After my current batch of ARFs are finished I am considering buying a 'builders' kit which I plan on taking my time with. I have too many models and I am hoping a slower build will keep me entertained without having to keep buying lots of new toys.

I was looking at the BVM Mig 15 but see that this has just gone ARF. As I guess they will become more popular as a result it has lost its appeal to me.

Has anyone got any recommendations for good kits (other than BVM)? I would be looking for something scale, and preferably not too common, but other than that the floor is open.

Thanks

Mick Reeves?

Airworld, they are scale and great flyers. Joe C!!

Airworld kits are excellent quality and good in the air as well. Their big L-39 is very easy to fly. I like their Cougar as well.

The Yellow F-15 comes in kit form and it would be a bit more work, but also less expensive. It is very scale and while there are a number of F-15s out there, there are a number of paint schemes that have not been done too often.

I know you mentioned no BVM, but everyone who has ever owned one of his F-100's thinks it is one of the best flying kits out there. I have one in the box at much less than retail.

Tom Cook makes a great kit.


Mitch

Thanks for the ideas.

I have had a Mick Reeves Venom in the past and it was probably one of the worst kits I have ever bought. It's a shame as I quite like the look of his Hunter too but will never buy another one of his scale kits (the Reaper was ok). I have a great deal of respect for those that have built these models.

To me, the Airworld kits are not what I am after. A friend of mine has the small L39 and whilst he has built a lovely model it was a lot of work with not much in the way of instructions. I wouldn't mind so much if they were unique models but I would hate to spend that much time when I could buy an ARTF that probably looks as good and can be built in half the time. Some of their other models, such as the Hunter and Gripen, look good but are a bit too big (and expensive) for me.

I do keep coming back to BVM. The only reason I didn't ask about BVM kits is because I know about them and wondered if any other suggestions would come out.

If anyone has any more suggestions then please fire away.

Super Bandit!!
Not an ARF, and a flying awesome machine!

YA F-18 twin

I was actually contemplating building a kit the other day............and was narrowing it down to either an Electra or a Balsa Bandit. I did have a Balsa Bandit once, but sold it to purchase a BARF. The BB seemed like such a nice kit. I bet you can build a wing panel on just a couple of nights.

Other than that, seems to me like any Avonds kit would be a good choice.

David

Kerry Sterner's Vampire's a real 'builder's model' - kits available from Bellair (sp?). Or there's the Ziroli Panther. Either of these would keep you out of the pub for a while! If you want a (faster) glass/foam type build job, what about an Avonds F-104? Easy model to put together, plenty of easy colour schemes available (if you must deviate from a natural metal finish) and a pretty spectacular model once it's done!

Cheers,

Dick
England

Philip Avonds..F-16, Rafale, F-15, F-104. Affordable, beautiful kits, great engineering, outstanding hardware, and they fly great! I've had 2 Rafale's, 3- F-16's and a F-104.

siclick33


You need a challenge. I would love to find a good builders kit to work on for a while. Perhaps an F-84. Their is a current build thread on the F-84. Or the F-86K or H model, anyone of you older fellas remember the H model?

How about an F-4D Skyray model? Doesn't Mark Frankel produce one that is a fairly descent size? They are a good flying airplane as well as rare to see.

Rick Fong had the F-102 flying. That is a good one to build and spend time on if it is still produced.

There is also the F-105 of which you do not see models of at all. I have yet to see one flying with a turbine but understand there was one down at Florida Jets...

The Mig 21 is gaining popularity...

FWIW,

MACE

Actually, what I read on the BVM site was that it was coming out with composite wings - I did not see anywhere where it was going to be an ARF. Trust me, a BVM Mig that simply has composite wings is not anywhere near an ARF - there is a lot of work in a kit like that. A BVM F-100 with composite wings represents hundreds of hours of work, and that *does not* include surface finishing and painting...

Bob

First of all its great to here someone say they want a KIT to build.
I agree that ARF's have there place for sure, but a full blown kit build gives a guy lots of pride in ownership. Not many arf's can come close to the quality of a true one off build.
I know you were wanting ideas other than BVM but as stated before, the F100 is a great build for someone that wants a awesome jet when done. And an almost endless color scheme choice plus either true metal or paint to choose from as well.
I have worked on and built three of them,although allot of work it is one of those birds that is worth it!!!!
Another would be the BVM F4, available in either turbine or now electric and this bird will give you a PHd in building.
Good luck

Reminds me of the original Bandit "ARF" which was thousands of hours of work...

MACE

I am currently building a YA F-18 Twin- thats a great builders kit, i also just finished a Super Balsa Bandit, and thats a great one too!!

Unless I am mistaken this gentleman wants to "Build" ( as in turn a bunch of wooden parts that dont resemble much more than kindling into something that looks like an airplane, ie: built up wings and perhaps even a built up fueselage. He doesn't want to "Assemble" which is basically what you do with most any composite kit or ARF.

The kits that meet this description would be a BVM F-86, the old stlye BVM Mig, most any jet kit from Jet Hangar Hobbies and possibly some of the Phillip Avonds kits. I'm sure there are others but these are the ones that come to mind for me.

I dont think any of the Air World stuff or a BVM F-100 or F-4 is what he is looking for. These are all outstanding kits but............I dont think it is what he had in mind.

Dont get me wrong there is certainly building involved in any ARF but a good bit of it is more assembly than true building.

turnnburn, I can guarantee you that a twin yellow f-18 has more building in it than a BV F-86, and I am pretty sure that was what he is looking for.

As for the ziroli panther-been there and done that-beautiful plane but would never do it again, it's like building a friggin boat.

The poster said "looking for a builders kit"-not a plans built aircraft......which would be the case of buying a "kit" from a kitcutter,u have no instructions or diagrams, or if you scratchbuild then that is not a "kit".

Oh, and the Yellow Twin is anything but "common" which was another aspect he was looking forJust my .02

LOL!! Never thought of myself as a boat builder!

Matbe siclick'll pitch in and let us know but, over here, 'builder's kit' always meant just that...something you built from a plan and box of bits. As for instructions...well, you know what they say about us men...if all else fails, that's when you read the instructions :-)

Just off for a few hours on the boat!

Cheers,

Dick
England

Well, if he want's to turn balsa sticks into a flying machine and doesn't mind being made fun of he can always get a Facet 1200! [:'(]


The Avonds old F15 kit if you can find one. Foam core wings, stab and verticals that need to be glassed and have the control surfaces cut out edges capped and hinged, etc... Not all balsa but a good builders KIT. No panel lines so you'll have to plot and draw them all on it. I have an Aeroloft version which is the same kit only produced here in the states and it flies great and looks great also.

If you want something cool, find a Byron BD-5 kit. You'll have to make some updates to it so it will handle a turbine but hey, you wanted to BUILD something right?


Les

Thanks for all the suggestions.

My reasons for wanting to build are twofold. Firstly, to have a project I can get my teeth into and secondly, so that I can produce something that is a bit less common.

I have considered things from all-wood Philip Noel Mirage from plans to BVM kits. I hadn't read the BVM website very closely and had assumed that the Mig was being ARF'd as they have recently done with the Sabre. If it is just a composite wing (and therefore won't become 2 a penny) then I might keep my eye open for an old built up wing version kit.

While I agree that the Yellow F-18 twin is not common, F-18s in general are. I am looking for something like Gordon Mc's Jaguar; maybe not a full-on wooden plank kit but still a lot of work and pretty unique. I have also been looking at something like a JetHangar KFIR. I have been trawling some of the less common websites such as Century Jet and have found a few interesting things that I might have a go at.

Examples of models that might float my boat include:

Hunter
Venom
Mig 15
Jaguar

Keep the ideas coming

The BVM F-86 I am reffering to is the 80" built up wood wing airplane and not the AFS version. Ditto for the older BVM Mig which is also a built up wood wing.

I assumed this is more of what he is looking for becasue he mentioned the older built up version of the BVM Mig.

In case you are seriously considering the CD Jag – I'd be happy to answer any questions you have about the build & kit. It certainly doesn't have to be as much work as mine was, nor take as much time as my messed-up work schedule required.

You can shoot me questions by PM, or - since I have a very cheap phone-plan to the UK in order to chat with our relatives - I'd be happy to give you a call and go over any questions you like. If you want to do that, just PM me your phone number and a suitable time (2pm UK time onwards).

Gordon

check out my Avonds F-16 build I did a couple of years ago. Goes together well but takes some patients, good instructions and has nice panels lines on the fuse. I used Aeroloft transfers (dont hurt me Gordon[sm=49_49.gif]) they worked great and omni paint.

mb

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.a...F%2D16%2Cbuild

LOL ! Don't worry - I have nothing against anyone who uses Aeroloft transfers and likes them - I only try to advise the unwary & uninitiated of the perils they may be about to subject themselves to, so that they have a chance of making an informed decision about who to deal with.

Maybe Johnny, Billy and I (plus all the non-jet guys I know who got hosed by Cindy) just ordered our decals at the wrong time of the month. If so, that implies that there has to be a right time of the month, for people like yourselves to have dealt with her.


Maybe you could make some money on the side by tracking / forecasting when it's safe to deal with her ?

Nice F-16 BTW !

Gordon