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quick build 601 XL

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pedfly60(at)yahoo.com
Guest

Posted: Sun Jan 01, 2006 8:57 am Post subject: quick build 601 XL



I have read several posts that indicate the building process is much more complicated and time consuming than what is advertised by zenith and this really scares me away from the "kit build process." About the three years ago I purchased the rudder for the 701 and was able to finish it with no major problems in about 25 hours, but since then I have been on a three year deployment with the military.

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webmaster(at)upac.ca
Guest

Posted: Sun Jan 01, 2006 9:44 am Post subject: quick build 601 XL

Mike: complicated? No! More time consuming? Yes When I decided to build my 601HD I was really scared. The only other plane I "built" (more like assembled) was an X-Air. When I spoke to a friend who built an XL and he told me the only thing he ever built before was a bird house. That gave me tons on confidence. My kit was an unfinished plane and still put in a year to finish it. It could have been sooner but I spent a lot of time on the interior, engine and electronics to "get it right" I'd do it again in a second (and some money! The main thing to remember: dedicate the time to do it and stick to it. Most airplane projects don't get finished because people don't make the time and thus lose interest. The quick-build kit won't be any different. Trev Page C-IDUS 601HD R912 On Jan 1, 2006, at 11:57 AM, Michial Pedri wrote: I have read several posts that indicate the building process is much more complicated and time consuming than what is advertised by zenith and this really scares me away from the "kit build process." About the three years ago I purchased the rudder for the 701 and was able to finish it with no major problems in about 25 hours, but since then I have been on a three year deployment with the military. I am curious to know how much of the "new builder mistakes and frustrations" might be aleviated by the quick build 601 xl kit? I am a new and timid builder with little and long ago builder experience. Any advice offered would be greatly appreciated. Thank you, Mike Pedri, US Army

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p.mulwitz(at)worldnet.att
Guest

Posted: Sun Jan 01, 2006 9:55 am Post subject: quick build 601 XL



Hi Mike,

I find it difficult to correctly describe how difficult the kit

building process is, but I will try.

First, I have no experience with quick build kits so I can't say for

sure how much easier they are than regular kits. I suspect the focus

is mostly on making the build process faster rather than easier. I

am sure some of the problems are already solved - particularly those

that get major components to fit together properly. Still, I am sure

there are plenty of challenges left for the builder. If that weren't

true the FAA 51% rule would be violated.

Some people start building an airplane kit with the idea it will be

similar to one of those Revel (TM) plastic plane kits we all built as

kids. This is far from the truth. In the plastic kid's kits all the

parts are formed and made to fit together before the box is

opened. The kid only has to add glue and place the parts where they

fit to complete the basic structure. A little trimming and the model

is ready to paint.

Another view of the notion of a kit applies to kits like the ones

provided by ZAC. In this version of a kit, the kit provider does the

leg work to find the correct materials needed for the finished

plane. They also prepare some of the raw materials to limit the

quantity to that needed for the project rather than the quantity

normally sold by the material manufacturer. For example, aluminum

sheets are commonly sold in 4 by 12 foot sheets. However you might

need a rough cut piece 6 inches by 14 inches for a given airplane

part. ZAC would cut the 6 by 14 piece from a large sheet and label

it before putting it in the kit. The builder still needs to

completely lay out the part, mark and drill whatever holes are

needed, deburr the edges and holes, and figure out how to install the

part where it is needed.

In this kind of kit, the builder is saved the effort of locating

numerous suppliers who have stock of the exact material needed. They

also save the builder from having to buy a standard quantity of the

material when they really need much less.

Another service provided by ZAC is to preform some of the

parts. They decide which parts and which operations on those parts

are too difficult for the builder to perform. The reason might

involve how hard it is to do the operation or how specialized the

equipment needed for the operation might be. That is all part of the

kit design process. So, some of the parts have pilot holes drilled

in them and some don't. Some are pre-bent before going into the kit

and some are not.

ZAC also provides extensive builder support. Some of this is

appropriate for plans builders while other support goes to all

builders. It often involves interpreting the design and sometimes

involves dealing with builder mistakes and how to correct them. All

builders, being human, eventually make some mistakes. It may be

possible to correct them without replacing the parts or it may be

necessary (or desirable) to replace parts. All of that is part of

the building process and part of the factory support game.

Hopefully this has been enough to make the process more

clear. Anyone can eventually build a plane from a Zenith kit. It

may be more important that the person is careful (e.g. measure twice,

cut once) rather than for the builder to have a lot of

experience. There is lots of help available for those operations you

don't really understand.

I think persistence is the most important quality for a successful

builder. The job is big enough that it takes several years to

complete. In that kind of job there are going to be many times when

a builder will ask himself if it is really worth continuing. This is

especially true after he discovers a mistake that requires going back

and either fixing the mistake or replacing materials and doing it

over again. If you have the kind of determination it takes to

complete such a project then I think you should give it a try. If

you are the kind of person who tends to give up on something if it is

difficult or painful then you might be best advised to consider an

easier hobby.

Good luck,

Paul

XL wings

 	  Quote: 	
		  I have read several posts that indicate the building process is much

more complicated and time consuming than what is advertised by

zenith and this really scares me away from the "kit build

process." About the three years ago I purchased the rudder for the

701 and was able to finish it with no major problems in about 25

hours, but since then I have been on a three year deployment with

the military.

I am curious to know how much of the "new builder mistakes and

frustrations" might be aleviated by the quick build 601 xl kit? I

am a new and timid builder with little and long ago builder experience.

Any advice offered would be greatly appreciated. Thank

you, Mike Pedri, US Army

-----

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gboothe(at)calply.com
Guest

Posted: Sun Jan 01, 2006 10:02 am Post subject: quick build 601 XL



Michial,

Thank you for your service to our country!

When these posts started showing up a few days ago I was tempted to respond,

but decided against it as the posters were merely representing their

well-deserved opinions. My concern, though, was that a prospective builder

would be dissuaded by these comments. One poster made it sound as though if

he, an educated and experienced person, made such mistakes, then ALL

builders must be having the same problems.

I am purchasing the various kits as I could not afford the entire kit at

once, and have completed the rudder, horizontal stab, and one wing (almost)

with zero mistakes! That's not to say that today may be the day I skrew up,

big time. Admittedly, I work at a slow pace, reading each process many

times before I start, and I never work with distractions. When my 4 yr old

grandson comes over, I stop. When I read a sentence 3 times and still can't

grasp the picture, I stop.

If building is what will bring you pleasure, then jump in - the water's

fine! I hope that you will have as much pleasure as I! This list is a

fantastic resource where you will always find the help and support you need.

Gary Boothe, Cool, Ca

<gboothe(at)calply.com>

601HDSTD, WW Corvair Conv. - complete

Tail Group - complete. Working on Wings...

 	  Quote: 	
		   I have read several posts that indicate the building process is much more

complicated and time consuming than what is advertised by zenith and this

really scares me away from the "kit build process." About the three years

ago I purchased the rudder for the 701 and was able to finish it with no

major problems in about 25 hours, but since then I have been on a three

year deployment with the military.

I am curious to know how much of the "new builder mistakes and

frustrations" might be aleviated by the quick build 601 xl kit? I am a

new and timid builder with little and long ago builder experience.

Any advice offered would be greatly appreciated. Thank you, Mike Pedri,

US Army

---------------------------------

Ring in the New Year with Photo Calendars. Add photos, events, holidays,

whatever.

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