I have been building a yellow aircraft f-18 single, I am finding it to be quite enjoyable and a good break from trying to re-engineer an ARF. I'm moving right along with it and amazed at how relaxing it is. Everything just goes together well and the instructions are clear enough. The formers are precut, the glass parts fit right together.

Are Century Jet Models the same type of setup in terms of the work that has to be done or are they more advanced?

I really like the pricing on some of them and I prefer small jets and they have a few options I really like such as the star fighter, mig 15, F105 and F100.

Would it be safe to say if I can build the Yellow f-18 single I can build one these without having a huge learning curve or requiring additional special tools? Or are they more difficult for some reason?

In my experience Century Jet and Yellow are not in the same league. Yellow is much much better.

What is your experience with both and can you go into some details why? Not questioning but just curious so I can make an educated decision based on fact and not anecdotal evidence. Thanks!

You don't want me in here making a complain thread about CJM later because I got in over my head or they have poor quality!

The fiberglass part fit on Century in my experience was poor, and needed lots of rework. It was a CJM A-4 I helped build. A lot of rework to get the parts to fit without big gaps.

Yellow fit is very good in my experience.

On the Century F4's I have done. There is a lot of reengineering needed. In the end they were good flying planes but a builders kit for sure.

Umm...

Yeah. I'm replying to this with the intention to help. This isn't a bash for bashing's sake or a brand war thing (especially now). I've had the CJM Spit, Mustang, Sport Hawk, F-104. I've also helped friends with the Cougar and F-105. The kits were pretty sorry as far as quality was concerned. The Mustang and 104 were ordered directly from them by me, and ultimately returned. The kits are not only 'builder's kits', but PATIENT and FORGIVING builders' kits. I did the 'one more try' thing with them many times.

Sean your input is valued. Sounds like the CJM kits are a bit over priced then given the quality. The YA are the same of not cheaper, and from what I can tell from the little one I have they are great quality.

I may just have to find another YA kit out there. From my understanding, CJM and YA are all that are left in terms of kits with YA fading fast.. Is that correct?

Take a look at Aviation design. They still make kits as well as arfs

There is jet hangar hobby as well

Kevin, what needed to be re-engineered? I have one of the F-4 kits that I will be building soon.
Steve

Do you have the belly pan or plug in wings. Canopy was a mess, the wing spars had to be redone, the elevator mechanism is not strong enough, the doors are a mess, the gear had to be worked on. Many parts had to be remade to fit

Here is the final result. Tailplane mechanism failed during flight in the 7th year.

Meps you can call me if you like to discuss 281-615-8455

My wings are plug in. When I got the kit from a guy, it didn't have the stab mechanisms so I had to order them. They seem to be robust. What did you do to beef yours?

Steve

I will give you a call later today.
Thanks,
Steve

I could find no way to make fit what I wanted, In the end the pin that goes through the pivot block broke and jammed the elevator and plane spun in. I used to have high def pics of this in flight someone shot while filming but a computer crash lost that data

The best system is the BVM or Skymaster one piece stab with pivot plate. I should have molded one and converted but did not. The second one met that same fate only much earlier. Doc Rodriques had elevator failure in the fight 50 flights at Austin event

Wow! That's interesting. I'll have to look into retro-fitting mine when I get to it. Your F4 looked GREAT!!!

Steve

I thought hes was a large Flye Eagle. He extended flaps too fast and blanked out the elevators.

Essyou,

Yeah, these days YA kits are all private-party finds. I still have an F-4 and a Stingray kit of my own, but that's it! Anytime I see ads for YA warbirds or jets, I'm always scoping them out pretty closely. That F-18 Single of yours is a really nice jet. She's got her habits on the deck, but sweet in the air. You can power it with practically anything, too. I've flown them on P-60 through P-120's. Glow and EDF, too.

Doc has owned BVM and Century F4's I do not think he ever had Fly Eagle. The one at Austin was for sure Century F4

No blanking on elevator with flaps, I flew mine with flaps for 7 years with no issues what so ever.

How about the CJM mig-15 specifically? How is that one? is the better or worse of them?

Don't forget that here are a number of very good European models that are kit form, quality is excellent.
Philip Avonds, F15, F104 Fouga Magister, rafale, F16
Grumania jets P-59,Sea Venom, Me 262, Boeing 727
Mick Reeves Hunter, Lightning, Javelin, Venom
Sunshine models Me163 several sizes, SR61
PAF Flugmodelle He 162

I have seen all these models flying. The Avonds planes always fly well and are very popular. I have seen lots of Mick Reeves jets flying but they are more work than some of the kits. Have a good look at the photos of the kit of parts you get.

John

With the Euro exchange, I would seriously consider an Avonds kit.