The hard part about building model airplanes from the ground up, is that when something goes wrong with the radio you end up losing the plane. All the months, even years of work constructing and detailing a nice model gets lost in a moment of a radio glitch.
The difference with model boats, which I also build, is enormous. If a radio browns out, nothing happens to the boat.
This is my Four Star 60. Or what's left of it. I maidened her yesterday. Had two great flights. On the third flight the radio linkup was broken and she nose dived into the ground. I'm really bummed out by that.
I built this plane starting five years ago. Took about a year to build and detail it. Then I hung it from the ceiling in my shop and just enjoyed looking at her for the next four years. But recently I decided I wanted to fly it so got it ready and this is the result.
I still have not determined the cause but most opinions are leaning toward Rx battery problems.
When we build a model from a box of flat wood, we invest ourselves into it. Unlike an ARF or RTF, a model built from a box of flat wood has a bit of our soul in it. So it hurts a great deal more if it gets wrecked.
I know that crashing is just part of the hobby. And I accept that. I have crashed planes before. But that doesn't lessen the grief for a special plane when it gets destroyed.
So, I am venting my sadness here, to help me get over it. And I will....