Laser Kit Cutters Model Gliders Short Kits & Plans

Laser cut kits are our speciality. We offer a range of short kits from various model glider designers throughout the world… Chris Williams, John Watkins, Cliff Charlesworth and Jilles Smits are just a few names you may recognise. We have laser cut sailplanes & rc model gliders short kits & plans for sale.

Lead time (the time between the initiation and completion of production) on all kits is currently 2 weeks. Please note: EU customers will be liable to pay VAT at whatever rate is set in your individual countries.

Food for thought:
Covid and now the recession has affected us all in many ways, a lot of us have been feeling down, depression is rife throughout the world. This hobby is one of the best for beating depression. You have the satisfaction of completing that model followed by taking that model out and flying it. You are out in the open air with like minded people, there is nothing quite like it to build your spirits and confidence.

Beat the depression: enjoy the experience of buying, completing and flying that model.

 

______________________________________________________________________________________

What is a Short Kit?

A short kit is a package typically designed for model airplane enthusiasts who want to build their own remote-controlled aircraft from scratch or a partially assembled kit. It is called a “short kit” because it usually includes essential components, such as plans, laser-cut or pre-cut parts, and sometimes specialty hardware, but it does not include all the components required to complete the model. Builders will need to supply additional items such as the radio system, servos, motor, electronics, covering materials, adhesives, and other finishing touches.

Here’s what you might typically find in an RC short kit:

1. **Plans:** Detailed plans that provide instructions for building the model.

2. **Pre-cut or laser-cut parts:** These are often the wooden components like ribs, formers, fuselage sides, and other structural elements. They are pre-cut or laser-cut for precision and ease of assembly.

By providing the core components and plans, short kits give model aircraft enthusiasts the opportunity to exercise their building skills and creativity while allowing for customization and personalization of the aircraft. Builders can choose their own radio equipment, and finishing touches to create a unique RC model.

Read more about what a short kit is . . .

Note: Only Cliff Charlesworth and Jilles Smits short kits include printed plans. As such, these kits are priced to include the plan free of charge.
Due to copyright restrictions, all other plans are available through Sarik Hobbies

All canopies for kits sold here are supplied separately by Sarik Hobbies. Unless stated otherwise.

Laser Cutting Services

We specialise in custom laser cutting for radio controlled sailplanes. If you have a glider plan you wish to build and want to take out all the tedium of cutting the parts, we can help! Note: parts will only be as accurate as on the plans supplied.

Our laser cutter has a bed size of 1200mm x 900mm. With a 130w laser tube, we can cut most woods with ease up to 12mm thick.

Laser Cut Sailplanes has a minimum order amount of £40.00. However, this will cover quite a lot of cutting (up to 60 minutes) depending on wood..

Here is a rough idea of cost excluding materials. Materials can be supplied and will be done so at cost.

  • £40.00 cuts 2 full sheets 600 x 300 x 3mm poplar ply
  • £40.00 cuts 1.5 sheets of 600 x 300 x 3mm birch laser ply
  • £40.00 cuts 10 sheets of 3mm balsa

Postage and packing is charged at cost and will not be known until order is completed and packed, which is when you will be sent an invoice.

Our Aim

To produce cost effective wood parts for plans that are already available, whilst developing our own plans and helping other like-minded designers with theirs. We can offer a printing service to those of you that have designs of your own. Printing costs will vary but you can usually look at £25 for a two-page plan.

Preferred Files

DWG, DXF, PDF, Ai. Please contact us using the form on our Contact Us page.

Remote Controlled Glider Short Kits & Plans

Plans and short kits for radio-controlled gliders and sailplanes. Designs are available from Cliff Charlesworth, Chris Williams, and Jilles Smits, to name just a few. With increasing interest in aerotowing over the last few years, it is good to see that radio control gliders and sailplanes are playing a bigger part in the hobby than ever before!

glider

Designer Modifications

Please Note: I cannot be held responsible for any modifications made by the designer to any of their plans unless I have been supplied with the update. All parts are cut from original plans unless otherwise stated and can only be as accurate as supplied to me by the designer I cannot be responsible for any inaccuracies of parts supplied to me. Most plans come with one wing drawn! It is expected that the methods used to reverse this plan for building on are known by the builder. However, I can supply an extra sheet printed in reverse for the second wing. This is not free. Please use the contact form to enquire.

Scale Soaring Forum

Why not join the SSUK (Scale Soaring UK) Forum? This is one of the best resources available on the net for this hobby. You don’t have to be in the UK – there are members from all over the world…

If you are interested, please click on the banner. ssuk banner scale soaring uk

Where sailplane plans are supplied by distributors such as Sarik Hobbies, we insist that you purchase the plan from them as it would be unethical of us to supply these directly. Proof of purchase is not necessary.

If you are buying a short kit for any Jilles Smits or Cliff Charlesworth design the plans are included with the kits.