I am building a Gillow's 180 Cessna. My first kit build in a while and I noticed the notches on the die cut parts are pretty much oversize. I am used to cutting my parts from my plan tracings and my notches are much tighter. The strip wood varies from usable to not usable. This model was a build by number and I could see where it would give a young kid a lot of difficulty. I had very little success with these kits when I was younger (translation = impatient). I think the Lancer was the only one I got to fly okay.
At the very least - these formers would be good templates for lighter replacements. It would be interesting to know what percentage of these kits were finished to a flyable stage by young modellers. :)
Happy building.
John
Lately Guillows is going to laser cut part sheets, but the cost is for people with good jobs. I bought the Arrow recently and the wood is great, and the parts practically fall out of the sheets. I paid the money because the Arrow has a high return to investment ratio. I haven't got time for the pain!
I bought plans for the Arrow cost $20 with shipping. Traced all the parts in Inkscape so I could cut them. I plan on building 2 more one for rubber power with rudder control and one all electric for a 3 channel. The first one I built flies great.
Did you get them to climb OK?
This was with 350 winds. Didn't want to over fly the field, that's why I want to do one with rudder control/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLIX0xwZx3o
Wow that sure answers my question. Can you tell me a bit about your propulsion combination? I am so hit and miss with that!
It's a homemade prop. I printed a freewheel hub and used cottage cheese cup for the blades. I think it is about 9.5 diameter. I used 2 loops of 3/16" rubber. Not sure the length but it stuck out about 6" from the end.
Did you fit up a spinner? Sorry Mr appetite is building for this plane.
I printed a spinner. Nice thing about the prop design is that it is easy to center the spinner. I "borrowed" the prop design and modified it by using the printed freewheel hub. Also with the printed hub my printer gives me the weight of the spinner so I can adjust the thickness to add weight to the nose if needed.
The spinner really sets it of - together with those wheels!
John