Dumas 17 1/2 Citabria Kit
There were a lot of things to like about this kit:
* the quality of the wood was quite good
* the laser cut pieces were precise in fit
* the plan was clear and laid out with a reasonable amount of space between parts
* instructions were easy to follow
* nice tissue
* nice molded cowl and wheel covers
Being laser cut, this kit went together quite quickly.
I elected to attach the tissue with a glue stick, which worked out very well. I shrank with 50% diluted isopropanol, and sealed with 50% dope. When decorated with the colored tissue and transfers supplied, the result is a pretty model (you will need to supply some red paint to get it looking like the box photo).
Trimming was initially difficult, as I had a warp in the wing. Once I straightened that with a good steaming, trim came good and I got flights of 30 seconds, which I was very happy with.
The model has proven quite robust - in fact that is possibly the only fault, in that weight could be saved by making things a bit less sturdy. On the other hand, for a beginner and someone who is going to fly in less than ideal conditions, it is a plus.
