222 Fokker E111 17.5 DUMA0222

This is not a beginner or intermediate level model. It it advanced. You will need to understand basic balsa modeling concepts and be ready to improvise when necessary. The quality is awesome! The blueprints exact. The balsa is good +. I have @ 20 hours into the fuselage alone. The landing gear requires soldering (per the instructions) and I think that could be improved. Other than that top notch flying model. But... after all the work, I will be terrified to fly it.

I've been building balsa models for 45 years, but this is my first Dumas kit.Cons: The directions could be better. After installing former #3, it's impossible to insert the finished wing through the fuselage because said former, the instrument panel, blocks the path. I cut off the bottom of the former. The 1/16" stringer construction of the aft half of the fuselage is absurdly fragile. I seriously doubt that it is possible to construct the model without breaking the stringers during the rest of the construction process, let alone being strong enough to withstand the pressure from a wound rubber band. Since I was building it for display, as I suspect most every builder does, I debonded the 1/16" stringers I had inadvertently broken and rebuilt the fuselage with 1/16" X 1/8" stringers. Buy some de-donding agent, you're going to need it.The plans fail to accommodate the scale builder. The horizontal stabilizer is not to scale, only a vague, half outline is provided. Likewise, there is no drawing for a scale prop. The prop provided is hideously toy-like. The builder is left to do their own research.Pros: The finished model looks totally wicked. I even arranged the engine to spin with the prop. The kit is laser cut so the parts actually fit where they're supposed to. The cleverness of the engine, complete with pushrods, is admirable. Dumas provides generous amounts of spare material. There must be twice the stringer material as needed.I'd have to say that the laser cut Guillows kits are easier to build and maybe have a bit more bang for the buck. They have vacuformed cowling, while the EIII cowling is built up from balsa. On the other hand, this kit is more pure modeling which appeals to the experienced builder. Kind of reminds me of the old Comet kits, except for the laser cut parts.Caveat Emptor: In no way can kits of this nature be considered suitable for children or beginners, laser cut parts, or not. There are kits for beginners, but this is certainly not one of them.

really doesn't fit well for this kind of product. I've decided to try building balsa wood airplanes again--and selected this Dumas kit for my initial one to build after a 56-year lapse.Kits such as these--stick-built balsa wood airplane models of a historical aircraft, covered with tissue and having a rubber band motor--are a good introduction to craft skills, and certainly present a good diversion from passive entertainment.For an adolescent / adult interested in this kind of hobby, it's a good kit; Dumas calls it skill level 2. The instructions are impressively complete and the fact that the parts are now precut with lasers removes the tedium and frustration I remember as a child of having to cut parts out.I built this one as a display model and to reacquaint myself with the skills needed for this kind of hobby. It was a successful venture and I have two more current kits to build, plus two older kits to tackle this winter. I've charged headlong into a Dumas 'Ryan M1 Mail' kit for now.Highly recommended, with the caveat that this is not a good "toy" for the 10-or-so-year-old who thinks it would be fun to build a flying model. A kit such as the various White Wings profile kits would allow him to try flying a model airplane without the investment and frustration of crashing his stick-built kit.AMAZON: I suspect there would be more ratings to your various balsa wood kits were you to revise the categories and put this type of kit into a 'arts and craft' or 'hobby kit' category.

Ordered several Dumas Products. This one is my favoriteIt's not as easy as that foam Albaand getting a buzz while building makes it oh so interestingI've managed to pull an old CDP apart and will be using it's motor along with a small solar panel to spin it's prop as the sun goes by

Great model for the price. Good detail for a 1/72 model.

All i can say, my son who does model planes loved it! I got it for his 38th birthday.

Good kit for a rookie adult. I would not recommend it for a child, but then, it isn't a toy.This is the first model I've built in several decades. I finished it within a week. It could have been quicker if I used CA, but I used aliphatic resin glue in case of mistakes.The laser cut parts are fantastic - they practically fall out of the sheets. The wood quality was superior to a Guillow model I'm currently building.

The cables prersented quite a challenge to a 75 year old man with the shakes and ten thumbs......thanks to the wife it rturned out real nice.