Hobbyists come in all ages and sizes, and the love of flight is one reason many of them choose to build model planes. Gliders made of balsa wood or Styrofoam are often the start of their aerial adventures, but it does not need to end there. Models of planes come in a variety of sizes, and some are only for display. Working models of planes is another fascinating part of this hobby world, and they are now quite sophisticated.
Simple models are a good place for those new to the hobby to begin, and many of them have no moving parts. They are display models only, but this does not mean they are without merit. Creating a scale model of a working plane takes hours of intense concentration to ensure all the pieces are in the right place, and adding embellishments in the form of decals and paint is part of the process.
The majority of model planes are done to scale, and those that can fly need to be built with precision. Gliders are just the first step in creating a working plane, but they are a way to ease into the hobby. Complex planes include an array of motors and moving parts that will be controlled remotely, and each piece needs to be set perfectly in place for the model to fly on command.
While it can become an expensive hobby, many who build flying model aircraft find a great deal of joy. Some have found it is best to buy used models from those who have moved on, and others create their own models without buying expensive kits. Either way, they must first master the details of building their craft as this will help them when they find out flying them involves crashes and rebuilding. Once they have successfully learned to fly, they can meet with other hobbyists and compete.
