[ken park]

Great Satisfaction from doing it all from A-Z I draw up my airplane from 100% scratch on my lap-top using a CAD program - This can take a while - but is very relaxing to do in the living room with the TV on for noise. When ready I export my file to my favorite laser cutting company and have them cut me a kit. Then the building begins - So from around Nov-Mar I got a project that will keep me very busy. Last year it was a gas size stik style model I called the Gas Gold-Finch 82" with a CRRC 26cc motor - This year its going to be a sort-of-like a TF Contender again about the same size 80" for the same motor. Its not a copy but has all the best features of the contender I like. I work mostly a couple hours most evening during the week and again on the weekend during the day. Not every day but most. Good tunes a beer make the work day problems go away. Now if you invent a cordless covering iron I want one

Ken Park

[Lash]

[quote=ken park now if you invent a cordless covering iron i want one

ken park[/quote]

me too !!!

[tommy]

I find that repairing or building,I must be in the mood to do it or it does not turn out properly and rebuilding an ARF is a pain, do to an oil type substance, I think is used to keep the wood from drying out in a short time. This is found only on some planes.Also to keep the weight down on the electrics is a problem.I do work for others as well as my own repairs and I try to stay away from the ARF,s

[rbwater]

Originally Posted by ken park

When ready I export my file to my favorite laser cutting company and have them cut me a kit.
Ken Park

Ken,

I assume from the tag at the end of your post that MrAreoDesign is your favourite laser cutting company. Will they cut a single kit for you or do you have to order multiples? If only one, is the price anywhere like reasonable?

Regards,

RB

[hitechflyer]

I fly Planes and heli's, to me it's easier to crash a heli, I watch the hot shots flying inches from the ground. no matter how good you are they sooner or later wipe out. Keeping a comfort level is key for the level of your pride and joy.

If it's an ARF who cares, get the adrenaline going, or when you have a good # of flights (years) on a plane I start to push my luck.

But there is nothing more rewarding then building a one of a kind aircraft.
here's my twin Chipmunk bipe.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQXeoIE8-Oc

[ken park]

Best to email Martin and ask but generally you pay for the wood used and a flat rate on the laser cutter time it took plus shipping. Only saving on multiples would be shipping it all at once.

Originally Posted by rbwater

Ken,

I assume from the tag at the end of your post that MrAreoDesign is your favourite laser cutting company. Will they cut a single kit for you or do you have to order multiples? If only one, is the price anywhere like reasonable?

Regards,

RB

[robonline]

Personally I find that when I go from the "I want it" stage of a model to the "I have it" stage with just a purchase in the middle it feels a bit hollow. It's not a matter of having to work for it, because I worked for the money to buy an ARF too, it has more to do with the series of moments of pleasure or joy that come during a build. Often I will stand back from the model when some section or phase is complete and just feel pleased at the progress or the shape it is taking. Without these moments the finished plane just seems empty to me. In addition, there is a special kind of satisfaction to see a model that one designed and built out of the raw materials, come to life and fly. There is also a kind of pride seeing the flight line on any given Sunday and knowing that your plane is the only one there that is not an ARF. It's really nice to be able to reply to the question; "did you build that?” with the simple nod and the word "yah".

[OLD PRAIRIE RED NECK]

Love that twin fusalage twin engine chipmunk bipe! could we have a close up still picture please? That is what I miss in this new ARF age - imagination & inginuity on the flight line! My favorite saying at the club field is "Take it back home, we already have one of those here today!" Just kidding of course!
For my part I just can't seem to build a plane "as per plan" without changing something to individualize it! Eg: parasol wing kadet senior, 4 star 40 bipe, gee bee look-a-like from Great Planes Slow Poke kit, 1/3 scale cub tail group without the rest of the plane - flew awesome! Laughed ourselves sick on that one, it looked so silly but flew so well!
I have a deep respect & appreciation for well executed scale too! Have 1 or 2 of those on the back burned too.
That's what building is to me. Bring em on!

[John M.]

I like the feeling that I get waking up in the morning, running down to the shop and taking a wing or fuze out of the jig that I glued up the night before.

Just like Christmas morning!

[hitechflyer]

Pictures as requested, It was built in 1998, three time winner at Toledo,
approx. building time 160 hours. sold it in 2008, I have two Saito 300's I should get started with that project.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLCt1ShrHpI