richardgerardi

I have built six kits 3 in the early 1980's and 2 finished in the past 3 years including some ARFs. I made 2 mistakes with the Astro Hog the rudder was hinged with too much gap but easily fixed and the block that is glued under the wing to meet with the fuse I glued it onto the fuse. Also fixed. Built the Kougar and the fuse was crooked after some surgery it looks better but cover it in Corsair blue and can't see it. Both fly great. I am in the process of finishing the CG anniversary Cub. The fuse was the best I ever did until many mistakes happened. 1- right wing perfect left wing is warped. 2- glued the ailerons control horns upside down needed major surgery. 3- Glued the stabb and fin this weekend to realize later it did not have enough epoxy? 4- The rudder is covered but I need to take the cover off because the rudder is not flused with the fuse leaving a huge gap. 5- motor mount are a bit wide to my liking. Not sure what happened all I can say is that you should take it slow and look at it and think ahead. was wondering if I should just stick to ARF's but I have managed to screw them up also. Thought I would share my experiences so others don't make the same mistakes. Otherwise it is a fun hobby.

ArcticCatRider

My Feedback: (6)

I've made big time mistakes in the past...not getting 90 degrees on my stabilizers.....building two left fuselage sides...but it's been a while.

I've built probably more than 20 planes..so I've gotten pretty good at stuff like hinge gap, and building flat wings...but I still make mistakes everynow and then. Stupid stuff I have to redo, or live with. It's no big deal....people make mistakes. It'll happen again too as these days I often deviate from the plans and intructions..and do my own thing.

mclina

Whenever I make mistakes, it is almost always because I went a step futher than I should have. I'll study the 2-3 upcoming steps over and over, and then I'll go one step too far in building without really thinking it through.

There's not much that can't be easily fixed. Even the hard re-do's are fixed before you know it.

qldviking

I dont call them mistakes, I call them customising the biggest booboo was on an arf tho, I forgot to putthe fuel tank in before all the trays etc. That necessitated a hatch being cut in, it turns out it was needed not so long after anyway as the tank split.
Mistakes are all part of the learning curve, and figuring your wy around them can be quite interesting. The only real mistake is the one you dont learn from

CanDo

Exactly, "mistakes" are opportunities to learn.

redbiscuits

My Feedback: (6)

I recently was finishing a rudder on my TF P47 and had all the panel lines and rivits and paint done and was sealing with a satin clear. When I came back to check it about a 1/2 hour later all the red paint had orange peeled. I from now on will be very carefull to make sure primer, paint, and clear coats are compatible. BTW my wife couldn't talk to me for about an hour I was so mad.[:@]

richardgerardi

This is very helpful. I really thought I was just getting way to sloppy and the only one making some basic mistakes. I guess I will keep practcing since I really like putting these things together and watching them fly.

daven

My Feedback: (1)

the nice things about these planes, that just about every mistake can be fixed relatively easily.

r2champion

I don't make mistakes! [8D] (none that can be seen, anyways!)

qldviking

I only make one mistake a day, I get out of bed anything after that is purely incidental

Nathan_L

It's not a mistake if it doesn't make it on the final product, up until that point it's just prototyping.

heritageman

My Feedback: (4)

MISTAKE, that's when your fingers start poking through the balsa sheeting.

stevenmax50

My Feedback: (1)

Im kinda like you in my timeline.  I built 3 or 4 in the mid 80s.  I built another around 2002.  And I am building a Tiger 60 right now.  MIstakes???  I have had mistakes on every build.  But they have all been small and fixable.  Mistakes happen for most of us.  I am also like the guy who said his mistakes come from going further than planned for.  If I do not read and think it thru, then I might make a mistake. 
But Koverall and paint fixes most all mistakes.

tailskid

My Feedback: (34)

It is not a matter of MAKING mistakes, it is a matter of how well you COVER them up! And then only YOU know it!

Edwin

My Feedback: (2)

I got you all beat. I built two left booms on a wing mfg P-38. Pretty much wasted wood. Most of the time its little things that usually happen when you get ahead of yourself.
Edwin

qldviking

mistakes are no fun if you hide them away and keep them to yourself

dalolyn

My Feedback: (7)

If you are not making mistakes your not doing anything. If you are making mistakes you need more practice.

Bonified Wingnut

I did the same thing on an old rubber powered Comet P-38 about 15 years ago-never did finish it-BW

hugger-4641

My Feedback: (6)

Here's one of my latest mistakes. Didn't have any bean bags handy to hold the sheeting down while the CA cured, so I just set a sealed 6v lead battery on top of the wing for weight. I forgot to put wax paper under it and when I removed the battery, the CA had wicked up to it and glued it to the sheeting. The pic is after I cut out the damage and put in a patch! Microballons filled in the gaps and you won't be able to see it after its covered, but I know its there!

GaryHarris

I'm not telling. [:@]

hugger-4641

My Feedback: (6)

Not telling on me, or not telling us your latest mistake?

WacoNut

I once thought I had made a mistake but I was wrong
I always seem to get ahead of myself and glue something when I shouldn't have and have to cut it off or work around it. I don't think I have ever made a mistake that I couldn't fix. Live and learn, as long as you don't make the same mistake twice
Anthony

alfredbmor

Who hasn't!!!!

safeTwire

My Feedback: (2)

I have two almost identical looking small round tins. One is Soldering Flux, the other is Plumbers Grease. Prepared all my pushrods and solder clevices for soldering, then buttered them up with the grease instead of the flux! The soldering wasn't happening, and while I was wondering what the h#*@ was going on, standing within a cloud of smoke so thick you could have cut with it a knife, I realized me mischstook! [:@]

oskartek

Built a 4*40 back in 95'. CA glued the trailing edge of the wing on upside down, TWICE!!, boy was I torqued!!

It's hard for the ego of a tool and die maker to face that kind of screw up!

But ya know, humble pie don't taste all that bad.