The construction of Airplane Model Kits is very different from most static models. Flying models borrow construction techniques from (usually vintage) full-sized Airplane Model Kits (although models rarely use metal structures.) These might consist of forming the frame of the model using thin strips of light wood such as balsa, then covering it with fabric and subsequently doping the fabric to form a light and sturdy frame which is also airtight. For very light models, thin tissue paper can be substituted for fabric. First it is shrunk by water spraying, allowed to dry, then coated with dope. Heat-curing plastic films ("heat shrink covering", "Solarfilm") or heat-shrinkable synthetic fabrics ("Solartex" or "Coverite") can be ironed on — a hand-held iron causes the film or fabric to shrink and adhere to the frame. A heat gun can also be used.
Airplane Model Kits are flying or non-flying models of existing or imaginary aircraft using a variety of materials including plastic, diecast metal, polystyrene, balsa wood, foam and fibreglass. Flying designs range from simple glider aircraft, to accurate scale models, some of which can be very large; static display models range from tiny metal toys to large, accurate models for display by aircraft manufacturers and travel agencies.
Airplane Model Kits (i.e. those not intended to fly) are scale models built using plastic, wood, metal, or paper. Some static models are scaled for use in wind tunnels, where the data acquired is used to aid the design of full scale aircraft.Models are available that have already been built and painted; models that require construction, painting and gluing; or models that have been painted but need to be snapped together.
Flying models can be built from scratch using published plans, or assembled from kits. Plans are intended for the more experienced modeller, since all parts must be sourced separately. The kit contains most of the raw material for an unassembled plane, a set of assembly instructions, and a few spare parts to allow for builder error. Assembling a model from plans or a kit can be very labour-intensive. In order to complete the construction of a Airplane Model Kits, the builder assembles the frame, covers it, and aligns the control surfaces.To increase the hobby's accessibility to the inexperienced, vendors of model aircraft have introduced Almost Ready to Fly (ARF) designs. Compared to a traditional kit design, an ARF design reduces the amount of time, skill, and tooling required for assembly. The average ARF aircraft can be built with less than 4 hours of labor, versus 10-20+ for a traditional kit aircraft. More recently, Ready To Fly (RTF) radio control aircraft have all but eliminated assembly time (at the expense of the model's configuration options.) Among traditional hobbyist builders, RTF models are a point of controversy, as many consider model assembly as integral to the hobby.
Airplane Model Kits are flying or non-flying models of existing or imaginary aircraft using a variety of materials including plastic, diecast metal, polystyrene, balsa wood, foam and fibreglass. Flying designs range from simple glider aircraft, to accurate scale models, some of which can be very large; static display models range from tiny metal toys to large, accurate models for display by aircraft manufacturers and travel agencies.
Airplane Model Kits (i.e. those not intended to fly) are scale models built using plastic, wood, metal, or paper. Some static models are scaled for use in wind tunnels, where the data acquired is used to aid the design of full scale aircraft.Models are available that have already been built and painted; models that require construction, painting and gluing; or models that have been painted but need to be snapped together.
Flying models can be built from scratch using published plans, or assembled from kits. Plans are intended for the more experienced modeller, since all parts must be sourced separately. The kit contains most of the raw material for an unassembled plane, a set of assembly instructions, and a few spare parts to allow for builder error. Assembling a model from plans or a kit can be very labour-intensive. In order to complete the construction of a Airplane Model Kits, the builder assembles the frame, covers it, and aligns the control surfaces.To increase the hobby's accessibility to the inexperienced, vendors of model aircraft have introduced Almost Ready to Fly (ARF) designs. Compared to a traditional kit design, an ARF design reduces the amount of time, skill, and tooling required for assembly. The average ARF aircraft can be built with less than 4 hours of labor, versus 10-20+ for a traditional kit aircraft. More recently, Ready To Fly (RTF) radio control aircraft have all but eliminated assembly time (at the expense of the model's configuration options.) Among traditional hobbyist builders, RTF models are a point of controversy, as many consider model assembly as integral to the hobby.
