be they right or be they wrong. Just remember the old computer mantra, Garbage in = garbage out.

A kit cutter will scan the plans that you provide and do the best they can to turn the plans into cut wood. If the plans are very accuratly drawn, the chances of success are better. If the plans are ones that stack several views of parts into one drawing, using little indicators like triangles, squares, etc to represent the differnet outlines of the parts, then things can easilly go wrong as you are asking the kit cutter to make build desisions for you.

All kit cutters are not equal. Some have a good rep for giving you a good finished product and well others get by. I don't have any experience with any of them, but I'm sure that the scratch building forum can give you some good suggestions.

I've been working on building myself a CNC router to cut model parts from. Any set of plans needs to be converted to a CAD format for fit check prior to cutting if you expect to not have to fit the parts yourself. While I don't have my CNC router finished yet, I have drawn CAD plans for a couple wings I've built, then printed them on Roll paper, which I glued to wood and cut on the band saw and sanded to the fine printed line. While this is a lot more labor intensive that CNC routing or Laser cutting, the results are the same. If the drawing is good, the wood is good. If the drawing is bad, so is the wood.

Don

Hi!
What plane you going to cut?
The only cutters I know who offer Clevelands here: http://www.kitcutters.com/Cle/CleB17G.htm
I'm very interested to meet you.
Kostya

Theres 2 plans. Halls Sprinfield Bulldog, and Curtiss P-6E Hawk

I just checked the Kitcutters website and both are listed under clevelands kits, unfortunatly its underconstruction so il probably have to call or email them.
I understand what your saying about the views being stacked and looking at a very busy plan, and that the kit could run into problems. il have to do my homework on this before i send out to have a kit cut.

Ive only been building for just over a year, fortunatly i build with my father who has been building for many many years. Im currently finishing my 2nd plane a Sig 1/6 Cub which i chose over the 1/5 scale only because its a stick kit. I felt i needed the experience

Its definitly taught me alot, and i love putting the work into making a final product look very scale.

Thus far your responses have been incredibly helpfull,

Thank you

Tried contacting Kit Cutters, No answer on the phone. The homepage of website says Not accepting any orders.

Anyone know if they are going out of business??

Try www.lazer-works.com

-Johnny-

Trax: They aren't going out of buisiness. I emailed them mid October and inquired on having two 1/6 scale kits cut, a DH-2 and E. III Eindecker, here is the correspondence:

Me
Hello,

I would like to have 2 kits cut from Cleveland Model and Supply plans, both are 1/6 scale plans. The plans are for a DeHavilland DH-2 (56" wingspan) and a Fokker E. III (61.4" wingspan). From your website I understand that you are not taking anymore orders for kits to be cut and I was wondering when this will be lifted as I would like to have your company cut the kits for me. Also I wanted to know how much the full kits would cost. Thank you for your prompt response.

Charles Reaves

Kit Cutters
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: 2 kit plans to be cut
Date: Mon, 20 Oct 2008 06:42:03 -0700


Its going to be Spring of 2009 at the earliest. This is only an estimate at this time.
The cost is what is shown on our website.
Shipping cost for each kit would be about $20.00 USD in the USA. About $10.00 USD additional for overseas.

When we resume taking orders, we will contact you by email to see if you are still interested.

Joe Hrkel

Kit Cutters Inc.
8771 Seaspray Drive
Huntington Beach CA 92646-2649


YOU MUST BE 18 YEARS OF AGE TO PURCHASE FROM KIT CUTTERS INC.
Kit Cutters Inc. assumes no liability or responsibility for the use of, or flying of, or building of the model associated with this transaction and the user of these plans or model kits, through building and/or flying assumes all responsibilities for the model and any damage or harm incurred through its use or non-use.


If you want to use them I'd suggest emailing them so they can contact you when they are caught up on thier current workload.

Good deal thanks for the info on that. I sent them an email today hopefully i can get some kits from them in the spring.

Did you try PrecisionCutKits.com?

Do various RCU searchs for "Kit Cutter", "Kit Cutters", and "Kit Kutter"

Then do lots of reading. Read very very carefully.

Laser Lizard http://www.laserlizard.com/ has an excellent reputation for quality work, reasonable prices and prompt service.

Trax, just a heads up. I can't speak for the Curtiss Hawk but I too purchased the Halls plans thinking I could make a 1/4 scale plane from them. What I got was a blown up plan of a simple rubber band powered design from the 1940's. It was totally worthless to me. The outlines weren't even accurate. I suggest before you spend any more money get the plans in hand and evaluate them for your needs. The best plans for the Bulldog are by Don Neill.

....... www.lazer-works.com Eddie (940) 766-2667

I've used laserlizard Exellent work and price.Also have used ak-models.Very good quality too.http://www.ak-models.com/ Also Bob Holman does a exellent job www.bhplans.com This guy is fairley new www.lasercutusa.com

stefanP

Wish i could find the Halls bulldog it is one of my favorite planes i have looked at that site and see that it is under construction sure would like to find some plans or a kit for that model plane.

You can still get the plans for the Bulldog from Cleveland Model supply. Youd just either need to scratch build it. Or find a cutter who can supply the kit in the scale you order the plans. Due to the fact that the written dimensions on the plans would be wrong its more difficult i believe. Reason for that is because Cleveland Model plans are blown up from i believe 1/16? so the plans may state you need a 1/8 stringer but in fact the scale your building needs much bigger.
Hope i explained that understandably.

Yes i understand that. thanks for the heads up i ordered a 1/8 scale plan from them. So should be intrestig so basically its a builder plan and all the dimentions for the wood will have to be figured out. Hopefully i can just mesaure the stringer on the plan and figure out what size it is. Ect
I've done that with other plans and it seemed to work out pretty good. I've been looking for the Springfield Halls bulldog for a long time. I fly the heck out of it on the Realfight Sim.

I wanted to update this thread as I just had a set of plans for a 58" Fairey Flycatcher cut by Eddie of Lazer-works.com and I must say I am extremely happy with what I received and it was completed faster than he told me it would be. The price was reasonable IMO. Communication with Eddie is very good and he answered all the quetions I had before I decided to use him. I plan on having him cut plans for a future build of a Fairey Swordfish and a Gee Bee R2. I'm almost finished with my E III build...i'll post pictures of that once covered and painted.

I can post pics of the short kit so you can see the quality if anyone is interested.

What Gee Bee R2 Plans do you have? I have an Adrian Page Gee Bee Z unbuilt kit but i really wanted his R2. I just dont know that even if i found plans for it im not sure the Wheel Pants , Cowl etc.. are available from anywhere.

The Gee Bee R2 plans are from Adrian Page as well. I did a lot of research and found him to be no longer in business. Here is a link to the plans: http://www.rcmmagazine.com/store/sto...ZYqPn0cGs015r0
I'm going to vacuum form the parts. I figure I'll form the parts from balsa and use those parts as the plug. I'll carefully carve the plug based on the plans of course. I don't think it will be too difficult. I've read a few threads on the subject and think it's doable.