Kit instructions on builder forums and websites
by Stan Alexander
onawing4602@att.net
Having built more than a few kits of both scale and sport models, it is apparent that some kit producers are rooted in the past and consider written instructions adequate. Times have changed!
Having worked with young people for most of my career, it hit me approximately 10 years ago that you can give verbal, written instructions, or examples, but you will only be successful approximately 50% of the time—if that. With younger people, I quickly found out that a photo or short video of whatever I needed done spoke volumes to them. The follow-through wasn’t 100%, but it was much closer. This applies to kit instructions as well.
If you have a kit business and want to prosper in the next five to 10 years, you should consider rewriting or reengineering your instructions for the younger generation. You might be surprised at the results. Using small 1 x 1-inch black and white photos in a manual for a $500 kit is like putting AA batteries in a $2,000 radio system—the results will be limited.
I’ve been on Facebook for approximately a year now and I’m also in several Facebook groups related to modeling. Some of the best stuff I’ve seen is on the National Association of Scale Aeromodelers (NASA) Facebook group page, where Mike Barbee, John Boyko, Greg Hahn, and several others share what they’ve been working on in the shop. Short videos by Mike and photos by the others are extremely helpful for modelers who have never built a scale model. When they see the videos and photos, builders often better understand what’s happening. It’s all visual.
I’ve written about RCScalebuilder.com before and I’ve included some ideas about this useful site. Mike Chilson,
who founded the RCScaleBuilder.com website, takes the concept of including photos and limited instructions in a kit to a higher level. There are hundreds of pages for plan-built models and for different types of kits from many kit manufacturers.
One of the things I enjoy doing on the RCScaleBuilder.com website is looking at other designs and getting ideas for how to accomplish something I’m stuck on at the time. There are many areas and segments to check out. I encourage you to look at and join RCScaleBuilder.com. It’s definitely worth your time away from the shop!
Bruce Ream’s Fokker D.VIII
Bruce Ream’s most recent project is a Balsa USA Fokker D.VIII. After researching several D.VIII color schemes, Bruce came across some photos of a full-scale D.VIII replica that was based on an airplane from Jasta 6.
This is Bruce’s fourth World War I model airplane. His goal is to make each one more accurate and add as many scale details as possible. For his Fokker D.VIII model, Bruce wanted to replicate the rotary engine and detail the cockpit similar to the full-scale aircraft’s cockpit.
One of his friends is a master scale builder and helped him with the rotary engine. After some research, he began detailing the cockpit. He received some parts for the cockpit from Arizona Model Aircrafts and made others from spare parts in his workshop. The engine and machine guns came from Balsa USA kits.
Bruce uses a Saito 180 engine for power on his 18-pound model that is covered with Solartex. To make it more
scalelike, he added a pull-pull system on the elevator and rudder. He originally used a small tail wheel because he flies on paved runways in Colorado, but after realizing that it was not very scalelike, he replaced it with a tail skid.
The main landing gear is 7-inch Proctor Enterprises wheels. The pilot is from Warbird Pilots and has an internal servo that turns its head with the rudder control.
Upcoming Events
The RC Scale Nats will again be held in Muncie, Indiana, from June 23 to 25. Like last year, we will be stationed on the grass runway at Site 4 near the back of the International Aeromodeling Center. Camping is close to the flightline and electrical hookups are available. We all had a great time there last year and ended up staying the entire week.
The Hoosier Dawn Patrol gathering will be held August 17 to 19 at the Wilbur Wright Birthplace & Museum/Henry County Wright Flyers’ field near Hagerstown, Indiana. This event is a fly-in for scale World War I aircraft and classic aircraft from the 1920s and ’30s. Check the event’s Facebook page before you attend!
Fair skies and tailwinds.
SOURCES:
RCScaleBuilder.com
www.rcscalebuilder.com
Balsa USA
(800) 225-7287
www.balsausa.com
Proctor Enterprises
(503) 668-8612
www.proctor-enterprises.com
Arizona Model Aircrafts
(602) 971-5646
www.arizonamodels.com
Wilbur Wright Birthplace & Museum
(765) 332-2495
www.wwbirthplace.com
Hoosier Dawn Patrol Facebook group
www.facebook.com/groups/
126939124006121
AMA Nats
http://nats.modelaircraft.org
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Here are more photos of Bruce Ream’s Fokker D.VIII and from the RCScaleBuilder.com forum
A screenshot from the RCScaleBuilder.com website shows a list of some of the tutorials available to members.
The 3-D Printer Part Repository page is for instrument panels, Hawker Typhoon Compressor inlets, etc.
The forums can answer general questions that you might have about building a scale model or about a particular subject.
Shown is a forum about wing components, ailerons, flaps, slats, etc.
Here is a wing panel being framed up, sanded, and getting ready for the finish.
RCScaleBuilder.com also has pages about 3-D printing items, such as this instrument panel.
