Greg Posted April 14, 2023 Share Posted April 14, 2023 Hello, I have been looking at free flight model kits made by Dumas and Guillows. As I am not familiar with these companies please could members give their opinions on the quality of the kits they manufacturer? Thanks. Greg. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leccyflyer Posted April 14, 2023 Share Posted April 14, 2023 Can't comment on Dumas kits, as I've never had one, but I've built several of the smaller old style Guillows kits and they have been pretty dreadful, due to a combination of tired, poor quality dies, which have often crushed the overly hard and heavy balsa and the hairy, uneven, heavy strip wood supplied. I don;t recall any of the rubber powered Guillows kits that I built ever having good performance 0 the Keil Kraft rubber powered sports models were a bit bigger and much more successful. I believe that some folks just use the Guillows plans and the nice lightweight ABS accessories -cowls, wheels, canopies., but substitute better quality wood. It's worth taking a look at the Vintage Model Company's offerings - I was very impressed with the quality of the Messerschmitt Bf109e kit that I got over the Christmas period and my pal's Hurricane, converted to full house radio is marvellous. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Holland 2 Posted April 14, 2023 Share Posted April 14, 2023 I have built a three Dumas kits, Rapide, Taylorcraft and Tiger Moth, good laser cutting, plenty of strip wood and good plans. Quite fiddly and delicate but very satisfying. Fly well. David Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin Colbourne Posted April 14, 2023 Share Posted April 14, 2023 (edited) My brother and I were given the Guillows Cessna 152 and the Piper Super Cub as presents. They went together ok and looked nice with the included transfers, however the one piece contruction meant they were weak around the cockpit area. The wings were massively strong with multiple spars, but even with the suggested cocktail sticks between the wings on the Cub, it broke on one of the first arrivals. Harder wood on the longerons, laminated formers and more structure transferring wing loads into the fuselage are needed. I think the Cessa 150 started out rubber powered and was then comverted for electric round the pole (RTP) whist the Piper Super Cub I built for a Cox .020, which was really too much power for it. These are the two: Edited April 14, 2023 by Robin Colbourne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Engine Doctor Posted April 14, 2023 Share Posted April 14, 2023 I built a Guillows Piper Super Cruiser and covered it in Lightspan for Cox 010 . Nice model but over engineered and hence a bit heavy. Cant comment on Dummas kits as never built one. I still hav3 a couple of Guillows kits that might get built but more likely to go to a club raffle for Air Ambulance charity. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Gates Posted April 14, 2023 Share Posted April 14, 2023 I concur with Leccyflyer. Guillows are absolutely awful - avoid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg Posted April 15, 2023 Author Share Posted April 15, 2023 32 minutes ago, leccyflyer said: Can't comment on Dumas kits, as I've never had one, but I've built several of the smaller old style Guillows kits and they have been pretty dreadful, due to a combination of tired, poor quality dies, which have often crushed the overly hard and heavy balsa and the hairy, uneven, heavy strip wood supplied. I don;t recall any of the rubber powered Guillows kits that I built ever having good performance 0 the Keil Kraft rubber powered sports models were a bit bigger and much more successful. I believe that some folks just use the Guillows plans and the nice lightweight ABS accessories -cowls, wheels, canopies., but substitute better quality wood. It's worth taking a look at the Vintage Model Company's offerings - I was very impressed with the quality of the Messerschmitt Bf109e kit that I got over the Christmas period and my pal's Hurricane, converted to full house radio is marvellous. Hello leccyflyer, Thanks for the your post and thank you for the information. Concerning Keil Kraft I have their kit Ajax which I have just started to build. It is a nice kit. Regards, Greg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg Posted April 15, 2023 Author Share Posted April 15, 2023 17 hours ago, David Holland 2 said: I have built a three Dumas kits, Rapide, Taylorcraft and Tiger Moth, good laser cutting, plenty of strip wood and good plans. Quite fiddly and delicate but very satisfying. Fly well. David Hello David, Thank you. I have had a look through the Dumas range and like what the have to offer. Regards, Greg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg Posted April 15, 2023 Author Share Posted April 15, 2023 15 hours ago, Robin Colbourne said: My brother and I were given the Guillows Cessna 152 and the Piper Super Cub as presents. They went together ok and looked nice with the included transfers, however the one piece contruction meant they were weak around the cockpit area. The wings were massively strong with multiple spars, but even with the suggested cocktail sticks between the wings on the Cub, it broke on one of the first arrivals. Harder wood on the longerons, laminated formers and more structure transferring wing loads into the fuselage are needed. I think the Cessa 150 started out rubber powered and was then comverted for electric round the pole (RTP) whist the Piper Super Cub I built for a Cox .020, which was really too much power for it. These are the two: Hello Robin, Thank you for your review of the aircraft. I think, to honest, I prefer the Dumas models over the Guillows. Regards, Greg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg Posted April 15, 2023 Author Share Posted April 15, 2023 13 hours ago, Engine Doctor said: I built a Guillows Piper Super Cruiser and covered it in Lightspan for Cox 010 . Nice model but over engineered and hence a bit heavy. Cant comment on Dummas kits as never built one. I still hav3 a couple of Guillows kits that might get built but more likely to go to a club raffle for Air Ambulance charity. Hello Engine Doctor, Thank you. I am starting to get the idea that I should consider any I buy in the future are Dumas kits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg Posted April 15, 2023 Author Share Posted April 15, 2023 11 hours ago, Andy Gates said: I concur with Leccyflyer. Guillows are absolutely awful - avoid. Hello Andy, Thank you for your comments. I have now made my mind up. Dumas kits it will be! Regards, Greg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christopher Wolfe Posted April 15, 2023 Share Posted April 15, 2023 I have found (the hard way) that the downside of Guillows kits is the wood grade - only suited for furniture or r/c models 🙃 (as sold to beginners). Then I have purchased a few model kits from BMJR and wow, what a revelation, they actually fly, and very well, good enough to win a Free Flight comp and loose them without a D/T. Great wood selection and excellent models. No connection except a satisfied customer. Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg Posted April 15, 2023 Author Share Posted April 15, 2023 15 minutes ago, Christopher Wolfe said: I have found (the hard way) that the downside of Guillows kits is the wood grade - only suited for furniture or r/c models 🙃 (as sold to beginners). Then I have purchased a few model kits from BMJR and wow, what a revelation, they actually fly, and very well, good enough to win a Free Flight comp and loose them without a D/T. Great wood selection and excellent models. No connection except a satisfied customer. Chris Hello Chris, Thanks for the link. I will take a look at what they have to offer. Regards, Greg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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