They said it wasn't possible...

MakMov · Post by **MakMov** » Sun Sep 25, 2011 8:26 pm

Looking at the disater in the box I had my doubts that it could be built. This was my worst looking Gulliows kit in my collection, horribly diecrushed, way off register in some places, many filler sticks need, but here it is. I just picked up another one and it does look much better, and it give hope to all the kits I was getting ready to take the plans and can the rest.

MakMov · Post by **MakMov** » Sun Sep 25, 2011 8:32 pm

It is even pretty square

MakMov · Post by **MakMov** » Sun Sep 25, 2011 8:34 pm

I was this far into it and it came pretty close to the crusher.

ADW 123 · Post by **ADW 123** » Sun Sep 25, 2011 8:57 pm

i would have sent guillows an email with a piece of my mind...

i really dont like to replace parts from kits. i dont want to pay for things twice. i think that there is such good technology these days that making the parts accurate is a no brainer. but... guillows has proven otherwise.

ive noticed that every other non guillows kit i have built, the wood is perfect, accurate... heck! the rubber is even FAI and usefull. what would it cost guillows to put useful rubber in the kits?

anyways... is your workbench stainless steel topped? geneus. perfect for magnets.

MakMov · Post by **MakMov** » Sun Sep 25, 2011 9:09 pm

Trust me it crossed my mind. I just figured it wasn't worth wasting my time on a $13 kit. Plus it was my challenge, and I have a bunch of kits I figured if I could build this one then there was hope for the others, which look in much better condition than this was in. In all fairness the recent kits, even the diecut ones look pretty good. I am sure they have replaced or sharpened the tools since I got this Hellcat.

In any event, it probably isn't going to be a flyer, it's 19.5g as it is, but it was a good learning experience. I am tackeling a scratch built Mig-3 now.

Magnets are the only way to build IMHO.

The bench top is galvinzed steel, and it's been great, along with a fuselage jig.

ADW 123 · Post by **ADW 123** » Sun Sep 25, 2011 9:12 pm

that steel sheet and magnets are on my list!!!

how much did that set up cost you?

i know i can get a steel sheet like that at home depot (hardware store) but not sure what id end up paying for it.

man i gotta get me one of those.

SteveM · Post by **SteveM** » Sun Sep 25, 2011 9:18 pm

ADW 123 wrote:is your workbench stainless steel topped? geneus. perfect for magnets.

Stainless steel is not ferrous so it wouldn't hold a magnet.

ADW 123 · Post by **ADW 123** » Sun Sep 25, 2011 9:19 pm

ill bring in a magnet to the store to test it out.

MakMov · Post by **MakMov** » Sun Sep 25, 2011 9:22 pm

The magnets start getting pricey to get a good collection of different ones but it is all worth it in the end. I probably got a couple hundred dollars into it, that is including what it cost to build the bench as well, which is 3X6 just the right size for a Ziroli giant sale!

I couldn't find sheets of steel big enough at Lowes or Home Depot so I had a sheetmetal fabricator, who did custom stuff for HAVAC. I think it was about $50 or so, maybe it was like $36, is sticking out in my mind. That was a few years ago now.

It was all worth it. You can build nearly the whole thing without gluing anything thing together. Moreover, your plans are in perfect condition when you are done, not full of all kinds of bullet holes.

Do it, you wont regret it, and you will never go back to any other way of building ever again.

Xanadu · Post by **Xanadu** » Sun Sep 25, 2011 9:22 pm

His bench top is steel and is zinc coated or a mild galvanized.....not stainless steel.
Most likely zinc coated, consumer grade popular.

Xanadu · Post by **Xanadu** » Sun Sep 25, 2011 9:22 pm

His bench top is steel and is zinc coated or a mild galvanized.....not stainless steel.
Most likely zinc coated, consumer grade popular.

MakMov · Post by **MakMov** » Sun Sep 25, 2011 9:24 pm

Galvinzed from a HAVAC fab shop.

MakMov · Post by **MakMov** » Sun Sep 25, 2011 9:27 pm

ADW 123 wrote:ill bring in a magnet to the store to test it out.

Yes, high quality stainless will not accept magnets. There are some cheap chinese stainless with high iron content that will accept magnets okay.

You want steel with some kind of coating, zinc or galvinized so it doesn't rust.

Phugoid · Post by **Phugoid** » Mon Sep 26, 2011 10:50 am

Nice job, "flier" or "admirer" (is it to fly or for static display)

Andrew

MakMov · Post by **MakMov** » Mon Sep 26, 2011 10:55 am

Phugoid wrote:Nice job, "flier" or "admirer" (is it to fly or for static display)

Andrew

I think it's too small for RC equiptment

I might try to fly it but it's a little on the heavy side.