Dean Posted October 13, 2011 Share Posted October 13, 2011 Hi,I currently fly a Wot 4 powered by an Irvine 53 and i am building a sig four star powered by a OS 65 la. I am now considering what to get next i much prefer building from a kit. What would model would be a good stepping stone to flying a 70"-80" warbird? Is the best way to learn to fly a warbird to actually buy one and fly it under guidance? I really want a Stuka but have come across some problems. The BH one looks awesome but its ARTF and was hoping for a long term project Only passed my A test 2 weeks ago so want to have the skill to fly it!!!! Complete a pac kits do one but reading various peoples opinions they are not held in high regard. lastly Belair kits to a partial kit of the ziroli plan this one but adding all the extras on Retracts cowel etc. its very pricey. Cheers Dean Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Smalley Posted October 13, 2011 Share Posted October 13, 2011 keep it simple for your first warbird, built correctly Stukas are no more problematic to fly than any other warbird and at least you will not have retracts to worry about Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Codename-John Posted October 13, 2011 Share Posted October 13, 2011 top flite kits are excellent, im currently doing the 1/7 p-51 and theres someone on here at the moment doing the sea fury, the kits are around £200 but then as you say tho once you start adding retracts, oleos etc it does push the cost up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Hargreaves - Moderator Posted October 13, 2011 Share Posted October 13, 2011 Perhaps get a relatively cheap ARTF (second hand maybe??) of the model you fancy & learn to fly it whilst you build your dream machine. A kit/plan built version shouldn't be that different to the ARTF version..... The Tony Nijhuis designs seem to build & fly very well although he doesn't do a Stuka.....yet!!! I'm sure theres a build blog of a Stuka somewhere....a plan built version....I'll see if I can find it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Hargreaves - Moderator Posted October 13, 2011 Share Posted October 13, 2011 Stuka build blog here..... Looks a beautiful model....wish I could build that well.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy watson Posted October 13, 2011 Share Posted October 13, 2011 It is! Seriously though, I just put hours into it, rather than talent! Which isn't a bad thing- since it would give you plenty of time to improve your flying to a point that you feel comfortable with your pride and joy. It works out much cheaper than the Zirolli one (I avoided that for exactly that reason). I would suggest building a kit or 2 first though.Edited By andy watson on 13/10/2011 15:52:20 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Hargreaves - Moderator Posted October 13, 2011 Share Posted October 13, 2011 Posted by andy watson on 13/10/2011 15:51:30: It is! Seriously though, I just put hours into it, rather than talent! Which isn't a bad thing- since it would give you plenty of time to improve your flying to a point that you feel comfortable with your pride and joy. Ahh Andy what can I say......a great builder & modest with it..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dean Posted October 13, 2011 Author Share Posted October 13, 2011 Posted by Steve Hargreaves on 13/10/2011 12:30:22: Perhaps get a relatively cheap ARTF (second hand maybe??) of the model you fancy & learn to fly it whilst you build your dream machine. A kit/plan built version shouldn't be that different to the ARTF version..... The Tony Nijhuis designs seem to build & fly very well although he doesn't do a Stuka.....yet!!! I'm sure theres a build blog of a Stuka somewhere....a plan built version....I'll see if I can find it... Thanks Steve that kind of hit the nail on the head with what i was thinking maybe a kyosho warbird to get the hang of while i take my time building something or what about one from warbird replicas? Don't know how i missed Andys stuka build when i have searched the forum had a look through it. What a stunning model thats the kind of skill i aspire to have, would love to have a bash at one. Andy out of interest which plan is it? i couldn't find much on myhobbystore just an X list plan that has little info. Dean Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy watson Posted October 13, 2011 Share Posted October 13, 2011 It's John Carpenters JU87D1. Available here It's a bit tricky to find as it's been labelled JU 81! As far as I know there are no CNC packs or anything, so it's all got to be hand cut- not as bad as it seems! The warbird replicas have a very good reputation, and there are a couple of interesting ones I keep looking at.Edited By andy watson on 13/10/2011 18:41:17 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winchweight Posted October 13, 2011 Share Posted October 13, 2011 A big vote here for the Warbirds Replica kits. There's a video build of the LA7 on YouTube so you can see the build. Quality kits at a nice price, bags of opportunities to add scale detail. Not ARTF and not a full bag of balsa build. A stepping stone between you might say. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dean Posted October 13, 2011 Author Share Posted October 13, 2011 Posted by andy watson on 13/10/2011 18:39:59: It's John Carpenters JU87D1. Available here It's a bit tricky to find as it's been labelled JU 81! As far as I know there are no CNC packs or anything, so it's all got to be hand cut- not as bad as it seems! The warbird replicas have a very good reputation, and there are a couple of interesting ones I keep looking at. Edited By andy watson on 13/10/2011 18:41:17 ah ha thats why i couldn't find it!! thanks for the link I am seriously considering this as a long term project is it within the abilities of someone with little build experience? I like to think i am not completely useless being an ex aircraft engineer!! Watched the video of the maiden flight and thats my inspiration! it really is a stunning model Dean Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dean Posted October 13, 2011 Author Share Posted October 13, 2011 Posted by Shaun Chant on 13/10/2011 18:58:19:A big vote here for the Warbirds Replica kits. There's a video build of the LA7 on YouTube so you can see the build. Quality kits at a nice price, bags of opportunities to add scale detail. Not ARTF and not a full bag of balsa build. A stepping stone between you might say. I think one (or two) from there will be a good idea. haven`t heard of any bad comments about them i quite like the Hurricane and the LA7. Cheers Dean Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lindsay Todd Posted October 13, 2011 Share Posted October 13, 2011 Go for a P47 Thunderbolt, loads available as kit or artf, never seen a bad one yet. I have the world models version which is superb, but YT, H9 etc all very good, models are stable, good slow speed characteristics and mild stall, retracts are wide spread and give good handling. I am still using original without any tweaks after two years hard use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy watson Posted October 13, 2011 Share Posted October 13, 2011 Dean, For what it's worth, here's my advice. The stuka was only my second build. The first was a Flair Fokker DVII- and the first line of those instructions said don't build this as a first build! There is no way I could have managed the Stuka without the lessons learned on the DVII. There is also no way either would have been completed without me blogging the builds on this forum- so every time I got stuck there was someone there to help (including John Carpenter for the Stuka!). Even so there were times when I couldn't see the wood for the trees (almost literally!), and was completely stuck. At those times I put everything to one side for a period of time (sometimes weeks) until I could work out what to do. Even then I made some stupid mistakes. John often reminded me "it's only balsa" which is so true when you are building from plans. Cock it up and just cut new bits. The real problem though, is do you have the commitment and sheer bloody mindedness to see it through to the end? I would suggest most people in this hobby have several (actual number depends on the proximity of the missus!) half completed projects. I absolutely refuse to build anything more than an ARTF once I have started a build. In this way I see things through to the end. There is no reason not to start a project like this- I photographed everything during the build, so that should help if you did the same plane. I loved building the Stuka- it was a real challenge and a fantastic sense of achievement at the end. But it was also frustrating in places and difficult- much more so than if I had more experience. You know yourself whether you are likely to see it through, if the answer is yes then there's nothing to stop you, if the answer is no then you are more likely to end up with a never completed pile of balsa that cost you plenty and put you off another project- and auctions are full of them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Hargreaves - Moderator Posted October 14, 2011 Share Posted October 14, 2011 Wise words from Mr Watson there.... I'm sure if I started a project like this it would take me a couple of years or more to see it through. But then what's the rush......building is almost a hobby in itself & if you see whats on TV these days......well I think even building a model boat would be more interesting..... I too have heard good things about the Warbirds replica kits....that Spitfire looks very tempting. I like the Kyosho stuff too & their 50 size Spitfire is on the "One Day" list (as in One Day I will buy one of those) too...... Let us know what you decide on Dean.....with all the friendly help available on this forum you simply can't go wrong!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dean Posted October 14, 2011 Author Share Posted October 14, 2011 Thanks for the honest reply Andy, I am all enthusiastic now but your post has made me think i could end up having a big pile of bits sat there doing nothing. I think the best thing is to build a couple more kits and maybe a smaller simpler plan build before attempting the stuka. I think me joining the mass vintage build will be a help to. Will keep you all posted on what i do!! Dean Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Hargreaves - Moderator Posted October 17, 2011 Share Posted October 17, 2011 Well I don't know Dean.....nearly every model you build will be different & provide challenges you haven't come across before.....thats why the hobby is so endlessly facinating.... I suppose its true that the more building to do the better you get but nothing you build will make you 100% competent for the next one.....it would get boring if it did!!!! And, as has been said before...its only wood & if you cut a piece wrong you can cut another one!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dean Posted October 17, 2011 Author Share Posted October 17, 2011 I suppose i'm bothered i will be biting off more than i can chew!! Up to now i have just built kits that have gone together like a jigsaw puzzle. I have to think really seriously about this!! I really want to build a Stuka What sort of basic tools would be needed to cut out the parts for a plan build? Do people use a bench fret saw or is that a bit ott could i get away with using a scalpel? Dean Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy watson Posted October 17, 2011 Share Posted October 17, 2011 Well I scanned the plan on the PC, stuck the bits to balsa with pritt stick, then settled down with a scalpel and cutting board. A razor plane is really useful too for trimming to the line. It's actually not too bad a job (check out the blog to see how long it took me), and makes you spend time really looking at the plans. The ply bits do take some cutting by hand though. To be honest I took them into school and used the scroll saws, although I now have my own band saw. If I remember correctly my SLEC (wood) order was about £150, although I think that included a few bits and pieces of other stuff too. My Stuka took 2 years start to finish, but then I did get a bit anal about it in places and added quite a few bits to the plans. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dean Posted October 21, 2011 Author Share Posted October 21, 2011 After a lot of thought and changing my mind more times than my i change my pants i have settled on building a stuka from a plan. Its going to be a big learning curve. I won't be in a rush so plan on it taking a couple of years at least so buy then hopefully i will have the skill to fly it!! I will apologise now Andy for the amount of daft questions i may ask you, if that s ok? Oh and thanks for the advice about p47 thunderbolts Lyndsay i think for christmas a blackhorse p47 may be on the cards to get used to flying a warbird and using flaps. Watch this space for a build blog in the near future Dean Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Hargreaves - Moderator Posted October 21, 2011 Share Posted October 21, 2011 I think thats a good plan Dean....we look forward to seeing your build blog!!!! Oh & you must fit some Panzerknacker cannons if only because of the brilliant name... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy watson Posted October 21, 2011 Share Posted October 21, 2011 If you are going with Johns plans then then they are for the D1 version. The G (with the cannons) had a redesigned wing (bit longer span- although no one will ever know). But if you go for the cannon, then no siren! No problem with questions- fire away! If you are passing north manchester you can have a look! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Bennett Posted October 21, 2011 Share Posted October 21, 2011 1/5 scale Panzerknacker cannons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dean Posted October 21, 2011 Author Share Posted October 21, 2011 I think the Stuka looks really evil with those huge Panzerknacker cannons sticking out the front. Thanks for the offer Andy if i ever i am up that way i just might take you up on that offer. we couldn't have been to far from you 2 weeks ago on our travels to Blackpool used M62 + M61. Tony B = are they scratch built cannons? Cheers Dean Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Bennett Posted October 21, 2011 Share Posted October 21, 2011 they are scratch built. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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