Supplies

[wingnut]

Well I'm getting back into this full swing again (sound familiar?) and I had a couple ponderings.

-While looking for basic supplies(my hometown only hosts one small "chain type" LHS which doesn't stock much of anything freeflight) I've been searching for online venders for the things we all use, i.e. props, thrust buttons, rubber, balsa, dope, etc. I've found quite a few places, although stock always seems to be an issue, as does postage (curse you USPS for inventing flat rate....ok maybe not but it would be nice to not pay 7.50 for shipping on something that could be stuck in an envelope with .75 postage) my current rant is thrust bearings. I'm trying to get a hold of peck thrust bearings, the things seem non-existant. I tried to place an order through the LHS, but he said his distributor "only stocks certain items"(he could get me peck props, but not thrust bearings). I guess my main question is, how do you all normally get your hands on stuff like this?

-Dope. yep, I'm going there. This is the question: my LHS stocks Midwest Aerogloss, I've always used that simply because there is no alternative locally. What are some others using, and what vendors do you use? I know Phugoid uses banana oil on his smaller planes. I've heard Sig and Brodak. I'm considering this based on economy and quality of finish: it's much cheaper to buy a pint or quart of dope, plus I have the option to switch to nitrate, which it seems a lot of guys prefer for "better" finish. I'm curious what Scigs uses particularly, his "plane" tissue finish always looks beautiful(I'm partial to tissue finish rather than paint). I've also heard nitrate is better for attaching tissue with. I use glue stick for most covering, but I'm interested in using dope for "trimming" and adding detail pieces and camouflage patterns, and the midwest aerogloss does not function well in this role(unless I'm doing it wrong).

that's all that is coming to mind presently, I'm sure there will be other musings at a later date. Thank you all for taking the time to educate here on the interwebs, it has been a huge help to me and I've come a long ways from trying to figure stuff out on my own as a kid.

[supercruiser]

Of course I have to mention that Guillow will sell thrust bearings. Since you asked for Peck thrust bearings.
www.shortysbasement.com has Peck bearings in stock. Carole Kane is very good about quick shipping and reasonable prices.

[MakMov]

I get stuff from https://www.a2zcorp.us/store/. Also surprisingly there is a lot found on Ebay, and I just picked up a color assortment of Peck tissue from Omni Models online. The Penny models in PA, Dare Hobbies and Diels for more exotic stuff.

as far as dope, I use Sig Nitrate and don't use colored dope at all. I have playing around with printed tissue otherwise just using colored tissue and cutting out designs.

This was done entirely with tissue.

[rayd]

Wingnut...I chuckled reading your post. I returned to this hobby recently after many decades. On retirement, I bought a Guillows kit on-line, felt comfortable with it, and ironically, it was similar to one I had decades ago! Price was up, but hey, it's 2011. Next, supplies. I was basically restarting..ok, find a hobby shop. Turned out to be a project, and a disappointing one when I located a tiny place. Owner did not have much and did not want to order since he'd have to buy in quantity. I gathered he was going to call it quits due to lack of business. I bought a half ounce tube of Testors' fast dry for about $2.75 which apparently had been opened and was stale. I discovered at home, but wasn't going back.

Found this Guillows site and saw things re Elmers glue, and unfamiliar names. Then heard Elmers new formula not great for modellers, got different names like Titebond. Went to Home Depot, Lowes, Ace, craft stores like Michaels, and others...roaming like a zombie ...not much help around and glues in various locations. Finally located one withTitebond 2 bottles (8 oz size). Well, since that time, I roam such stores for supplies during the day looking for adequate supplies. Think we need a few types on hand for various applications now. On line ordering? Dunno...but watch those S&H costs...they can exceed product cost and USPS may not ship some if considered hazardous substance.

Well Wingnut, we can ponder along together....fortunately, members on this site can offer advice and options. Some guy on Amazon keeps saying this is a lost art, maybe he's right, dunno.... I guess owing to difficulty in getting supplies. Big box stores try, but are not into nitty gritty craftsman stuff from yesteryear. LHS? likely becoming history, no profit, few customers. Are young people interested in this nowadays? So, maybe this is for the more mature crowd, but a time may come when a gadget oriented kid may see a plane fly and say....hey, that's cool. Then, it's up us to encourage and help 'em to keep this hobby alive. We've got the smarts, we'll find ways to get supplies that work. Hang in there.

[Steve Blanchard]

Hey guys. I just want to chime in and let you all know that this is far from a lost art. There are hundreds and possible thousands of like minded individuals who still do this art. The Flying Aces club alone has over 1500 members world wide. There are many great suppliers out there. There are local hobby stores such as Penn Valley Hobby in Pennsylvania that are also online and do great business and supply excellent service. A to Z as MakMov stated, Shorty's Basement, the list goes on. I order all my supplies on line. I just put together a large order to justify the shipping. As far as glues go, I keep hearing people say they can't find certain glues but there several different brands available with pretty close to the same formulas that are totally adequate. Find what you can that works for you. This is NOT a kids game. I have found over the last 10 years of doing this that the average person doing this is either coming back to it after retirement or just discovered it in their 30's. I started when I was 34 and have been very active in it ever since. I have a 15 year old son who was excited when I built my first couple of planes when he was 5 but now calls me a geek. He will be stealing my stuff when he has kids and wants to "see what it's all about".

I'm very confused as to how hard it is for some of you to find supplies. I believe this hobby has found a new growth in the internet and it is probably bigger than it was 30 years ago. There are more opportunities for great finds at a lot craft stores as well. One time I was at one of the large craft giants with my wife and I always peruse the balsa to see if I can get lucky (funny how gettin lucky means something different to me now) and find some quality balsa. I found some of lightest 3/32 sheets I've ever found. I am still convinced that Revell got the batch by mistake but I didn't care. I got a few great sheets and I was very happy that day. So don't be concerned about this stopping any time soon. I see a pretty good future ahead for our hobby. You might find a lot more information and help in building and flying if you venture away from Guillow's and this site to see what other products are available. Take a visit to Small Flying Arts and Hip Pocket Aeronautics. This site really is great and I enjoy jamming together the occasional Guillow's kit so don't forget about this site, but do yourself a favor and look around.

Good luck in your new endeavor.

Steve

[slopemeno]

I build all sorts of R/C gliders as well as free flight, and I live in a town with next to no real hobby shops. If I want a real hobby shop experience, it's 30 miles north across the bridge. So- what to do?

I had to become my own hobby shop. If I buy props, thrust bearings, wheels, covering, I buy plenty. As you noted- shipping becomes a major expense. You can ship two kits for the nearly the cost of one. I've bought from Penn Vally (very happy with them) A2Z, etc.

Locally- I've started finding other things I need in Art stores, Craft stores, and the better-than-average hardware stores. Knowing where to find bamboo skewers, high-density blue foam, Duco, aluminum tubing, etc is handy. I've found some surprisingly good balsa at a certain local art supply place. Maybe we should start a thread: Best ersatz hobby shop in (insert city name here)...?

Let's face it- the era of the 50's, 60's and 70's hobby shop is probably past us now. The internet forum and places like Penn Valley/A2Z have taken their place, for better or worse.

[BillParker]

[url]http://www.a2zcorp.us/store/Category.asp?Cguid={2EBCE684-AE28-4A12-9940-A8683D320910}&Category=ModelSupplies%3AThrust+Bearings[/url]

thrust bearings till you die...