Basic ARTF-ery
(A guide to building your first ARTF Trainer)
I guess you could broadly divide our hobby into two types of enthusiast:
- Modellers, who want to fly their creations, and
- Fliers, who just want to enjoy the satisfaction of controlling the aircraft.
The first category should have no problem building an ARTF, the second however may open the box on their first model and panic (especially if they try to read the instructions). Hopefully this walk through will help with the initial panic - If you've ever built an airfix kit as a boy (do you still get airfix kits?) then an ARTF trainer should be no problem.
When selecting your first Trainer it is always best to ask advice at your local club or hobby shop before buying anything. As well as the kit, which will normally contain just the airframe, you will need Radio equipment and an engine as well as a few basic accessories. So we'll start with a shopping list:
- An ARTF Trainer type aircraft
- A suitable size Engine and glow plug or Electric Motor
- A Radio Control System suitable for aircraft (including, transmitter, 4 servo motors, receiver, battery, isolating switch and charger)
- A Propeller to suit the engine
- Epoxy Adhesive, Cyano Adhesive, Threadlock compound, Fuel Tubing
- Fuel, Glow Clip and starting equipment (electric starter, finger guard or starting stick)
Buying all this equipment can cost around £300 - £400 new. If you join a club there will, no doubt be members who can help you out with good second hand equipment.
Hopefully by the time you are ready for this guide you have already considered the above and just want a few tips on putting your pride and joy together.
The model I have selected is a Boomerang made by Seagull Models, I would highly recommend either this model or it's stablemate, the Arising Star, as a first trainer.
I have chosen to divide the guide into a few logical stages, just to make it a little easier to digest. It is actually harder to write the process than actually assemble the model. I would suggest that a weekend, or a few evenings, would be enough time to properly put together your kit. However, I strongly suggest that you don't set yourself targets for completion, just take as long as you need to get it done right. An extra day won't matter - a mistake will.