Non-kit rules

[BalsaFerret]

Our state this year (or any year apparently) doesn't allow the use kits for competition. I'm wondering to what dictates as a true kit, if I can use the majority of the ffm kit and use homemade parts for the build?

[CrayolaCrayon]

What state are you in? I thought all the rules were the same.

[Rossyspsce]

Our state this year (or any year apparently) doesn't allow the use kits for competition. I'm wondering to what dictates as a true kit, if I can use the majority of the ffm kit and use homemade parts for the build?

What is the actual wording of the rule set?

[jander14indoor]

Even when specifically allowed by the national rule?
Para 3.a "Airplanes may be constructed from published plans, commercial kits, and/or a student’s design. Kits must not contain any pre-glued joints or pre-covered surfaces."
Your confusion in what constitutes a kit is why its written that way.
You'll need a ruling from your state on what constitutes a kit. Nothing we say here will be binding. Then be conservative on complying.
I'll note, unless they disallow published plans, how do they determine it isn't a kit? I mean, I'm sure I could build something from any given plan completely from scratch that would be indistinguishable from a kit built plane.

Jeff Anderson
Livonia, MI

[bernard]

The poster is from Massachusetts, where they have revised national rules and renamed the event to "Wrong Stuff." Their new rule 3.a. reads: "Kits are not allowed, but the use of rubber bands, rubber motors, and propeller assembly components (consistent with rule 3e) sourced from kits are allowed."

[coachchuckaahs]

It would appear that the "construction log" would be intended to verify that no kit was utilized. As others have noted, it would be hard to distinguish a plan-built and a kit-built plane. I guess take plenty of photos showing the scratch-building process! Is the burden of proof on the ES or on the student?

Coach Chuck

[CookiePie1]

The poster is from Massachusetts, where they have revised national rules and renamed the event to "Wrong Stuff." Their new rule 3.a. reads: "Kits are not allowed, but the use of rubber bands, rubber motors, and propeller assembly components (consistent with rule 3e) sourced from kits are allowed."

Is that real? It almost seems like a joke

[BalsaFerret]

The poster is from Massachusetts, where they have revised national rules and renamed the event to "Wrong Stuff." Their new rule 3.a. reads: "Kits are not allowed, but the use of rubber bands, rubber motors, and propeller assembly components (consistent with rule 3e) sourced from kits are allowed."

Is that real? It almost seems like a joke

It technically is a joke, but then again it's Massachusetts...

[BalsaFerret]

It would appear that the "construction log" would be intended to verify that no kit was utilized. As others have noted, it would be hard to distinguish a plan-built and a kit-built plane. I guess take plenty of photos showing the scratch-building process! Is the burden of proof on the ES or on the student?

Coach Chuck

So theoretically the ffm plan can be used, but things that come along in the kit can't? Does that mean I can just laser cut the ribs and get other parts separate from the kit (cf rods, etc), and call it a plan built plane rather than a kit built plane? Also how would a construction log look like so that it would be legit?

[bernard]

It would appear that the "construction log" would be intended to verify that no kit was utilized. As others have noted, it would be hard to distinguish a plan-built and a kit-built plane. I guess take plenty of photos showing the scratch-building process! Is the burden of proof on the ES or on the student?

Coach Chuck

So theoretically the ffm plan can be used, but things that come along in the kit can't? Does that mean I can just laser cut the ribs and get other parts separate from the kit (cf rods, etc), and call it a plan built plane rather than a kit built plane? Also how would a construction log look like so that it would be legit?

When expectations are vague, I would hope supervisors are lenient.