Sunset Models?
 

Anybody flying Sunset Models stuff (www.sunset-models)?

What's the quality? What are you flying? Do you like it etc....

I'm looking at purchasing the F-4, and I'm interested in the glass work, etc.


Bart

RE: Sunset Models?
 

Bart,
I have fortunately not had the displeasure of owning any of their stuff, but a good friend of mine bought one of their A10's, not only that, he had it "custom built"....... After he drove down to Greyland Washington to pick it up, he was disgusted, but after money spent and an entire day to pick it up, he brought it home.....
No word of a lie, I have NEVER seen such poor workmanship and quality in my life. The glass work was garbage, the so called "custom build" was unflyable, and it was so heavy it never would have seen air between the earth and tires.
The owner of Sunset (who built the airplane) agreed it wasn't a great job (why would you let it leave if you KNOW it's a piece of junk) and refunded my friend a partial amount (part of the deal was my friend traded a complete NIB Pica spitfire kit with accessories and that was sent back).
Major structural components were held in with a combination of epoxy and silicone. The hinges were glued so poorly that we pulled them out with no effort. The fuselage layup was a joke, the wing saddle and canopy openings were nothing more than cutout from the fiberglass, no flanges to help align things or keep them from cutting into the wing.
Overall, looking at the kit, it would have been overpriced at $100.
I'm not trying to be a jerk, and I have remained quiet whenever I see their ad's in the classifieds, but since you are asking, that is my honest review of the A10 I saw, it was in my shop for a long time once my friend was finished "rebuilding it" so I could paint it.
Even after all that, he knew it would be really nothing more than a display model and he got rid of it without ever bothering to finish it.

You would be way further ahead to get a Yellow Aircraft F4.

RE: Sunset Models?
 

I just got burned by him also. Ordered his T-38. First kit I rejected. Laid up in chopped glass and was total piece of junk!
2nd kit was laid up with cloth but the quality was not there. Both of them going in rafters.


Dennis

RE: Sunset Models?
 

Seems their website is gone now, maybe they finally realized you can't keep screwing people with garbage?

RE: Sunset Models?
 

From what I am hearing, there is more of a serious family illness issue at the moment vs quality of work that is effecting the business. Additionally, word is Sunset will either go out of business very soon or offer short kits due to rising materiel and shipping costs.

They are not taking any more orders and trying to finish up the orders outstanding.

RE: Sunset Models?
 

Well I would never wish any bad when it comes to family illness.
However, when it comes to success with the business, you won't stay around long with quality like they've put out. I'm amazed they're still around at all. I hope whatever is ailing the family turns around for the better.
Hope whatever orders they do have are being completed in a better quality than the stuff I've seen though.

RE: Sunset Models?
 

Glad I didn't buy the F-15 kit he had listed a few weeks back now..

RE: Sunset Models?
 

The wood kits like the small A-10 and the F-15 are not too bad. But the large A-10 is terrible. He sold the bussiness once about 8 years ago to Ross Hobbies but they never did anything with it. Somehow he got the business back.

RE: Sunset Models?
 

:D Sell me one.. you have.. what ever one you feel could be saved..Let me know;)