New to modeling!

I am new to modeling, but once I saw the F1D planes flying on youtube, I flipped.
I've been doing alot of research on how to make these amazing and fragile planes.

Is it best to start with a kit? Can a new-comer like me succeed in making a "flyable" F1D plane from scratch?

Any comments are greatly appreciated.

Hi Dickie B firstly welcome,secondly youve made the right first move,.There are some very knowledgeable guys on here who will soon be here to rescue you and advise you accordingly.
I dont feel I am one of them just an enthusiast who flies his own way doing his own thing but at a club.

welcome to the mad house sir.

Hello Dickie, welcome to the forum

Course you can build it, you can build anything especially with these guys help.
The F1d is beautiful and so delicate, I have been looking at videos of them too recently and have just built a BMFA frog which is very similar looking and if I can do that anyone can lol! Will look forward to seeing you build an F1d

For anyone who doesnt know what one is here is a clip

Welcome from me too Dickie, I'm primarily an r/c modeller so can't offer any advice on those delicate machines, but we do have a few free flight gurus in our ranks who are happy to share their wisdom.

Just remember, there is no such thing as a silly question, this is a friendly place, you won't get shot down for not knowing something.

Sarah's advice is good Dickie, the BMFA Dart and Gyminnie Cricket are great places places to start in Indoor Free Flight.

What part of the country do you hale from - let me know via a PM and I'll try to put you in touch with a local flying event.

In the meantime, I suggest you try to find a copy of Ron Williams book, ( www.indoormodelairplanes.com/, ) and contact a member of the Indoor Free Flight Technical Committee - bmfa.org/TheBMFA/TechnicalCommittees/Ind...bid/199/Default.aspx

If you send me a PM with your request (include your email address), I'll forward it on to Mark Benns who is the current Chairman

Hi Dickie and a warm welcome from me and the rest of the Admin team. You are in good hands with Andy as he is our resident free flight guru, and believe me he knows his stuff.
Pm s are easy to do, and I will be sending one to start you off.

Be great if you could pop a post in the introduce yourself thread, then we would have a better understanding of what you are looking for

Enjoy yourself here, we do

Garry

Thanks Sarah didnt know what class it was appreciated

Cool vid, Sara! thank you. It was just this sort of vid that captured my facination!
All I can think of is how to do this. Wood . . . give me wood!!!!

Have you ever built anything before Dickie? I am a complete novice, but Andy is our expert in anything FF on here and gives some great advice.
My 2 pence worth is have a go at these first, must warn you they are very very addictive lol! I started with the Dart, then built the Cricket and the Frog. Kinda gives you an introduction into following a plan and using balsa. And also pretty cheap

bmfa.org/Info/EducationProgramme/Educati...bid/245/Default.aspx

bmfa.org/Portals/0/Documents/Education/EducationOrderForm.pdf

The kits come with everything you need bar glue, rules, sandpaper and craft knife.

freeflight.org/jlf/beginners_corner/wham...lane/dwp_article.pdf

Struggling to find any kits for sale though

My, that post gladdened my heart Sarah !!!!! Offering advise now ??? Good for you young lady !! You seem to be back with us with a vengeance, please keep it up lass.

Garry

That's excellent advice from Sarah Dickie, you'd do well to follow it.

There are some kits for 'proper' indoor duration models on the market, but not for the true F1D types. In any event, what kits do exist are not competitive. For what's available see SAMS Models in the UK www.samsmodels.com/acatalog/Section_G._Model_Kits.html or Indoor Model Supply in the USA - www.indoormodelsupply.com/

Notwithstanding all of that, as said above:

"In the meantime, I suggest you try to find a copy of Ron Williams book, ( www.indoormodelairplanes.com/, ) and contact a member of the Indoor Free Flight Technical Committee - bmfa.org/TheBMFA/TechnicalCommittees/Ind...bid/199/Default.aspx"

Sarah,
I've built guitars and ukuleles for people and I also build furniture for people too and dabble in some stained glass stuff (kind of a side hobby of mine), and I built some of the balsa wood airplanes as a kid, the kind you wrap with tissue paper, but they never flew or anything; I, just looked at them.

Dickie

oooooooooooooo can you put wings on a guitar? hehe I have 5 guitars, may have to try that

Wow!! I cant see you having much problem building the planes then, although they are a lot smaller hehe. Dickie did you design those as well as build them? Cos they are absolutely beautiful, the craftsmanship is stunning and so good to see "proper" furniture rather than the fall apart mdf stuff of today! Got any more pics of things you have designed/made?

PS- when you put a picture into the "add file" thingie box, click on insert as well and it will put the image onto the page for you Took me ages to get the hang of that haha!