What would you like to see kitted?

Fish man · 9 October 2009, 04:23 AM

I have only the greatest respect for GTM. Glenn is a very nice guy. His kits are very well done. I do not want to compete with him and my goal is to offer kits that are between BUSA and his. Loony, I may be interested in the drawings. I am currently gathering my resources, documentation ect and hope to have plans drawn for the fist plane in a couple of months. I hope to have spoked wheels available as well if the machine shop doesn't skin me on on the quote for making the rims and hubs. Otherwise we will likely use williams brothers...I don't like them (wheels) much but they can be modified to look pretty good.

Hannover · 13 October 2009, 05:29 AM

My philosophy is that the outline be accurate.
I don't care what the internal structure is. It could be balsa, plywood, foam, whatever is easiest for building. The cockpit area can always be modifed and external details can be added as the builder wishes.

Jim

FOKKERJ · 13 October 2009, 07:32 AM

Hi Fish man,

I think a nice flyer would be the Albatros C.III.

Cheers, FOKKERJ

Fish man · 13 October 2009, 08:17 AM

lots of votes for a Pfalz D III. I have never built one of these but I have built a SSW DIII. It is similar in construction, fully sheeted, round tapered fuse. Is this a model the intermediate modeler could build? I thought the seimens was a challenge to sheet but I managed and I am working on another one now.

ProfLooney · 13 October 2009, 08:58 AM

fish the plane doesnt matter as far as beginner intermediate or expert as it is all on how you design it.

if you want a beginner to be able to build a SSW III or a Pfalz DIII you design it with them in mind. for example you mentioned the sheeting that rounded fuse. then all you do is design it and find a super easy way for them to be able to sheet it. example you could tell them that you found an easy way to do it would be to wet the wood and wrap it around pvc tubing til it dries to preform it and tell them the tubing that would work best.

or with a rounded tapered fuse tell them to goto a floral store and see about getting one of them large foam cones they use for their flower things and to wet it and wrap it around the cone to give it a preformed conical shape.

its all about how you draw the plans up and give them ways to acheive the hard stuff easier. Most beginners will want at least 1 challenge to the build so that they can build their skills for a harder kit. so dont get too worked up on the level of the builder just design the plane with them in mind and they will come to you.

thats my 2 cents

ProfLooney · 13 October 2009, 09:06 AM

here is a tip on something like the Pfalz. I just designed a Pfalz DXII which is about to be started by 2 guys for the UK Dawn Patrol Display Team. Because I wanted it easy to be sheeted and built even though it is a highly detailed build, I designed the fuse to be built in the half shell.

that way it is real easy to sheet right there on the building board and will keep the fuse straight. this will make it easy on the novice or experienced. the reason the Pfalz can be built this way is because the pfalz had a monocoque fuse ( ie wood cloth wood premade in a mold with resin kinda like a fiberglass fuse would be) then after it was nailed onto the formers it was covered with fabric and glassed using varnish.

This means that you can sheet both sides on the board and after you glue the 2 halves together you glass the fuse like you would for a heavy metal plane which will hide the seam.

so certain planes are already designed to be built by a beginner easily with a little patience. whether the DIII had a monocoque fuse i am not sure but would be worth checking into

RobW · 13 October 2009, 09:11 AM

I'd like to add to the Salmson 2A2 vote...

Rob Waring

Jecull · 13 October 2009, 09:35 AM

I'll throw in for a Salmson too. Interesting subject & a great build log of a 1:16th flyer here:
Scratchbuilt 1/16 Salmson 2A2

Fish man · 13 October 2009, 10:34 AM

Thanks for the input. You bring up several good points. I will let my designer worry about it!! score two more for the salmson. We will have an interesting line up. I hope we can get them out in kit form quickly once we are up and running. I hope to get the laser cutter in march or april. prototypes flying by May or June. I hope to meet alot of you guys at some of the dawn patrols and other fly-ins. I will announce when we are ready so save room on you building tables!!

Steve Percifield · 15 October 2009, 08:45 AM

Fishman,

I don't know who you are , but you are in my back yard, (plus I grew up near Flat Rock). The 2010 Hoosier Dawn Patrol is tentatively scheduled for Sept 10,11,12. (not in stone yet), but it would nice to have you there as a vendor and maybe introducing some of your kits at my event.

Have you attended an HDP event?

thanks
steve percifield