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Steps I take...

Discussion in ''Aircraft KITS' you are working on' started by Watt_the?, May 22, 2011.

  1. 7up

    7up Moderator Staff Member

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    Igor, If your build videos are included with you kits, that in itself would be worth more than your asking price to a new foamy kit builder, IMO. They not only teach you to build the kit at hand but they also teach valuable techniques that can be applied to foam scratch building and design in general.

    I have my own methods and techniques that I use while working with FFF, some similar to your own, some unique, but I always enjoy watching other builders do it their way.

    Great stuff! :good:
     
  2. Watt_the?

    Watt_the? Member

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    Thank you for your kind words.
    When you say included video manuals you refer to the videos on my site or actual DVD's included with the kit.

    Take care,
    Igor.
     
  3. 7up

    7up Moderator Staff Member

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    Either, just as long as the builder has access to them.
     
  4. Watt_the?

    Watt_the? Member

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    Got it.

    For now I have all the videos on my site, but from next model will be on DVD's and just the first video of each construction on website. I save on bandwidth and storage space. Right now is not so much but in the future will grow exponential.
    Anyway I see a decline in video viewing since I make the registration mandatory for them. Does not make to much sense, since everything on internet in our days require registration...

    Take care,
    Igor.
     
  5. TigerPilot

    TigerPilot Well-Known Member

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    Watt_the?, I can tell you that I don't register to watch videos, I only register when I'm ready to buy. Make the videos free for all, they are your advertising.
     
  6. Watt_the?

    Watt_the? Member

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    Ok, now they are free :good: Thank you for your opinion.
    Actually I was on the same page and all indicators showed me that free videos is the way to go.

    Take care,
    Igor.
     
  7. Watt_the?

    Watt_the? Member

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    Today I test flight the new Aviatic DI with the new wings...

    Attached files [​IMG]
     
  8. Watt_the?

    Watt_the? Member

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    And the flight...
     
  9. almostthere

    almostthere New Member

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    watt_the did you was there any notable diffance between the 2 wing?
     
  10. Watt_the?

    Watt_the? Member

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    The lift was at least two times greater. This video is not all I did with this plane, and there were some crazy maneuvers.
    Then I had plenty of moments when I just shut down the motor and the plane was just hovering in the wind like a helicopter. It was fun, 10 min of fun on a 3s1p of 1300 mAh with a 10X6 prop and a 750Kv motor.
    This combination of pink foam and FFF is a winner. I'll redo the wings on the Roland to and the next models...
     
  11. dhc8guru

    dhc8guru Member

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    LOL! I see your still fighting the wind... I tried yesterday to do some testing. Takeoff and flying around was fine but landings were a handful.

    I wouldn't sell yourself short on your kit pricing. $50 for a partial ARF seems cheap too me.
    I don't know what the time required for you to cut build and assemble a kit but my guess is your "losing" about $10 a kit. And that loss is in labor. Sorry, but your labor is not Chinese labor rates. I won't even get into how much time and money you have spent developing the kits.
    I would rather buy a full unassembled kit that is made from depron for $50. It may not be the money but I have know too many people who call it quits because it is not worth it.
    I think the market will bare it.... Look at how many people spend $50 on a flat 3D foamy. IMO most of those type kits are a rip off.
     
  12. Watt_the?

    Watt_the? Member

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    Yes, the wind will not die down and I can not wait any longer... so I tuck the chance and it paid of. :D

    You are absolutely right about the price...but the buyer really have to know how to bend depron if not... there are no chances of building a full fuse model kit.
    The market is the one who dictate the price for the models. Depending on the demand the price can go up or down.
    I love what I'm doing and I hope to contribute as much as possible in the RC world. My kits are made for the beginners and intermediate builders but at a fraction of the "normal" cost.
    To many places sell flat 3D foams, and actually people cut and build themselves, so I think my kits are different.

    Thank you for sheering your thoughts about this business with me.
     
  13. dhc8guru

    dhc8guru Member

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    Soooooo many 3D flat planes out there, its become pointless to buy one over the other.
    Your on the right track of offering something that no one else offers.

    People on RC groups wanted tiled pdf's of my skywagon. I explained its not a plane that can be just made from hand cutting from a tiled PDF. Too many machined channels and pockets, etc..
     
  14. Watt_the?

    Watt_the? Member

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    Yes, most of the people selling flat planes are filing up local market needs. Is fine, but up to a point. After that if you don't find a niche in the market you are out of "business".
    Regarding the free plans, in my opinion if you spend more than one day on a plan then it will never be free, people who want free plans never appreciate your effort because they don't know the time, money and effort go into a RC plan.
    But this is just my opinion...
     
  15. dhc8guru

    dhc8guru Member

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    Off the subject... Have you played Rise of Flight? If not, its a WW1 Dogfighter sim. Great graphics and all the cool planes. I'm not a big gamer other than ROF, MS flight sim and Pheonix.
     
  16. Watt_the?

    Watt_the? Member

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    Actually no, I did not had the chance to play any of them. The only one I play with my remote in a G4,5 back in the day. On this subject you got me, I have a lot of catching to do.
     
  17. dhc8guru

    dhc8guru Member

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  18. Watt_the?

    Watt_the? Member

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    It really does.
     
  19. Watt_the?

    Watt_the? Member

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    ...back to kits... This is next step...
    Aviatik kit gets a new dummy engine and a pilot... waiting for the new plastic wheels. The radiator gril is functional to.
    Fokker kit has a new pilot and is waiting for a dummy engine and plastic wheels. Machine guns are coming too... Attached files [​IMG]
     
  20. 7up

    7up Moderator Staff Member

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    Your planes look very, very nice, but they also look pretty fragile. Have you performed any crash testing on your prototypes? Results?
     
  21. Watt_the?

    Watt_the? Member

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    Looks are deceiving in this case. But, no mater what I say many will think that, as the creator of this kits, I can not be objective.
    Well, very soon I will take them to a Flying Club and there I'll have them flown and studied by lots of RC enthusiasts. One important aspect will be when people who already bought the kits will voice their opinions. Attached files [​IMG]
     
  22. dhc8guru

    dhc8guru Member

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    I advise full power dive testing with a full elevator pull out. Any aileron and wing flutter will show up. If something structural is gonna break, thats when it will happen. I take the worse case scenario when testing my planes. Tough landing gear is my focal point. I slam my plane down repeatedly as hard as possible. When I started flying planes, the landing gear was first to break.
    In your video's the plane took some fairly hard hits on landing and it seemed to fair OK.
    One of you planes is going to have to "take one for the team" and get the crap beat out of it.
    Look at Parkzone planes, most are targeted towards the beginner and even those are not indestructable.
    Your planes are looking good.
     
  23. 7up

    7up Moderator Staff Member

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    Lol, I do this too, but it is usually part of my normal flying. :D
     
  24. dhc8guru

    dhc8guru Member

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    I only am able to land nice on the sim. :shock:
    My planes are battle scarred and beaten, just the way I like them.
     
  25. Watt_the?

    Watt_the? Member

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    I had a bit of time and decided to make a painted version of the Aviatik D1. I'm waiting for other materials and I'll make one detailed with pilot guns nose and wheels from plastic. I already made dummy engine and the nose, now is time for the machine gun and wheels.
    So...

    PS.
    The colors will be toned down once I start detailing it... Attached files [​IMG]
     

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