Aircraft Workshop: Learn to Make Models That Fly

If you're a scratch built model enthusiast this should be on your bookshelf and really could be described as the "bible" of the hobby. Really good RC aircraft books are few and far between. It's a limited market and the rapid advances made in equipment over the last decade drives the hobbyist to the internet and specialist magazines for up to date info. What's left out there in bookstores and hobby shops tends to be out of date and of little use to the RC fan. This book is the exception."Aircraft Workshop" is first and foremost a how-to on building models from scratch and runs the gamut from a little balsa 2 dimensional "chucker" to a 1/5 scale Spitfire about as perfect as one could find. Everyone can build something out of this book and just having it around for reference or construction tips makes the purchase worthwhile. Some dated but still relevant radio advice is included and the book is clearly written to impart knowledge, not sell certain products. Even if your interest in the hobby runs solely to RTF's and PNP's you'll learn more about model aviation than from just about any other static source. I highly recommend it, but would suggest you avail yourself of amazon's marketplace sellers who routinely sell this volume at about 1/2 what amazon does.As a side note, the author, Kelvin Shacklock, is a New Zealander who among his other pursuits, was the stylist for James Bond's Hamilton-Marine jet boat seen in the movie "Thunderball".

So far it's the best book on building model aircrafts for beginners I've seen. Three column layout might be a bit annoying, but still I owe few sleepless nights to this book. The author guides you through building several models which get gradually more complex.

This was hubby's birthday present and he loved it. Said it had lots of good information and is very useful in learning to build his plane.

This is a unique book. The author goes through a number of model designs, from basic considerations, through a complete build, and shows the reader how to make RC planes that fly. It is a good mix of design and building skills.

The book is well written and a great primer on RC flight. I love the tips!! However, the book is dated to the late 90's. Glow/gas engines and old crystal radios are the main discussions. Even that is good information. But you'll have to look elsewhere for modern eflite information. I tried to look up plans, but that company is 10 yrs gone. Overall the book is a keeper.

Takes you from rank beginner to accomplished modeler. Teaches time proven techniques and allows one to bypass the time wasting and cumbersome trial and error method of modeling.

Lots of detail. Good construction information.

Excellent, especially for a beginner like me.

This book is probably the best book on model aircraft construction that I have ever seen. It delivers a progressive series of projects intended to be followed in ascending order of difficulty. The book is intended to develop skills and understanding with a question and answer format. Ergo, if you do not plan to follow through the book sequentially then you will have to search it for the information that you need and bear in mind to check later pages for more in-depth/advanced perspectives. A brilliant piece of work.

I'm a beginner in the world of rc plane modeling.I'm also someone that likes to learn using books or legit information, specially step by step manuals with an explanation to why do we do things a certain way.This book provides very useful tips, tricks, advises.98 % of the aircraft models explained are built in balsa and use combustion engines, but, since I'm a beginner, I'm using electric engines and foam (less investment) but I think I can adapt the models to built them using foam (or depron).So, was this a good investment? For me, yes, for a few reasons:- My future plans (in a few years) is to build balsa planes from WWII and classical models (my favorites)- I like the way the book is organized, the information is very clear and details- Very practical bookI would like to see some useful foam techniques, but since there are none I bought another book for that.Thanks to the author

I already fly rc planes but wanted to learn the basics about building traditional model and all the associated techniques. This book is brilliant, it takes you from a really basic chuck glider and a rubber powered j3 cub, right through to a seafury and mk 14 spitfire, in all there are 8 models to build, getting progressively more complex as they go. It teaches you a lot of handy tips for how to construct and why you actually do it certain ways. Throughout the book he offers different techniques so you can decide for yourself which way you prefer to do it. All of the models are traditional scale built models so if that's what you want to get into its a must.

A really splendid book that takes you through a course of building model aircraft starting with "chuckies" and ending with very exotic scale models, all plans in the book and step through instructions. If you fancy building model aircraft that fly, know nothing about what is involved but want to have a go, then do START HERE !A really fun book.

This is the first RC book i would kindly recommend to newbies and junior modellers.Useful workshop introducing introducing many aspects of the classic and modern model "science". Book goes through theoretical and practical point of model flight without causing stress for newcomers and introduces material, structural solutions through a numerous examples.Starting from the first page solves the problems of flight and gives you a simple, the through page more and more sophisticated tools and flying machines. I am sure this book will be very useful for those no time or opportunity to visit clubs but would like to get acquainted with strong basics of flying aircraft modelism without wasting time and materials.Buy the book, follow the instructions and fly :) Happy landing!