RACE 66

This is for general discussion. I've got a few years of modeling under my belt, and I recall when ARF's were the rarity, example: Lanair's models, Jesters, etc. and kits abound of the balsa type. Now, because of "change" the opposite is true. Less kits verse's many ARF'S, ARC'S etc. availible.

Now my point of the discussion, It's hard to find a relative complete source for kits. You have to hunt and pick for viewing. My question, has someone assembled a resource of kits, kit cutters etc on the web where you can go to one resource or several, rather spending allot of time "surfing"- "window shopping" ? Yes I know I am asking for the "golden ring", but I gotta ask. Thanks for any suggestions.

MinnFlyer

My Feedback: (4)

I'll tell you what, why don't we use this thread for people to list KIT suppliers.

Once we have a good list, I'll make a "Sticky" to put at the top of the Kit Building forum and list all of the links.

A few that come to my mind are:

[link=http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0002p?M=GBG]Goldberg[/link]

[link=http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0002p?M=TOP]Top Flite[/link]

[link=http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0002p?M=GPM]Great Planes[/link]

[link=http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0093p?&C=AAM]DynaFlite[/link]

[link=http://www.sigmfg.com/cgi-bin/dpsmart.exe/CatalogV6.html?L+Sig+vcmz2369+_DWhouse_02Aircraft_ 01Bay_02Aircraft_20_2d_20R_2fC_20Kits_01Menu_02Cat Prod_01SubMenu_02None_01Manu_02SIG_01]SIG[/link]

[link=https://www.balsastore.com/store/products.php?cat=7]Balsa USA[/link]

CrateCruncher

My Feedback: (1)

Great idea Minn. If you like kits of sleek 70's pattern ships here are a couple I've come to like:

[link]http://www.bridiairplanes.com/[/link]

[link]http://www.eurekaaircraft.com/[/link]

My all-time favorite scale kits supplier:

[link]http://www.proctor-enterprises.com/[/link]

Deadeye

Here's some more:

[link=http://www.topnotchkits.com/index_files/TN_Kits.htm]Top Notch Model Products[/link]

[link=http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/WTI0097p?CATEGORY=AA]Tower Hobbies[/link]

[link=http://www.btemodels.com/]Bruce Tharpe Engineering[/link]

abufletcher

My current favorite!

http://www.cdscaledesigns.com/


And of course no WWI (or WW2) fan should miss:

http://www.mickreevesmodels.co.uk/

http://www.flygtm.com/

abufletcher

And here's a DEFINITELY NOT RECOMMENDED for Arizona Models (no link necessary).

abufletcher

And for electric WWI fans there's tons (well, maybe ounces ) of great kits at:

http://www.aerodromerc.com/

abufletcher

http://www.funaero.com/ also has some fun scale WWI kits.

And here's an English source in Japan for Tettra kits which build into some very nice looking models. I've seen the Me-109 at my field and it looked great.

http://homepage1.nifty.com/ishiimoke...ane/te_all.htm

And Flair models in the UK (with some availability through US distributors like Hobby Lobby).

http://www.flairmodels.co.uk/

iron eagel

Another great idea from Mike!

RACE 66

Thanks so much for everyones input. Hopefully those individuals reviewing this and have not expeirenced the satisfaction/agony of kit building, bashing etc. will get enthused with all the different types of models from basic to advanced. Along discovering skills they knew they DIDN'T have, and how it (kit building) brings into a whole new dimension to aircraft theory,flight and repairing and IDEA'S ! Again thanks for the input.

draftman1

House of Balsa still makes kits

abufletcher

http://www.tdmsoftware.com/tdmmodels/

Trax540

My Feedback: (1)

http://www.hobbyhangar.com/test/kits.htm

The SE-5A Wasnt a bad kit. I cant speak for the rest of them but they are mostly Ziroli, and Rich Uravitch designs

Scar

My Feedback: (3)

We might want to keep an eye on

http://www.skysharkrc.com/

SkyShark stopped making kits for a year or so, but has introduced two of them. Perhaps they'll find a market, and bring back more.

JamesDL

www.wingsontheweb.com

cold_reboot

My Feedback: (20)

If Skyshark had released a German kit I would have already bought it. Allied kits are over represented as it is (who DOESN'T make a P-51). Give me a FW190, ME109 or Zero. If a company offers a model that is commonplace at the airfield..no one gets too excited... if they offer something hardly anyone is doing..they create thier own demand. Although I have wanted a Hellcat for a while...may pick that one up. Anyone know if it has flaps and such?

Edit: Take Impscale for example, a lot of plane kits no one else offers and he's backlogged 18 months when I talked to him a week ago. I wanted to build his 80+ ME109. He told me the best way to go about it was to buy the plans and have a third party cut it.

fordboy76

Here are a couple from my neck of the woods

[link=http://www.stevensaero.com/]Stevens aero[/link]

and
[link=http://www.mountainmodels.com/]Mountain Models[/link]

CrateCruncher

My Feedback: (1)

And now for something completely different.........
[link=http://www.pteroworks.com/pteros.htm]RC Pterodactyl Kits[/link]

carl01

My Feedback: (4)

One of the reasons for less kits is no one has time to build, and in my opinion some of the kits need to bo updated. Ive built a few kits and enjoy the building proccess but im in the middle of a balsa usa 1/4 cub and it's by far the worst kit ive built there was a lot of wood missing and the plans and directions are wrong in some areas. I called them and they were very nice and offered to send out the missing pieces but when your half way thru that particular area its just easier to go to your LHS and buy the wood, Several of the sections in the directions are just flat out wrong or omitted and could have been an easy fix by just adding an extra page with the corrections...If a new builder was to get this plane with these kind of issues well then I can understand why ARFs look good.... Carl

fockewulf37

My Feedback: (102)

Here I have a couple kits and also some "How to Videos"

http://tysplanes.com/

Ty

foodstick

Some of us are hording them in the basement.....

MinnFlyer

My Feedback: (4)

I know what you mean Carl, I built that kit too.

But back in the 60's and 70's, that's how kits were. You got a box of sticks, a set of plans, and a basic set of instructions. In fact, back in those days, most of us designed and built our own planes. It was just as easy as building a kit and you had the pleasure of saying "It's my own design".

Nowadays, kits are engineered MUCH better and the manuals (In most cases) have improved a thousand fold. But there are still a LOT of "Builder's Kits" out there and you need to know what you're getting into before you buy. People are so accustomed to the newer kits that they assume ALL kits are that easy to build. And the Sig 1/4 Cub is particularly frustrating because so many of Sig's kits are so outstanding that people think, "Well, it's a Sig kit, so it's gonna fall together in a week".

When I wanted a 1/4 Cub, I had the BUSA ans Sig to choose from. I knew the BUSA was a Builder's Kit, so I got the Sig. But it was also a builder's kit.

In fact, the Sig 1/4 Cub's plans and manual shows Kraft Servos!

smithcreek

My Feedback: (25)

Whenever I hear the "people just don't have time to build" argument I have to wonder what people think life was like 20-30-40 years ago. Do they think people sat around saying, "wow, I have so much free time on my hands I think I'll build a plane." I doubt it, more likely they didn't have 60" plasma flat screen TVs and pay over $100/month for cable so they can spend hours mindlessly flipping around the channels. Sorry, but I just doubt life was any easier than it is nowadays. It might have been simpler, but I'm sure people worked as much or more and had less free time. People just have to choose to spend their free time building a plane.

AviationNut

Amen, brother! I built my 1st kit when in college - talk about not having time! It took quite a while, but I was able to eek it out since I was motivated and spend most of my limited spare time on it.

captinjohn

I have been helping my Grandson re-do a ARF. His Freind is fixing up a Kit plane I gave him. They are both getting interested in building a complete airplane from a kit. With the price of ARF type of airplanes going sky high....maybe kits will start selling better. I sure hope Sig and Carl Goldberg will have more kits in the future.[] Capt,n