First Balsa Kit

[Capt. Crunch]

Last fall I took a break from foam and tried balsa. Gotta say I really like it. I went with liquid fuel but most of these kits support electric power too.

This is my first balsa kit. The Sig 4 star 40.
There are many like it, but this one is mine;)



Being my first build, it's riddled with mistakes, but somehow it still flies fantastic!
Very fun first build and have been tearing up the skies with it all summer!

Anyone else building balsa kits?...

[benjack71]

Yep. I have not tackled one in a while but that is what I use to build all the time. Currently I have a zig RC 60 size P-47 in the process of being built. I am going to power it with a Saito 1.25 and swing a 4 blade prop,at least thats my theory. It should work because I am doing it now with a SIG Sky Raider same engine. I have on the shelf in the box awaiting builds a hangar 9 corsair 50 size and a hangar 9 p-40 warhawk 50 size. One of them will get a 10cc gas. Not sure about the other..that will be awhile yet though. I own a P-47 Gold Edition ARF Topflite, a Corsair Gold Edition ARF Topflite and a eagle 580 Mat Chapman. Also a 30cc Redwing RC Fusion black and gold 3D plane. Seems like I am missing one somewhere oh well. Enjoy the balsa builds. They are fun and as far as I am concerned give out a bit more satisfaction.

[Capt. Crunch]

I couldn't agree more about the satisfaction. After the build you know the plane intimately and makes the maiden a little more knee knocking!
I just received the SIG hog bibe for this winters build and plan on powering it with an Evo 15cc gas. Next summer hopefully I have time to do a warbird . I've been looking at the Top Flite P51. Eventually, some day, I would like to build a BIG Corsair.

[doctormike]

It's so tempting to build something directly over plans again. I remember the satisfaction of it. I've only put balsa/ply ARFS together for quite a while. I'd love to build a Guillow S.E.5A and electrify it. Doc

[seaviper]

My first plane was a Carl Goldberg Eaglet 50 built over wax paper with epoxy. The good old days...

[doctormike]

My first was a Guillow Scout. Then a Thermic 72 glider. 1960. Ambroid glue. Freeflight was a little scary after all that work!! Doc

[bradl4648]

My first was a balsa USA stick 40+ then a easysport 40 both great planes for sure. I want to get the Tri-pacer from National Balsa its awesome they have it in 1/4 and 55%. I saw the 55 in person and fly it is beautiful for sure?http://www.nationalbalsa.com/SearchR...earch=tripacer
check them out.

[rifleman_btx]

Mine was a Top Flite T34 80" wing. It flew like a dream. Looked? Not so much like a dream lol

[Capt. Crunch]

I bet the T34 looked great in the air! :Cool:

Brad, Thanks for that link. A lot of nice looking kits there. That Tri-pacer WOULD be awesome! But then again so would the Dauntless, the Texan, the Skyraider...:Drooling:

[TOO TALL]

I'm working on my first build now topflite .60 size p47 it's coming along, I've got the upper half of the fuse almost done. Hope to fly it next summer. I'm going to power it with a dle 20cc gas engine it's probably a little over kill for the plane but that what the stick on the left is for.

[Mad Baron]

I have several balsa planes. I find it soothing to take a box of balsa and ply and create a working model from the balsa. I have a Balsa USA Eindecker and a Bristol WW1 birds. I have been tossing the idea of ordering a Balsa USA Fokker VIII for my next build.

[Capt. Crunch]

I'm working on my first build now topflite .60 size p47 it's coming along, I've got the upper half of the fuse almost done. Hope to fly it next summer. I'm going to power it with a dle 20cc gas engine it's probably a little over kill for the plane but that what the stick on the left is for.

Nice!

I went the safe route and went with an easy kit for my first one. Good luck with your build!

Have you checked out the VVRC 20cc? (Valley View Rc) They are somewhat cheaper and have gotten some excellent reviews. I may give them a try when I'm in need for a 20cc

[TOO TALL]

Thanks, I did look at the vvrc 20cc the dle was on sale when I bought it. I do have a vvrc 40cc twin in my 3dhs big foot it runs well but is a pain to get started sometimes.

[wrongroad]

G'day gang,
My first model was a traditional build five foot 'Ugly Stik'. Built over plans and it flew so well that it only needed two clicks of up trim to fly hands off on its maiden flight.
I then built a 72" Spitfire that went on, in the hands of another pilot, to win many trophies.
Now I am looking at starting on the 134" Tony Nijhuis Avro Lancaster. It is designed for electric power but I am going to use glow four stroke 61's. Just for economics. Going glow is cheaper by a long, long way.
I hope to do the first glue joints on Tuesday as I have the day off work and have all day to myself. That is a rare thing in my life right now. That is not a complaint as I enjoy my life right now. I just need it to be an eight day week and each day to have thirty hours in it.
The part kit has been sitting at home for a month and I have only managed to unroll the plans and have two minute look at the tail plane section. This alone is four foot wide!
Oh to be a millionaire and have nothing else to do but build models.
Come on powerball!!!!!!!!!!
Regards and respect
Daryl

[Kloverzero]

My first balsa kit was many , many (did I say many) MANY moons ago, and was the Midwest Sweet Stik. I learned on this plane in the late 70's and early 80"s, and it was repaired and rebuilt quite a few times. Since then, I have built hundreds of balsa kits from Top Flite, Lanier, Great Planes, Sig, Goldberg, (and Guillows, can't forget Guillows!!) and probably a few others I don't even remember. Then, when the electrics started getting to where they actually worked, and foam hit the market, I went that direction. I have built a few balsa models since 2000, but no where near like I used to. The last balsa build was a Red Box Top Flite .60 size Corsair, that is close to being finished. Converted to electric, and I put a Rimfire 1.20 in it (you may say overkill, but I say POWER!!)

[benjack71]

It's so tempting to build something directly over plans again. I remember the satisfaction of it. I've only put balsa/ply ARFS together for quite a while. I'd love to build a Guillow S.E.5A and electrify it. Doc

I can say that I will never build a kit plane. I dont have the time hardly to complete arf builds yet alone kits. Truth is that I know me and me would lose interest and not have the patience for a kit. The other thing is the space it would take up. Therefor the kit would pretty much stop me from a lot of other projects and builds.

[Capt. Crunch]

Kits take a lot of time, but I think that works to my benefit. I love being in my hangar, I love tinkering with airplanes, and I love being around them. When I run out of stuff to tinker with on my favorite 5, the kit fills that void. (Trying to hold myself at a limit of 5 planes) Instead of buying another ARF, I can work on the kit to keep me involved in the hobby without spending more money on another ARF. The excitement of being able to fly the kit when I'm done holds my interest.

The major flaw in this plan is the limit of five planes. Thats very difficult to abide by. The sixth plane usually gets hung in the hanger next to
the previous sixth plane which is hanging to the previous sixth plane, which is hanging next to the one before that, that is supposed to be destined for sale or cannibalism, that never seems to come.

But at least I can say the buying of planes has finally slowed down some:)

[rifleman_btx]

Haha I know what you mean. The limit just turns into a guideline.

[Mad Baron]

Here's a pic of my Balsa USA Fokker Eindecker ready for another sortie

[Capt. Crunch]

Sweet! Thanks for sharing that