Best Plan for $60

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Best Plan for $60

Postby mahai217 » Wed Apr 26, 2017 7:27 pm

Howdy! I've been lurking here for about a year. I am anxious to get started on a build, but don't have a lot of cash at the time. I figured I could get a manual and devour it while I wait to save up a little more to get started.

I've seen good things about some of the plans/manuals and not much about others. Most of the 'pay for' plans are about $60.

If you could only buy one plan/manual which one would it be? And why?

* Kuffel Creek Cubby Plans
* Steve Fredrick's Shop Manual
* Big Woody Plans
* Something else?

Thanks!

John
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Re: Best Plan for $60

Postby JohnnyG » Wed Apr 26, 2017 7:35 pm

I built mine from the Cubby Plans. It worked, but from what I've seen of it I would go with Steve Fred
rick's manual.
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Re: Best Plan for $60

Postby mary and bob » Wed Apr 26, 2017 8:05 pm

We personally know Steve Fredericks, have camped with him, seen his work, and he is a great guy. He's retired now, no longer building teardrops, but have heard good things about his manual. We restored a vintage teardrop, did not build, so do not own his manual.
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Re: Best Plan for $60

Postby Esteban » Wed Apr 26, 2017 10:08 pm

I bought Steve Frederick's cd about ten years ago. It was well worth buying. It's oriented toward building a teardrop that you will skin with fiberglass. There's less information information about skinning with aluminum sheets. His "inside out" building process is very worthwhile to follow.

His manual does not have one particular plan or profile to follow, it actually skips around among several, which is a little confusing at times. My advice is to pick a teardrop design/profile you favor somewhere else like from the Design Resources up above in the TNTTT header. Or get inspiration from one or more Build Journals here in TNTTT.

I don't know if his plans have been updated since I bought my cd ten years ago. If not the ideas/plans about electrical systems, for instance, would be pretty dated. Today teardrop builders often use a Progressive Dynamics 4045 power center and some use solar power too which were not available when Steve Fredericks wrote up his plans.
Steve - SLO, CA
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Re: Best Plan for $60

Postby S. Heisley » Wed Apr 26, 2017 10:28 pm

Don't forget the generic Benroy plans, too. Those are free and contain some good reading information, with pictures. Actually, I read all three: The Cubby Plans, Steve Frederick's Plans, and the Generic Benroy plans plus took some of the information from the Design Library plans; then, I think I combined bits of information from all of them and went on my own way. Here are the two that you didn't mention:

http://www.mikenchell.com/images/GenericBenroyPlans.pdf

http://tnttt.com/Design_Library/Design_Library.html
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Re: Best Plan for $60

Postby mahai217 » Fri Apr 28, 2017 8:56 am

Wow! All I can say is Wow!

I have been a member of many online groups over the years and I don't think I have met a group of such nice, helpful folks!

You guys -- and gals -- tend to lean towards the 'above and beyond the call of duty"

Thank-you!

John
aka: Mahai217 :applause:
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Re: Best Plan for $60

Postby tony.latham » Fri Apr 28, 2017 12:04 pm

I swear by Fredrick's Teardrop Shop Manual. It greatly helped me with all three of my builds.

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Re: Best Plan for $60

Postby mikeschn » Fri Apr 28, 2017 5:22 pm

There's also the generic foamie... viewtopic.php?f=55&t=66065


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and

the super simple foamie viewtopic.php?p=1202326#p1202326

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And myriad build journals and photos in the hall of fame!

Need more? just ask!!!

Mike...
The quality is remembered long after the price is forgotten, so build your teardrop with the best materials...
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Re: Best Plan for $60

Postby mahai217 » Sat Apr 29, 2017 3:46 pm

Thanks again everyone!
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