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General control line discussion => Open Forum => Topic started by: Gary Dowler on February 02, 2020, 10:49:45 PM

Title: Learning from mistakes
Post by: Gary Dowler on February 02, 2020, 10:49:45 PM

Interesting thoughts today.
Nearing completion of my PT-26. My first scale project. Started with an old Sterling kit.
Many many hurdles were overcome in this process. The kit was terribly designed in many respects.
All along I was wishing it had been a better engineered kit, but today I understood the value of it as it was.

I learned so much from this build.  some things I recognized were designed badly before touching them.  Reengineer that and go. Some things I realized were badly designed in mid process. Some of these I could remove, redesign and go on, others I couldn't and did what I could to improve what was there. Some things I didn't catch until it was too late to really do anything about it.

Through it all, each one of these things taught me something. The entire build was a learning experience that taught me much more than I would have learned had it been a better engineered design to begin with.

As far and the end result goes,  yes, I wish I'd started with a better kit. I'd have a better looking and possibly better flying airplane come the regionals in May.

But as far as a process to learn from, I'm better sacrificing a little appearance on my first project , and taking that knowledge forward on the builds that follow.

Never underestimate what you can learn from overcoming problems.

Title: Re: Learning from mistakes
Post by: Howard Rush on February 03, 2020, 02:08:19 AM

That's why modelers, like other craftsmen, are interesting to talk to. 

Title: Re: Learning from mistakes
Post by: David Hoover on February 04, 2020, 07:48:02 PM

Gary, do we get any pics of the finished project?

Title: Re: Learning from mistakes
Post by: Gary Dowler on February 04, 2020, 09:58:35 PM

Just got the canopy (THANK YOU to Kieth at Park Flyer plastics!!!) and waiting on my graphics. After that it's just a top coat of clear and done.  Yes, I'll certainly try to post pics.  What host site is everyone using now that Tinypic is gone?

Gary

Title: Re: Learning from mistakes
Post by: Ken Culbertson on February 04, 2020, 10:24:19 PM

This is how designs evolve and become great.  The skill to learn early is how to make the "rebuild" not show.  I don't think I have ever built a new design, and I have designed all of my PA planes since I was 16, that I didn't rip something out and do it over.  Every time you do it wrong makes the next one build quicker y1

Ken