Questions from a first time builder
 

Hi everyone. I exploded my sig somethin extra today and want another one. I'm considering building the kit. According to other's build reports it is very easy to build. This will be my first kit build if Igive it a go.

What exactly will Ineed to build this kit? Do you save much by building verse buying the arf?

Thanks a bunch!
nww

RE: Questions from a first time builder
 

Take the kit cost and the cost of two three rolls of covering then you are getting close to a ARF's price in many cases. Of course you use only one colour but that's boring. That and the fact I suck at covering.

RE: Questions from a first time builder
 

You are not saving anything by building a kit vs 'assembling' an ARF - but the cost per day until completion is pennies a day vs dollars a day :)  Build a kit and enjoy the experience.

RE: Questions from a first time builder
 

Cost wise it's about the same, but you'll learn alot more about "your" plane and it can be a very enjoyable experience building from a kithttp://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/js/f...eeth_smile.gif

RE: Questions from a first time builder
 

You will also need a few tools if you don't have them.

RE: Questions from a first time builder
 

What are the must-have tools?

Thanks!

RE: Questions from a first time builder
 

Doesn't the manual provide a list of recommended tools?

RE: Questions from a first time builder
 

Well you need a covering Iron and sockand Hot air gun for covering, Sanding block and paper and maybe a dremel to make sanding and drilling easier. You may want a miter box and saw, a nice flat table or board for buildingwings and elevators, Ailerons and any surfaces that need to be flat. Maybe some small clamps. Everyone has there own building technics so you maywant to choose certain tools over others. I have bought all the tools that will help make the build more accurately put together with straighter lines and flatter surfaces. I don't like to mickey mouse things especially if the plane could come down and hurt someone.

RE: Questions from a first time builder
 

the first kit you build is going to cost a bundle. the costs taper off and are checked by your third kit. The problem is gathering tools and materials for your first couple. Things like covering and wood and glue you end up stacking so your next kits end up having little cost beyond the kit.

In an arf most everything comes with it. even wheels and fuel tanks, spinner and what not.

With a kit you gotta buy just about everything. You gonna spend 30 bucks in glue. 30-60 bucks in covering and trim. You need allot of tools you may not have. If ya just trashed a kit you'll probably still have a good fuel tank and some hardware.

You'll need

a flat surface to build on. a good work bench and a peice of drywall would be good. not sure how equipped your shop is though the 30 dollar great planes building boards are ok for a couple kits, my problem is I alway end up beating the crud out of them when not in use and end up being an expensive peice of wood were drywall is cheap

hobby knife with some #11 blades

a razor saw

drill and bits

also I alway recommend demel or some sorta rotory tool, grinding and cut off wheel and mandrel bits are indespencible

some sorta hindging tool. you may have one from arf assembly

I recommend a good set of sanding bars. not totally nesasary but once ya use em you'll never not use em. Personally I have like 5. 3 5 inchers with 3 differant sandpapers and 2 of the 11's for leading edges and larger area

t-pins true t-pins are cheaper but I really shined onto these, they kick butt.

some kits have you drill and tap wing bolts into basswood blocks

you'll need a covering iron and a heat gun

again depending on the kit you need the usual

screw drivers, jewlers screw drivers, allen keys wrenches and pliers, hemostates are real handy. I know I leaving a bunch of stuff out

some sorta clamps, I really like the quik grips. med and buck of the small ones, also some cloths pins

most of the hand tool I'll get at the chinaman tool shops, harbor feight here in Cali.

these guy are pretty decent as well Micro-tools

the building board, hobby knife, razor saw , drill and bits sand paper and block t-pins heat gun and iron are nessasary. everything else makes it a hell of allot easyer.

RE: Questions from a first time builder
 

Checked with your fellow club members who are kit builders? IT would be easy to drop $1000 getting every tool that you feel you may need. Or go to the local hobby shop and let them talk you into a bunch of stuff that you don't need.

RE: Questions from a first time builder
 

I started building kits back in the days of the 10cent comet kits.  My tools amounted to a couple double edge razor blades that I salvaged from my dad's shaving kit.  Maybe a little bt of sand paper and an old piece of plywood.  After saving for weeks to buy the 10 cent kit, another few weeks to save enough to buy a tube of glue.  I was in heaven.

You can build a kit with a minimum of tools, but the more tools the easier it gets.  Some tools you can make yourself at a lesser cost than buyin them.  The basics were posted before.  It dosen't take thousands of dollars of tools, although many of us to accumilate tools as we go along. 

The list of tools in the manual is what you will need.  Or something close to that.  Get you kit.  some band aids, I was always cutting my fingers with those old double edge razors [X(]  and get building.  There is nothing like seeing a plane that you built out of a stack of balsa take to the air for the first time.  </p>

Can you get an ARF that will cost you less?  yes you can.  Will it give you the satisfication of "doing it yourself"    No way.  Go for it.</p>

</p>

Don</p>

RE: Questions from a first time builder
 

Get the kit and enjoy the build. Figure about 200 for tools. Find a local builder and visit his shop if possible and drink a brew and talk.

RE: Questions from a first time builder
 

Welcome to kit building.
when an ARF is taking off I say thank god because i dont know who built it, with a kit i'm sure it will take off without doubt.
its much more satisfying to fly an airplane you built by yourself and kit built airplanes last much longer, with the mistakes.

Kit building tools
=============<ul>[*]Building board (must be straight and soft to pin)[*]Roll of wax paper[*]Metal rulers: 6&rdquo;, 12&rdquo;, 36&rdquo;[*]Razor blade saw (the one with the red handle, ZONA is recommended)[*]Hobby knife with #11 blades[*]Tweezers[*]Set of files - round, rectangular[*]Sanding block 11&rdquo; and 150 grit roll[*]Masking tape[*]Clamps: small to medium of any shape and form as many as possible, you cannot have too many of them.[*]T-pins &ndash; the smallest ones and cushion for pins[*]Plastic caliper to measure balsa thickness[*]Wing rig jig (the orange thing)[*]Hand drill bits (better then using an electric drill)[*]Rubber bands[*]12&rdquo; quick grips[*]90* deg triangle[*]Long nose pliers[*]Standard hex wrenches[*]Hobby syringe for aliphatic glue[*]Clevis tool[*]Epoxy mixing popsicle sticks and mixing cups[*]Sealing iron[*]Heat gun[*]Soldering iron[*]Pocket thermometer[*]Single edge razor blades[*]Slot hinging machine[/list]IMO these are the most important and most used tools, i didnt get it all at once but with time.
Alex

RE: Questions from a first time builder
 

Noob, Buy the kit! It's an excellent build and you'll learn alot from the experience. Lessons learned from the build will really help with many other aspects of this hobby and learning to work with your hands can never be a bad thing. With kit building, you can learn to make modifications as you like, or trace all of the parts and reproduce part or all of the kit for another plane from scratch. I'm sure that if a 6 year old in China can build this plane then you can too! Welcome to the other half of the hobby.

RE: Questions from a first time builder
 

This is good advise..... don't let the others that have no desire to build (or talent) discourge you. The knowladge you gain from building your own kit can't be bought at any price. ARF's have their place, they are cheaper in every aspect you can think of including the quality of the build. ou can buy them and crash them just like your own build. But if you never try a build then you may be missing out on one of this hobbies best and most relaxing (to me) aspects.
Go ahead and start the build..you have any questions there are many many builders on this site that will offer you more help than you ever thought......just don't get too proud to ask for it.

One thing I have never learned to do worth a damn is cover using those shrink plastic films...I hate the stuff, it defeats me everytime. If I have to cover I use Stits Poly Lite fabric and then mask off all the trim and paint with a gun. This cost a bit more and takes way more time but I get the results want'.

RE: Questions from a first time builder
 

I agree, build the kit and you will not only learn something it will be a better plane. ARF= Almost ready to fail.
Jim

RE: Questions from a first time builder
 

I think I can sum this up with one sentence.
I like to fly BUT I love to build!
Build does not = assemble.
Welcome to the fun side of RC modeling.

RE: Questions from a first time builder
 

The only thing I can add to all this great advice, is to be careful. Building from kits is very addictive! I have built tons of kits. Once you build one you will want to build more. I have about 35 kits stashed away.

RE: Questions from a first time builder
 

Here is a list from page 4 of a Great Planes manual http://manuals.hobbico.com/gpm/gpma0236-manual.pdf

All part numbers and brands are for items Great Planes distributes; feel free to use any brand that is available.

These are the building tools, glue, etc., that we recommend and mention in the manual.
❏ 2 oz. Pro CA (Thin, GPMR6003)
❏ 2 oz. Pro CA+ (Medium, GPMR6009)
❏ 1 oz. Pro CA+ (Thick, GPMR6014)
❏ 30-Minute Pro Epoxy (GPMR6047)
❏ Hand or electric drill
❏ Hobby knife handle (HCAR0105, #11 Blades HCAR0311)
❏ Razor Saw
❏ Pliers (Common and Needle Nose)
❏ Screwdrivers (Phillips and flat blade)
❏ Small T-pins (HCAR5100)
❏ Medium T-pins (HCAR5150)
❏ Masking tape (TOPR8018)
❏ Bar sander or sanding block and sandpaper (coarse, medium, fine grit)
❏ Plan Protector (GPMR6167) or waxed paper
❏ Lightweight balsa filler such as Hobbico® HobbyLite (Hobbico HCAR3401)
❏ Monofilament string for aligning wing & stabilizer
❏ 90º Building square (HCAR0480)
❏ Builders triangle set (HCAR0480)
❏ 1/4-20 Tap (GPMR8105, drill bit included)
❏ Electric power drill
❏ Sealing iron (TOPR2100)
❏ Heat gun (TOPR2000)
❏ Drill bits: 1/16", 5/64", 3/32", 7/64", 1/8", 5/32", #18 or 11/64", 3/16", #10 or 13/64", 7/32", 1/4", 17/64"


Optional Tools or Accessories
❏ CA Applicator tips (HCAR3780)
❏ Epoxy brushes (GPMR8060)
❏ Epoxy mixing sticks (GPMR8055, Qty. 50)
❏ CA Debonder (GPMR6039)
❏ Trim seal tool (TOPR2200)
❏ Hot Sock™ (TOPR2175)
❏ Razor plane (MASR1510)
❏ Single-edge razor blades (HCAR0312)
❏ Straightedge (Hobbico Non-Slip, HCAR0475)
❏ Denatured or isopropyl alcohol
❏ Dremel® Moto-Tool® or similar
❏ Cut-off wheel w/mandrel (GPMR8200)
❏ Curved tip canopy scissors (HCAR0667)



You can use an alphilatic resin wood glue rather than CA if you prefer. I use some CA and some wood glue. You do not have to have everything on the list but most of these things are very nice to have and many will last forever.

As you can see, your first kit will be very expensive because you need tools and supplies. Once you have everything, kit built models probably only cost slightly more than ARFs.

RE: Questions from a first time builder
 

You will need glue, a # 11 X-Acto knife and some sandpaper - and then purchase other tools as you see a need for them. Buying them all at once will break your budget:)

RE: Questions from a first time builder
 

<span lang="EN">

I built my first plane over this past winter a great Planes PT-40 it cost me over $800.00 you can deduct $200.00 if you have a engine and radio, It was a lot of fun and learned much, plus Ihave tools now.</p></span>

RE: Questions from a first time builder
 

O.K. Everybody has some very good points !! I've built quite a few kits. Assembled quite a few ARFs. I've even did one from plans. The "kit builds" set you up to repair the ones you crash, &amp; you will crash at sometime,recognize how to "modify" the ARFs to make them flight-worthy. I enjoy all three aspects of the hobby !! I'll build4 kits to every ARF. ( That's what I enjoy most! ) You can get your tools as you go. Hobby Lobby, Harbour Freight, rummage sales, yah, even Wally- World will have stuff. Guys that "build kits" for a while always have "extra stuff" &amp; I have given "newbies" a tool now &amp; then that I had extra. I feel that everybody, EVERYBODY, should have to build a kit, it will help soo much getting to know "how that plane flies &amp; works".

RE: Questions from a first time builder
 

As all these posts have stated, you will eventually get all the tools you need to build a kit... but the most important, I feel, is the surface on which the flight surfaces are built... wings, vertical fin, elevator and rudder. I have bought those "building boards", and have found, through the years, that a mahogany veneered hollow-core door is the best surface around. Flat - large and holds pins quite nicely. I have even arranged a few holes, through one side, not both, in an upper corner, to hold some of the tools needed regularly during the build. If you ever get into large scales, this will really pay off. Most of all...BUILDANYKIT before buying an ARF! There really is only one difference in the two: Time. You can spend very enjoyable time building your plane... learning every inch of it... and being confident it will fly, OR spend alot of time and money fixing the composites found with most ARFs. Arfs are for those who enjoy the sport, but not the work.

Keep your head up on a swivel,
Skratchbilt

RE: Questions from a first time builder
 

Iused to buy ARF and ended up repairing them either before they fly or when they crash and in the process ended up accumulating lots of tools. I never thought that Iwould ended up building a kit, but somehow Iknew it is my destiny as Ifound my self enjoying repairing my ARF's. My first major crash is when my 40 size P-40 went crazy and crashed full throttle into a parked car. The wings was cut in 2 and Iwas able to put it back and fly it again. That is when I thought, if Ienjoy rebuilding my ARF's, then building a kit must be really fun and so here Iam building my first kit a 61" piper J3 cub. Can't wait til Ifinish it and fly, cause as it is right now it is very enjoyable and rewarding seeing it comes into shape, what more on its maiden flight.

Beep

RE: Questions from a first time builder
 

   As an old scratch builder, I highly recomend building at least one kit-It has become the most rewarding aspect of the hobby for me. I have nothing against people who prefer ARF for lack of time or lack of patience or skill or whatever-but you will be missing so much that this hobby has to offer if you don't at least try building. I believe the skills and patience gathered through this activity will enrich every aspect of your life including your self confidence.