I am looking for a kit to build a competition scale jet. A lot of the kits around are advertised as scale but turn out not to be accurate after a bit more investigation. I don't mind a bit of modification but I need, at least, a scale outline. Are all BVM scale jets accurate (I know some of them definately are). What about Yellow Aircraft? I guess all skymaster is sport scale, is that correct?

Could you guys please help me compile a list of available options. I am personally interested in the smaller models but please add anything here that is accurate scale in case anyone else is interested.

Thanks

Hi!

You are right: Forget the Skymaster for a competition-scale-jet. Maybe the new big MB339 is accurate but not your size I guess.

The Avonds F-15 needs big modification to make it scale.

The BVM-jets look pretty scale regarding the outlines, but it is a big job to get the surfaces scale for IJMC-competition.

The Airworld-kits might be to big, but are a good start. They need some reengineering on some spots (tiptanks on Albatros...)

The old FC Sabre is a good starter in the smaller size. You can fly it with MW54 without problems. But hard to get one of those kits these days (out of production).

The Ziroli Panther and the Palmer Cougar are good plans/kits to make a competition model.

Greetz,

David

Mick Reeves' jets are generally very accurate in scale outline...his Venom is a smallish model, flies very well and, above all, is a classic British design! Ian Bailey did a build thread on RCU a while back - search for that for detailed info on the model and mods Ian made to improve it.

Cheers,

Dick,
England

Edited 'cos I put a wrong picture in!

I can only testify for the Y/A F-16. It is almost perfect scale for a reasonable price. The only thing not to scale are the elevators, which would be highly inneficient if they were.

Comp-ARF Mig-15 and Mig-29 and the new Airworld Hawk is going to take some beating

What ever airframe you pick, do a lot of homework first. Make sure there is plenty of documentation out there for it. Be sure the model will match the documentation. Always pick a plane that has great, not just good flight characteristics. You can dress up an airframe and get it spot on, but if it won't fly well under all conditions, you don't stand a chance. Build an airframe you really like. If you don't like it, you won't put your heart into it...[8D]

Dan

i say, and i will go with the savex L-39..

to start to make practice in the scale competition i think is a perfect plane..

BVM birds get my vote for scale competition. I wish I had another F-100.

Justin Sands

Yellow F-15 has a tremendous amount of scale detail, flies well and has all hidden control linkages.
It costs about 1/3 the price of a BVM plane, but takes a little more work to complete.

Dan

Forget the Savex L-39 as a competition airplane. It is purely sport scale with the emphasis on sport.

What about the Composite Arf Mig-15? I don't know much about it but from the pictures I have seen it looks pretty good. Also, take a look at some of the [link=http://www.goldenwestmodels.net/]Golden West[/link] models. I'm not sure how accurate they are but they look pretty good on the web site.

Whatever model you choose, make sure the manufacture can provide information on the three view they used when creating the model. Using the same three view (and making sure it is approved for use by the scale competiton governing board) can go a long way towards helping you get higher static scores.

Kirk

If the kit manufacturer provides a 3-view drawing, how does this 3-view become approved?. I heard a lot about stamps at the last JWM. Who does the IJMC allow to stamp items as verfication of authenticity? Does the stamp mean it is accurate or simply that is has not been altered?

Forget to pick a Jet only because someone think that would be more competitive in a scale event...

Just pick the plane you like most, and build it as well as you can.


B.Regards, Enrique

Im Jonesing for the BVM 80" Sabre, one of these days....

Looks like plenty of good advice already given. I would personally start with the organization with whom you want to compete in scale with. Every competition is a little bit different in their requirements, i.e. documentation, static judging, flying requirements, etc. Because human objectivity is involved in the judging, there is no such thing as only one plane or one kit that is capable of winning all scale competitions. Like everything, scale competition is a learning process which takes patience. Learn as you go. Good luck!

Find a model that "YOU" like, and go with that. As long as it has the correct scale out lines.

you should do the rest to add panel lines,Hatches, rivits, humps,bumbs etc, etc etc.

You can go on and on and on!

Take a plain jane bird and trick it out yourself. Do it for yourself. Don't worry about what the most popular jet is. Pick the one you like and have a schem picked out before you start.

If you build it and then choose a schem. You might end up having to add something in depth that should've ben added during early construction.

Check out what the top competitors have done and try to incorporate those techniques or details into your project.

Any jet can be a top gun worthy subject if the builder puts the effort to do so.

Weathering(my specialty) alot of times is WAY!!!! over done. start out with a soft touch and add untill it's "just right"

usually if you can see your weathering from your airbrush. Your probably putting on too much.

Do a good area very lightly. Then stand back at take a look. it's still probably heavy.

It takes several projects and years to get the hang of it.

You'll think your first project is just awsome. Then after a few years of "scale" building you'll think hmmm that really wasn't all that great.

you'll grow into

good luck

I added a pic of my huey. I made every detail o it. vents, antenas, grenade launcher etc.

The cockpit is completely scratch. The cusions are red cloth around foam.

look closely at the wind shield and you can see where with an airbrush(after masking)I lightly hazed the wind shield. it looks like the wipers had been on and of ourse only cleaned where the swipe.