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If there was no ARF's, would you still be in the hobby?
05-27-2011, 10:32 AM
#27
RE: If there was no ARF's, would you still be in the hobby?
That's like your wife hiring another man to come over andfix your leaky faucet. If I can't build it (yet), I don't get to fly it. Gives me motivation to learn that way.
ORIGINAL: Gray Beard
I do see the guys paying someone else to build there planes for them though.
I do see the guys paying someone else to build there planes for them though.
05-27-2011, 11:49 AM
#28
RE: If there was no ARF's, would you still be in the hobby?
So long as I am able to build my airplanes, the arf only dudes can do whatever they want. Interestingly, I am finding more arf modifying than normal. I think there is a movement back to the originality kit/plans building offers. People are also finding a happy medium. I think the pendulum is starting to swing to a stable medium between the two.
So long as I can kit build and plans build to my own enjoyment, I'm happy for others having their way too. (but shove arfs down my throat and I will swing back hard!)
Brian
So long as I can kit build and plans build to my own enjoyment, I'm happy for others having their way too. (but shove arfs down my throat and I will swing back hard!)
Brian
05-27-2011, 12:13 PM
#29
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RE: If there was no ARF's, would you still be in the hobby?
ORIGINAL: loser
I voted yes and saw the poll results but am reluctant to believe the numbers based upon what I see in my local clubs. 90% or more are esclusively ARF'ers and most/many of them do not have a CLUE how to do even simple repairs to a damaged plane. I have fixed some for guys and tried to explain to others how to make repairs. I really dont believe many guys younger than ~ age 25-30 or those who have only been in the hobby since ARF's have taken over would stick around if they had to build.
I'm not judging at all but i think its just a direct result of the younger generations growing up in a much different environment than I did (i'm 48). My buddies and I built plastic models, model rockets, control line, slot cars, etc, when we were kids....until a few of us eventually got into RC. I mean, how many young kids these days do any of that stuff on there own? They might do it in a scout program but doubt if it develops into a genuine interest.
It isn't hard to see when you visit almost any club field or event. The hobby is almost 100% about ARF's and flying these days. The actual builders/modelers are getting older and fewer....so sad. Again....not judging in any way....its just younger generations growing up in ''different times'' with different interests and ''skills''.
I voted yes and saw the poll results but am reluctant to believe the numbers based upon what I see in my local clubs. 90% or more are esclusively ARF'ers and most/many of them do not have a CLUE how to do even simple repairs to a damaged plane. I have fixed some for guys and tried to explain to others how to make repairs. I really dont believe many guys younger than ~ age 25-30 or those who have only been in the hobby since ARF's have taken over would stick around if they had to build.
I'm not judging at all but i think its just a direct result of the younger generations growing up in a much different environment than I did (i'm 48). My buddies and I built plastic models, model rockets, control line, slot cars, etc, when we were kids....until a few of us eventually got into RC. I mean, how many young kids these days do any of that stuff on there own? They might do it in a scout program but doubt if it develops into a genuine interest.
It isn't hard to see when you visit almost any club field or event. The hobby is almost 100% about ARF's and flying these days. The actual builders/modelers are getting older and fewer....so sad. Again....not judging in any way....its just younger generations growing up in ''different times'' with different interests and ''skills''.
Im 22 and I absolutely love building. I started out in a wood shop when I was about 5 years old and couldnt stop sniffing saw dust ever since then. When I started into this hobby a while back I built all of my models from kits. Now I have moved to plan building due to the lack of kits available that I like. Lately I have been messing around with autocad and drawing up some of my own plans and I even built a little four star scaled way down. It does sort of amaze me that I might be one of the youngest flyers at my field and maybe one of very few that still exclusively "build" build. Even my own dad who started out 30 years ago in the hobby building planes has now gone to all arfs. My latest project I have been building is a Carl Goldberg Valkyrie. I dont think you could find one of those in an ARF. I guess maybe Im just an exception to the stereotypical "younger generation" [8D]
05-27-2011, 01:21 PM
#30
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RE: If there was no ARF's, would you still be in the hobby?
Most definitely!!! I love to build and the time I spend in my shop is the most relaxing time of my day. BTW, I have been building for 51 years.
Bill Hodges
Bill Hodges
05-27-2011, 01:30 PM
#31
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RE: If there was no ARF's, would you still be in the hobby?
One off Home made, http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_10...m.htm#10312214
05-27-2011, 01:43 PM
#32
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RE: If there was no ARF's, would you still be in the hobby?
I like to build, and the ARFs I do have are the ones that someone crashed and discarded. I like the challenge of restoring them and the look on the person's face when he sees them back in the air. The E-Stick 25 was actually from two trash barrel orphans. The Bird of Time was broken completely in half.
05-27-2011, 02:17 PM
#33
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RE: If there was no ARF's, would you still be in the hobby?
I build kits and assemble ARFs. One of my favorite planes is the Nitroplanes Aquila AT70 ARF. It ia a fiberglass fuselage beauty with a Magnum .80 four stroke. I am currently building a Sig 1/3 Spacewalker. I love spending a few hours a day building; especially when the weather is bad. I have a dozen kits to be built but I will break down and buy an ARF once and a while, I am running out of room to houseall these planes.
05-27-2011, 03:11 PM
#34
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RE: If there was no ARF's, would you still be in the hobby?
I've built a lot of kits, and have put together a lot of ARF's. It's all good!! Just so long as they fly, that's what it's all about.
05-27-2011, 06:40 PM
#39
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RE: If there was no ARF's, would you still be in the hobby?
I like ARFs more. A few years ago, my first big kit was a 4*40. I started to work onit in early winter and it wasnt till the spring thay I finsished it. I wa so pissed that it took so damn long to build. Not for me! I dont have patience for this. These days I can barely stand the time it takes building an ARF. Now Id much rather look thru RCU and find a nice used plane to fly. And if I crash it, well unless its asmall fix needed then onto the next one.
05-27-2011, 06:44 PM
#40
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RE: If there was no ARF's, would you still be in the hobby?
ORIGINAL: DAN REISS
Here's an image of my first type of powered model. Yes, there were ARF's back then. I haven't used one since. I became addicted then and have not stopped building my own. Dan.
Here's an image of my first type of powered model. Yes, there were ARF's back then. I haven't used one since. I became addicted then and have not stopped building my own. Dan.
05-27-2011, 06:47 PM
#41
RE: If there was no ARF's, would you still be in the hobby?
I've been in the hobby since the early '70's. While I still enjoy building, some of my favorite and best-flying airplanes are ARF's. A point that is often missed is that if there were no ARF's, there wouldn't be nearly as many people coming into the hobby. The larger number of RC'ers due to the availability of ARF's makes for a much larger market and therefore lower prices than we would otherwise see. For that reason alone, I welcome ARF's. Don't like 'em? Don't buy 'em.
05-27-2011, 08:01 PM
#42
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RE: If there was no ARF's, would you still be in the hobby?
To me model building is a hobby. Flying ARFs merely an activity. I enjoy many activities, but I have no interest in "ARFing". I do enjoy flying models I have built. In a similar vein I enjoy the activity of riding motorcycles. I consider restoration of vintage motorcycles OTOH, as a hobby.
jess
jess
05-27-2011, 08:01 PM
#43
RE: If there was no ARF's, would you still be in the hobby?
Yes......... i love this hobby too much to leave it. i would survive, as i have the skills to build from kit form, i just prefer ARFs TBH
05-27-2011, 08:43 PM
#44
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RE: If there was no ARF's, would you still be in the hobby?
ORIGINAL: rcguy59
I've been in the hobby since the early '70's. While I still enjoy building, some of my favorite and best-flying airplanes are ARF's. A point that is often missed is that if there were no ARF's, there wouldn't be nearly as many people coming into the hobby. The larger number of RC'ers due to the availability of ARF's makes for a much larger market and therefore lower prices than we would otherwise see. For that reason alone, I welcome ARF's. Don't like 'em? Don't buy 'em.
I've been in the hobby since the early '70's. While I still enjoy building, some of my favorite and best-flying airplanes are ARF's. A point that is often missed is that if there were no ARF's, there wouldn't be nearly as many people coming into the hobby. The larger number of RC'ers due to the availability of ARF's makes for a much larger market and therefore lower prices than we would otherwise see. For that reason alone, I welcome ARF's. Don't like 'em? Don't buy 'em.
05-27-2011, 09:47 PM
#45
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RE: If there was no ARF's, would you still be in the hobby?
I enjoy arf but I do wish there were more plank'n'plan lazer cut kits here in Aussie land. Researching the history of the type of plane you are building and discovering colour schemes and maybe the history of their pilots,inventers or squadrens adds to the enjoyment while teaching skills that enable good repairs (not that i crash, it was the reciever blackout or somethin) to your fleet
05-27-2011, 10:17 PM
#46
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RE: If there was no ARF's, would you still be in the hobby?
I bought one ARF many years ago because it was a great deal in a hobby shop closing out sale. I later gave it away. I have no interest in flying something I didn't build, and assembling an ARF isn't 'building' in my books. I'm one of those who enjoy building at least as much as flying. ARF's certainly have their place in the hobby as the number of RC flyers would be few without them, so I have no problem with others flying ARF's. I'm just disappointed that the number of kits available to builders has declined so drastically in the past 10-15 years. Luckily I've collected enough to keep me going for many, many years. Almost all are scale and most are no longer available.
05-28-2011, 07:08 AM
#49
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RE: If there was no ARF's, would you still be in the hobby?
Since the scenario in the poll will not happen, I'm not sure the answer matters.
I answered no, but I really do not know.
I know I wouldn't have gotten into the hobby if there were no ARFs.
I 'think' I could make a pretty good judgement call on a used model now but I would have been afraid to risk it eight to ten years ago.
I answered no, but I really do not know.
I know I wouldn't have gotten into the hobby if there were no ARFs.
I 'think' I could make a pretty good judgement call on a used model now but I would have been afraid to risk it eight to ten years ago.
05-28-2011, 07:47 AM
#50
RE: If there was no ARF's, would you still be in the hobby?
ORIGINAL: carrellh
I 'think' I could make a pretty good judgement call on a used model now but I would have been afraid to risk it eight to ten years ago.
I 'think' I could make a pretty good judgement call on a used model now but I would have been afraid to risk it eight to ten years ago.
My logic on that one is that I don't want to put months of work into a plane only to re-kit it on the first flight. I'd rather buy one that's mostly pre-built, won't feel quite as bad if/when it goes in.