Plans vs. Kit
Date: Tue, April 3, 2007
There are subtle differences between kit and plans builders. This applies to all avenues of making something for yourself -- I see it almost everywhere.
Kit builders tend to assume that there is some sort of magic involved in certain parts; My boss, who has built and flown his own RV-4, asked me where I was going to get a cowl for my Pietenpol, and upon finding out that I was going to make my own (there aren't that many options if you are building a Piet...) was totally surprised. I know that when the time comes, I can make a form out of foam and lay up a cowl out of fiberglass. It won't be perfect, but I have enough of an artistic eye (and know a bit about the engineering involved...) to do a good job. And if that doesn't work, I have other options (sheet metal, and heaven forbid, buying one, or finding an old Cub cowl and modifying it, or...).
Kit builders think I am crazy, but I want to do everything that I possibly can myself, it's supposed to be a learning experience, isn't it?
Kit builders tend to assume that there is some sort of magic involved in certain parts; My boss, who has built and flown his own RV-4, asked me where I was going to get a cowl for my Pietenpol, and upon finding out that I was going to make my own (there aren't that many options if you are building a Piet...) was totally surprised. I know that when the time comes, I can make a form out of foam and lay up a cowl out of fiberglass. It won't be perfect, but I have enough of an artistic eye (and know a bit about the engineering involved...) to do a good job. And if that doesn't work, I have other options (sheet metal, and heaven forbid, buying one, or finding an old Cub cowl and modifying it, or...).
Kit builders think I am crazy, but I want to do everything that I possibly can myself, it's supposed to be a learning experience, isn't it?
Dave: Oh, both are perfectly valid, it's just something I've noticed.
Jim: I don't know if kit builders think there is anything "magical" about parts. But often, it's a question of not wanting to re-invent the wheel. For example, my 20-meter radio was a kit. I could have built it from scratch using a schematic I found online but why? Actually, to do it from scratch would have cost more, been more time consuming and I'd have no tech support if it hadn't worked.
My amplifier, on the other hand, is completely scratch built. I learned some new construction techniques in case I ever want to scratch build anything else.
I think there's plenty of room in this world for both. And either can be a learning experience if you pay attention and let it.
My two cents.