When it comes to model airplanes, the perennial question is always: to build one from kit or to buy a ready-to-fly (RTF) model? This should not be a difficult decision, the important consideration is how long are you in this hobby, the amount of money you are willing to spend and whether you are going to take this hobby seriously or just another one of your past-times.
For beginners and people who just want to try out this exciting hobby, flying RTF model would be the most feasible. Many who are new to aeromodelling will find building a model airplane, even from a kit, a daunting task. They want to get down to the field as quickly as possible and let fly their model planes. They cannot imagine spending time indoors sticking parts together to build a model airplane when you can buy one straight off the shelf. Furthermore, all the painstaking hours of work will become even more painful when the plane crashes. For beginners, plane crashes are a given, just as getting scrapped knees when learning to ride a bicycle. Hence, buying RTF planes is more practical and makes more economical sense.
Besides, there is no lack of variety to choose from RTF models. RTF range from conventional model airplanes to helicopters to UFO looking crafts. An added advantage for RTF models is the fact that they are constructed with more "forgiving" features, making them easier to control in the air and can land in a relatively low speed. Such features are very crucial for newbies who are flying model airplanes for the first time.
For most hard-core and experienced aeromodellers, they would prefer to build their model airplanes rather than to be seen flying a pre-assembled model. There is a sense accomplishment when they spend time putting pieces of parts together and finally see their masterpieces soaring in the sky. Most flying clubs are open to hobbyists of all level of skills, but some clubs tend to have more experienced modelers, and it is in such clubs, flying a pre-assembled model would be out of place to show off one's skill, because building a great looking model airplane that can fly beautifully is considered as a skill.
It is not just pride in building model airplanes and wanting to set yourself apart from novices and beginners, there are practical considerations as well. When building a model airplane, especially from scratch, it is easier to tweak the design or the construction to achieve higher speed or maneuverability or to craft the look to resemble as close to the actual full size aircraft. Such advantages are not available to pre-assembled model airplanes.
by Frank Wright
About the Author
Frank Wright is the author/owner of http://www.buildmodelairplane.com Visit this website for tips and shortcuts to flying and building model airplanes.
