Jimstab Posted December 18, 2021 Share Posted December 18, 2021 Can anyone recommend a brand of kit please that has good quality parts and above all else easy to follow instructions? I don’t mind paying that but extra for a quality kit. I’ve put together numerous ARTF models but have not a great deal of luck with previous attempts at building from a kit. Any pointers appreciated Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Philbrick Posted December 18, 2021 Share Posted December 18, 2021 Slec fun fly could be a good choice. Very easy to build and will not only fly in any conditions but will do most manouvers you could ask for. Also reasonably priced. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dan h Posted December 18, 2021 Share Posted December 18, 2021 Yep I agree with Glenn, a very easy build with very good detailed picture instructions. I Built an electric one 2 years ago and im still enjoying it. Dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff S Posted December 18, 2021 Share Posted December 18, 2021 Kits produced by 'The Vintage Model Co' look good and also fairly easy to build. Instructional videos on YouTube as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Capt Kremen Posted December 18, 2021 Share Posted December 18, 2021 Traditional Balsa+Ply Kit selection - SLEC 'SKY40' - (Build Video on YouTube), D.B. Sport & Scale 'Mascot', Galaxy Models 'Fiesta 4', Ripmax/Chris Foss ARTF 'WOT Trainer', Seagull Models Kit or ARTF 'Boomerang II', The Vintage Model Co. 'Cub' - (Build Video On YouTube). Most if not ALL of these have been around a long time and there's a reason, they fit the bill, are well tried & proven designs. If you prefer a Plan build from scratch, again so many to choose from depending on skill level, aptitude e,g. a vintage design such as Keil-Kraft 'Junior 60', many Dave Boddington designs such as 'Ghost Rider', 'SkyRider', 'Tyro' etc. etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caveman Posted December 18, 2021 Share Posted December 18, 2021 (edited) Plus one for the SLEC Funfly. Well made kit and just as important good instructions. GDB Yes, and good flier too! Edited December 18, 2021 by Caveman Bad grammar! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon H Posted December 18, 2021 Share Posted December 18, 2021 cant fault the previous recommendations but what sort of model are you looking to build? This might sway the voting so to speak. Also, what went wrong with your other builds? Its likely any difficulties can be circumvented with assistance from the assembled crowd. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Fry Posted December 18, 2021 Share Posted December 18, 2021 Might I ask, what experience you have in flying model aircraft. You need to state what you can fly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimstab Posted December 18, 2021 Author Share Posted December 18, 2021 Hi, I have currently an Acrowot and a Weston Cougar which I fly regularly but also have a few scale models. I’ve struggled in the past with kits that have had only written instructions or none at all and would probably fair better with a set of pictorial instructions maybe. I’ve been looking at the Sig Piper J3 kit as I like the look of that type of plane. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Capt Kremen Posted December 18, 2021 Share Posted December 18, 2021 Sig 'Piper Cub J3', - Great model, (I've had two down the years), but the kit ... ???? Quite old and sadly American kitting often reflects that, even some of their updated CNC cut versions. It is a builders model in the old school tradition but if that suits you, fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Fry Posted December 18, 2021 Share Posted December 18, 2021 Can’t knock a SIG kit. Good quality. I accept some instructions just don’t suit the user. I made some apricot chutney today, noted cook’s recipe. By the time he had finished, I concluded he was drunk, and had been reading romantic poetry. Nothing really wrong, but just difficult to translate to reality. ie, something sticky sharp and sweet to go with a pork terrine. Not a lot of difference, plane or chutney. You need to know what is needed, or have instructions that suit you. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J D 8 Posted December 18, 2021 Share Posted December 18, 2021 Have a look at Billkits.com for some fun fly and basic semi scale types. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kc Posted December 18, 2021 Share Posted December 18, 2021 (edited) Look at the model kits by Phoenix Model Products - you can view the instructions online and decide if they are easy enough to understand. Their home page says just phone them if you get into any trouble. Edited December 18, 2021 by kc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john stones 1 - Moderator Posted December 18, 2021 Share Posted December 18, 2021 Built the Sig Cub, nice kit, good plan and instruction booklet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Davis Posted December 19, 2021 Share Posted December 19, 2021 (edited) I built a SLEC Fun Fly some time ago. It's easy to build and it flies well but I found the instructions for fitting the "cockpit" to the rest of the model difficult to understand. In the end I used dowel and velcro. PS. The help of an experienced builder will be invaluable. Edited December 19, 2021 by David Davis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Low pass Pete Posted December 19, 2021 Share Posted December 19, 2021 Agree totally on the SLEC Fun Fly. Very easy to build and parts very well cut. Extremely good value for money and with choice of powerplant IC or electric. Good all round model and hack. This one is powered by an older ASP46 and was built in 2020 lockdown. Hardest part... deciding on the colour scheme. LPP 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon H Posted December 19, 2021 Share Posted December 19, 2021 Although currently out of stock take a look at the DB Sport and scale cub. 84 inches sounds huge but its really not for a cub and a 70 4 stroke would be more than enough. Its laser cut so the parts are accurate, full plans and the manufacturer is in the uk so you can ask a question. They cant build it for you, but if you get really stuck and you cannot find help here on the forum then i am sure they will do what they can. One thing to consider however is that cubs are not what most people expect them to be. Most seem to think cubs are easy to fly arrow straight and super stable...this is not exactly true as they are scale models and require the use of coordinated rudder (by hand, not mixed as you need to cross control very often), are buffeted around a fair bit due to their light loading and have fairly slow ailerons. Its not difficult to adapt to this, but it will take practice and a willingness to learn. A chap at my club claimed his cub 'just didnt fly' but i flew it and had a great time. I tried to teach him but his mind was made up and he wasnt interested. They also do not like being over powered so use the smaller engines in the recommended ranges for either model. Anyway i am not trying to put you off a cub, in fact building either the sig or DB cub could be a superb learning tool both when it comes to building and flying, its just a case of knowing what it is you are getting into. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrumpyGnome Posted December 19, 2021 Share Posted December 19, 2021 Echoing comments re SIG kits. Good quality but real 'old school' (cut your own pieces of ply!) and poor instructions that leave a lot of interpretation needed. My Smith Miniplane instructions have a section relating to the top wing that would be impossible to follow. If you go SIG, see if the instructions are on the SIG site as they're the most up to date............. and set an extra budget for wheels, tank, engine mount (other power options are available). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Lee Posted December 22, 2021 Share Posted December 22, 2021 On 18/12/2021 at 21:05, Jimstab said: I’ve been looking at the Sig Piper J3 kit as I like the look of that type of plane. Keep an eye out for the old Carl Goldberg Cub kit on Ebay/BMFA/RCM&E classifieds, I doubt you will find one in the shops. It seems to tick all your boxes, a copy of the assembly instructions is attached and as you can see it is exemplary and leaves nothing to your imagination gpma0963-manual.pdf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Gates Posted December 22, 2021 Share Posted December 22, 2021 Jimstab, I am slightly reading between the lines here, but I suspect what you really need here is a companion who builds models who can help and guide when you get stuck or are not too sure what is meant in the instructions. Once you have built a few models (not assembled - there is a huge difference) you can interpret "Chinglish" or build with no guide other than a plan. Do you belong to a club, if so ask around to see if someone will mentor you on your next machine build whatever you decide on? If not, ask at your local model shop (if you have one) to see if they know of a local model plane builder who may be willing to help. If everything else fails, find an online mentor. Make sure you can take good photos and post them via e-mail or a forum to your mentor. Be prepared to have some longish phone conversations too, as that will help clear any ambiguities better than a text conversation. A little idea of the region you live in may help the latter search if you go in that direction. I wish you the very best of luck with whatever project you take on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Davis Posted December 23, 2021 Share Posted December 23, 2021 How about a Chris Foss WOT 4 Almost Ready To Build? If Jim can handle an ARTF Acrowot he should have no problem flying an WOT 4. I'll confess that I've never built a WOT 4, though one has been waiting in its box on my shelves since I paid £60 for it on eBay many years ago. However, a Uno Wot, another contender, was my first aileron model. I thought that the instructions in the kit were pretty good though I don't recall there being any photographs. I agree with Andy Gates that having the assistance of an experienced builder makes a great deal of difference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrumpyGnome Posted December 23, 2021 Share Posted December 23, 2021 Wot4 kit is very easy to build....... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Wood Posted February 17, 2022 Share Posted February 17, 2022 Thanks to Cloud Models & others before, the Crescent Bullet is still available as a traditional kit. Shaping the fuselage curves with razor plane & sanding block is a very satisfying building experience. Reviewed as one of the easiest kits to build - it has pitfalls for the inexperienced but builds into a super model. All the best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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