Can anyone tell me approximately how many hours it takes to build a Great Planes Cap 232 - 40 kit?

Time is limited, so I've just been looking at ARFs. But, from everything I have read, this is the plane I REALLY want.

I downloaded the 44 page manual, but I can't tell how long it should take.

My building experience: I have built about 10 control-line kits, a Jensen Ugly Stik, and another RC model I can't remember the name of, using tissue paper and dope on the CL and silk and dope on the RC models. That was 20 - 25 years ago. Recently, I assembled a SuperStar and repaired and partially recovered a (monocote) Smoothie.

Its hard to say how long it will take to build this kit, alot depends on your building experience. If you can jump ahead of manual and do things while other things are gluiing, it will take less time. But to give an average, by following the manual, I would say if you worked on it 4 hours a day, it will take about 2-3 weeks, including covering, that's my guess. If you want less time go with the ARF, much less time required. Kangke sells a nice 60 size for about $200.00, as you know the GP Cap is a 40 size. Good luck. Daz...

I just built this plane for a friend of mine. It took me right at 3 weeks to complete it. I did everything but install the servos , set up the radio and paint the cowl/wheel pants. That time frame was working 1.5 to 3 hours most nights through the week and working a little more than that on the weekends. I have built a few planes, but this one was easy to build. It builds very straight forward and what Dazzler said about working on other things as parts dry is accurate. Just don't get ahead of yourself. He has not flown it yet because he is waiting on his engine. If you have any questions let me know. Thanks.

Guys I have a GP cao232 and for me it took about two weeks thats about 2-4 hrs a day in the evenings and week ends but mine cam out just fine for me. One thing to know though is don't put a forty on it just a little under powered put a sixty on it less chance of tip stalling the plane. I made my own fiberglass cowel and it came out just fine I've had about five or six flights on it now and this is how I discover that it needs more power HO HO HO HO HO Someday I'll get a scanner so I can send some pictures of all my planes.

I had a friend build mine. It took his less than 3 weeks. He is retired so he could work on it just about every day. I HAD a YS 63 on mine. I HAD 5 servos. HAD a Stans fiberglass cowl. (very nice cowl) I lost my on its maiden flight on take off.

Make sure you have enough throw in the alerons. I set up my low and high rate to the recommended rates. I took off the plane, it did a slow roll to the left. I gave it some right aliron, still kept rolling to the left. Gave it full right/ [plane stopped rolling inverted. By that time the plane was inverted about 10ft or less off the runway. Needless to say my fingers and my brain were now working together it went in totally demolished my plane.

I am not a beginner pilot. I have been flying for years, I fly aerobatics and funflys.

Also check the CG. I read here on RCU that GP have come out with a new CG range. So check in to that. I hope you don't have the same problem I did. I probably would have liked the plane. But I will never know.

$375 down the tubes in less than 10 seconds. I will post pictures of before the crash and after the crash when I get my filmed developed.

I took a week of leave from work and built mine in that time, I think the most time consuming part was putting together the ABS parts. I flew it on the eighth day after cracking open the box. It could be built in two weeks if you spend 2-3 hours a night on it.

A month or so!!

built and coverd the thing in four !!!thats right!!four days!!

took me another four days the paint the cowl

it all depends on your building skills and what modifications you want to make to the plane, although its a great plane as is. i too downloaded the manual and looked through it, one things for sure there manuals are great! strait foward, good pictures, and not confusing unlike other plane manuals ive seen.

Thanks for all the feedback.

After reading your posts, it sounds like the plane would take me 80 - 100 hours to complete. I was hoping it would be about half of that.

If I knew I would never crash it, I would build it. That NOT being the case, I will likely go with another ARF instead.

backafter20,

If your not crashing your not flying. Eventually we will crash a plane.
Unless you sell it or never fly it.

I've already crashed 3, and all 3 crashes were on the first flight. The first 2 crashes were kits I built, and that was enough to make me leave the hobby for 20 years. The 3rd was my low-wing plane, which I bought used. The engine died too soon after takeoff to recover. Crashing something someone else built was not that big of a deal for me. In 10 hours, that plane is repaired and has a new motor.

I read that the Cap was a quick kit to assemble, but "quick" is relative. After 100 hours, I think I'd be scared to fly it.

have you mastered a trainer??? the great planes cap 232 would be great to build, every kit takes a while to build, but being afraid to fly it after all that tedious work doesn't make sense? if you really dont like to build get there cap 232 arf

Unfortunately, GP does not make an ARF version of their Cap, and they have told me there are no plans in the works to make one. Their suggestion was their ARF Extra 300 which, they said, flies good but not as well as the kit-built Cap.


ps I can fly the heck out of my trainer.

pps It's also been damaged - twice. First, the wing was blown off of a table, punching 3 holes in it (quick fix). Second, while the plane was sitting still on the ground, waiting to take off, the wind got under the wing, flipped the plane up and over, and slammed it into the ground upside-down, breaking the wing in half (split the dihedral brace - 3 hour fix).

ppps I've spent much more time building and repairing than flying. Is that the norm?

baskafter20,

you can always build a spad. quick, easy, and super duper cheap. I know spads aren't liked by many pilots, but if you want to bang the sticks around and have a ball flying a $6.00 airplane, while you build the piloting skills up spads are the way to go. If your going to crash its better to crash something that is cheap, and easily rebuildable. Trust me, I know. I had the GP Cap 232 I flew it for less than 10 seconds and crashed it on its maiden flight. I had over $800 in the Cap. I lost over $375 in less than 10 seconds.

I have 2 spads, if you don't add the cost of the motor or radio I have less than $10.00 in each. If I had it to do over again. I would have loved to learn to fly on a spad trainer. It sure beats dropping $100 on a balsa arf that still takes 15hrs to put together. For the $100 balsa trainer you can buy the materials to build the spad and the motor for less than a $100.00 and only takes about 5hrs or less on a spad.

Check out
www.spadtothebone.com

i could've swore I've seen the cap 231x (i think thats what they call it) in a magazine

Great Planes used to make a 231ex ARF 60size. They discon. it for some reason. I have talked to people who have flown both, they like the .40 Cap 232 kit better.

I have the GP Cap 231ex ARF, and it is one of my best flyers. I've heard some people having problems with theirs, but mine is awesome with an OS61fx,pull pull with high torque rudder servo, fiberglass cowl from Fiberglass specialist. Here is a pic from Model airplane review. Daz...

thats a nice looking plane you have there!

I decided to build this Cap because it was the lightest one in its size range, which includes all the ARF's. I believe that a lighter plane flys better, and this Cap will prove it to you. I made mine a little more scale by enlarging the ailerons, straightening the wing out and using seperate aileron servos. I don't think I made a bad decision, since it flys great!

If you want to save time and have a better looking model, spring for the fiberglass parts. I used a MVVS .77 angine/ Bisson muffler combo w/APC 15x6 prop. Great performer with lots of power to spare.

Added cockpit details ...

And an overview of the GP Cap 232 ...

That's gorgeous Scott, nice job!

Scott,

I've been told that the 3-piece cowl is a pain. Who makes fiberglass parts for this plane?

btw, your plane is beautiful. wow.

I get my FG parts from www.tntlandinggear.com they distribute Stan's FG parts. I purchased my Caps cowl through them. Be prepared to wait a while for it though as its almost like they are made to order unless they have a batch made up and ready for sale. Order it early and you will have it before its needed if your building the plane.