Keil Kraft: assembling an INVADER

Here's my little clip of assembling the beautiful Invader balsa model from Keil Kraft. This video is a step by step animation of pieces coming together...
What I use for the videos:
From the US:
► *Nikon D800 amzn.to/2YysjbB but my next would be the Nikon D810 amzn.to/2LWlaAm
► *Nikon 50mm lens amzn.to/2HqHnlF and the 60mm amzn.to/2JPi926
► *Sony 6300 amzn.to/2HrlkLO for turntable recordings
► *Sony tripod amzn.to/2LPRlRU
► *Book Adobe Creative Cloud amzn.to/2EgWtsc
► *IBM Thinkpad amzn.to/2EhBIMN
► *Stop-Motion-Animation-Kit amzn.to/2Ejr3RO
► *Sony Headphone amzn.to/2LWlIpU
► *LED Light amzn.to/2JPbDZm
► *Great book amzn.to/2JPGKDO
Aus Deutschland:
► *Nikon D800 amzn.to/2IaI98h but my next would be the Nikon D810 amzn.to/2D3NDxl
► *Nikon 50mm lens amzn.to/2uXu5Gx and the 60mm amzn.to/2KIzPib
► *Sony 6300 amzn.to/2UNmh8N for turntable recordings
► *Sony Stativ amzn.to/2VH2hC3
► *Buch Adobe Creative Cloud amzn.to/2Kx7L0U
► *IBM Thinkpad amzn.to/2UZXdv8
► *Stop-Motion-Animation-Kit amzn.to/2UT13GE
► *Sony Kopfhörer amzn.to/2v3imX1
► *LED Lampe amzn.to/2Ufm8Xt
► *Super Buch amzn.to/2VHbs5b
From the UK:
► *Nikon D800 amzn.to/2UbvPGb but my next would be the Nikon D810 amzn.to/2VDhSm3
► *Nikon 50mm lens amzn.to/2D5cS23 and the 60mm amzn.to/2Ie2iKE
► *Sony 6300 amzn.to/2P7Ht3V
► *Sony tripod amzn.to/2UVU27Q
► *Book Adobe Creative Cloud amzn.to/2v4Qcut
► *IBM Thinkpad amzn.to/2X2PGcy
► *Stop-Motion-Animation-Kit amzn.to/2Kv9kMO
► *Sony Headphone amzn.to/2X9nxAp
► *LED Light amzn.to/2KB8YUZ
► *Great book amzn.to/2VIb9XZ
The invader was always a popular model in the Keil Kraft glider range thanks to the distinctive twin fin tail. The Invader is a simple to build towline glider that was originally designed by Albert E. Hatfull, and has since been redesigned in CAD. The polyhedral wing and dihedral tailplane offer superb stability while the sturdy stick built fuselage is extremely robust for those less than perfect landings. The two tow hooks also offer the pilot different launching options depending on the wing speed on the day.
I personally decided to screw the extra needed weight as a shield under the nose of the aircraft. The clip stops with a turntable vision instead of a flyling session just to keep some sort of continuity... In one of my next videos the flight will be shown.
Here you can get the kit online:
www.ripmax.com/...
The links marked with an asterisk (*) are so-called affiliate links. If you click on such an affiliate link and buy through this link, I get from the relevant online store or provider a commission. For you, the price does not change.

[@ianvirco5897]

I have an Invader, built by my father in the 1970's, (with a young me watching his every move ! ) we had many happy times tow line flying it in the field at the back of my Gran's house, It has since been recovered in modern heat shrink plastic film and still fly's beautifully.

[@peterells1720]

I remember making - very badly - very similar Kiel Kraft models as a kid. This was before the time of lasers - the wing sections etc. were just printed on a sheet of balsa, to be cut out. My nosecone would have looked like the half-way finished version of yours. Also I was very bad at doping the tissue. The planes used to last a couple of flights at most before crashing beyond repair. Happy days!

[@tuffa1947]

This was one of the first models that I built in England probably around 1957 when I was ten years old. Sixty years later I am still building rc gliders. What a wonderful animation of the construction

[@TomGrigat]

Thanks for your kind words 😊

[@EnglishTurbines]

Joyful...real model aircraft....and some beautiful, creative video editing.

[@johnb365]

Absolutely brilliant video . Great filming. I used to build tow line gliders. It brought it all back to me man , thanks.This may inspire me to do a kit. Classic modeling .

[@LargeFormaticPanoramic]

Beautiful and mesmerizing video!

[@lancaster5077]

Agreed - masterful work actually - be nice to see it fly.

[@nigmel01]

I built this with my father in the 60's ... oh joy! A wonderful video almost made me cry

[@johnpodraza1372]

Thank-you. It brought back childhood memories of building rubber band powered balsa and tissue built models. Not necessarily as elegant as your build, but, boy, was I proud of the finished product.

[@TomGrigat]

I had nearly the same memories when I built these models recently 😊

[@Joyplanes]

Amazing channel, you have a lot of time to make this incredible animations and airplanes.

[@4THECRAFT]

Hi Tom I would like to use this music in one of my videos. What is the name please? Many thanks.

[@TomGrigat]

Please take a look at the end of the video: name is listed there...

[@4THECRAFT]

@@TomGrigat thanks i didn't notice that. I was looking at your end screens 👍

[@Tomlan2007]

Oh my. oh my.... memories... I built this kit when it was first produced in 1963 (I think) when I was 12 years old. The problem was that we lived in a very small terraced house in Liverpool so a 40" wingspan model was a bit ambitious..... and with no access to a car. towing it aloft, flying was never really an option. Still, I loved building it and it flew a very short distance in the street....looped and nosedived about 10ft from where I threw it. Great memories building it though! Thanks for posting Tom.

[@TomGrigat]

I'm glad you like and thank you for your little story

[@Desertduleler_88]

Neat and concise craftsmanship, a joy to watch.

[@TomGrigat]

I'm glad you like, thanks 😊

[@AlanCulpitt]

I love your work....it puts a smile on my face just to watch it....can you show us how you make the stop motion films, I'm fascinated to know.

[@TomGrigat]

I'm glad you like my videos... But to be honest, the process of assembling and getting the pictures is very boring. It's a matter of moving the parts a little, taking a picture, moving again, taking a picture, and so forth... Nothing different to the beautiful animated "brick-videos" you can see on some youtube channels. It's the same old stop motion techniques every animator of this physical tricks is practicing. I presume very boring videos if I had to show the process...

[@joebravo5459]

Nothing but deliciousness ❤

[@jz7136]

It is a beautiful video dude i have a plane designed by keilkraft and i don't know how to start building it, can you help me, the plane is a CADET by THUNDER Tiger. If you can build it in a video please.

[@mladtheimpaler]

Very nice!

[@scottmichael3745]

Absolute perfection! Subbed immediately! Looking up past videos now...

[@TomGrigat]

I'm happy to hear 😊

[@scottmichael3745]

@@TomGrigat Really was well done. Reminds me of my younger days 40 years ago building kits. And I appreciate the amount of work that went into the stop motion animation. Lots of work goes into that kind of filming. I really enjoyed it! :-)

[@artofnoly9754]

Brilliant. I love animated vids like this. I was a super 8 single frame man from way back. Love it.

[@MrVolvobloke]

I was going to be so busy tonight. I had so much planned, then I discovered Tom Grigats channel.....

[@joebravo5459]

This is one of the best builds I've seen with perfect music while assembly ❤❤❤❤ thank you I can never get tired of seeing this beautifuly done vidio hats off thank you..

[@simonl7784]

How to stretch the pleasure of model building.. make a stop motion video of the build. Goes from a 25 hr project to a 25 days project... You sure like the pain don't you?

[@None-zc5vg]

Assembling the model is enough of a job, but getting the covering right is nerve-wracking when you find it's gone wrong and has to be redone: using model-dope to shrink the paper or silk into place was always a gamble, often leading to warping of the underlying structure. I was caught out by that hazard as far back as the late '50s.

[@StonyRC]

It's like watching a part of my childhood. Eddie Keil and his company inspired my love of aeromodelling - a passion that I still have almost 50 years later!

[@mandolinic]

My uncle built me one of these way back in the 1960s. Sadly, it only managed a couple of flights until a strong gust of wind caught it while being towed and snapped the wings in half.

[@utubeaccess7]

How many children will have the satisfaction of building a balsa kit like this, nowadays? Cutting all of the longerons and fuselage trusses.. I'm thankful that I am one of (the last) of them.

[@m0ther_bra1ned12]

Pretty model. Awesome video as always! I might have to build this glider at some point.

[@TomGrigat]

Thanks - yes it's worth give it a try 😊

[@thomashiggins4923]

Hi Tom. All I can say is that is so beautiful. All your videos are beautiful, including or maybe especially the most recent one about HMS Terror. I have a lot of questions, but won't ask them. I'll just enjoy the videos. Many thanks from another Tom (also a modeller, if more humble). I expect that you have seen the maxfliart videos - by another Tom, a craftsman also. thanks again. Tom

[@TomGrigat]

Thank you very much - yes, I know maxfliart. A fantastic modeller.

[@joeshmoe9978]

Its really cool that you do balsa planes, as well as plastic models. Its fun to watch your kits "build themselves" 😁

[@JoseSantos-lx8cs]

Muito bom. Também sou construtor. Este vídeo é uma grande lição. Mostrando coisas que já sabemos impressiona pela qualidade e clareza da explicação. Parabéns ao autor.

[@debbiramsey4603]

Shockingly. That flew with a lesser span. In those days the thinking was you can't fly like that with so low a span.

[@pirminkogleck4056]

probably the most beutiful build ever ! perfect with the music and everything , nice camera work ! 100 point s !

[@TomGrigat]

I'm pleased to hear 😊

[@colingianella7172]

Thanks to your video, I’m a 14 year old again.

[@MilPlanes1]

You take our great hobbies and make them magical. Even my 8 yo daughter watches over my shoulder commenting ‘how cool’ the videos are. Well done Sir!

[@TomGrigat]

Oh that's very nice and I'm glad my little clips are noticed that way. Thanks for your kind words 😊

[@-vajradatta-8359]

Excellent! Made Mercury Magpie, Gnome and Marauder kits in India. Those were wonderful models to make and fly.

[@TomGrigat]

👍

[@hanger9uk]

Wonder if you could help,struggling with nose pieces "pattern x" it says cut two pieces "x" from postcard or 1/64" balsa to pattern shown, I don't seem to have any flat pieces of balsa in my kit or lazer cut parts. Do you think I'm missing a piece of balsa or did you have to buy a sheet separately? Thanks if you could help.

[@TomGrigat]

I know what you mean. I helped myself by gluing some spare parts together to get the needed piece. Just cut some square parts out of the lasercut surrounded material...

[@hanger9uk]

@@TomGrigat Many thanks for the reply, thought I was missing the point! Don't seem to have the ply brace for wing bands either. Thanks again for your response.

[@neilgillies6943]

Great video work, enjoyable to watch.

[@williamrobinson7435]

I remember this kit well. Lovely film! Thanks for posting. 👍

[@TomGrigat]

Thanks - you're welcome 😊

[@joakimkarlsson9255]

Big thanks for going through the (huge) extra effort to make these movies. and share your builds with the world.

[@TomGrigat]

You're welcome 😊 and I'm glad you like it

[@bencockerill42]

Great build, what do you use to cover the plane with tissue? Dope? PVA?

[@TomGrigat]

Thanks, eze dope

[@hanger9uk]

Thank you for spending the time to make such an excellent video, it has helped me loads.

[@TomGrigat]

I'm pleased to hear

[@JedenSiedemDwa]

Pretty done, but I'm not sure that nose part is "easy to assemble". ;) Anyway, looks great. Nice to see it. Greetings! ;)

[@TomGrigat]

Thanks, but the nose is easier shaped than thought. Just cut it step by step a little and sand it in the correct shape with different grades.

[@JedenSiedemDwa]

Thanks for answer. What kind of wood is it? Balsa?

[@TomGrigat]

Yes, it's balsa. Nice and easy to work with 😊

[@JedenSiedemDwa]

I must do something similar once. Thanks for info! ;)

[@TomGrigat]

You're welcome 😊

[@Zammpie]

Schön beruhigend mit der Musik und es erinnert mich an meine Kindheit. Das könnte ich mir Stundenlang anschauen. So einen Segelflieger wollte ich immer haben, hab ihn aber nie bekommen :-(

[@TomGrigat]

Oh, hab ihn schon einem Freund versprochen - sonst hättest du ihn haben können 😊

[@Zammpie]

Kein Problem. Mein Interesse an Flugzeugen beschränkt sich mittlerweile nur noch auf die, die in den Vitrinen stehen ;-)

[@sergiopiraino4924]

Congrats Tom. Your clip is really beautiful !

[@TomGrigat]

Thanks 😊

[@stormhansen1499]

I had a Keil Kraft Soarer Baby back in the day. Just bought one of these Invaders and will upgrade it with RC equipment and ailerons. And quite possibly build one twice as big later from scratch.

[@sureshprajapati0124]

part map please send

[@charlesbola1971]

I loved your video,i love balsa model planes. Danke.

[@TomGrigat]

Thanks 😊

[@stanhauser]

Awesome video. When I was young I had a few gliders here in Brazil. The local manufacturer instructions state a coat of dope on the plates, some sanding , and another coat before cutting. Then another coat of dope after assembled. The plane would receive paper covering and a final coat of dope would give strength to the entire surface. Does people still use this kind of proceeding? Is it the correct/modern way to protect a balsa wood model from weathering changes?

[@ploppysonofploppy6066]

Educational AND beautiful. Like my old French Teacher.

[@widyasutomo]

Bagus sekali..👍

[@mattluszczak8095]

Did you use ca on the canopy? Appears cloudy ive seen people use pva, seems to not get the canopy cloudy.

[@TomGrigat]

No, I didn't use CA - it just was a different kind of semi transparent film. Unfortunately a very bad decision...

[@arronparry6454]

I had an Invader in my younger years, Invader bit back whilst I was building it, managed to slice my thumb while carving the nose 😬

[@marquitech]

Excelent😀

[@ellis8238]

Looks great as always! Exited for maybe another WW1 aircraft kit ;)

[@TomGrigat]

Thanks - after a little break I'll be doing some old aircrafts again 😊

[@ellis8238]

Tom Grigat great!

[@maverick50616]

Amazing work as always, thanks for sharing.

[@TomGrigat]

I'm glad you like

[@MicroRotors]

Fantastic build, very nice. I'd love to learn how to make videos like you do.

[@punkrockpub]

A beautiful wonderful build!!!!

[@TomGrigat]

Thanks 😊

[@Munenenene]

beautiful...

[@mickthemardy]

Great video Tom.

[@tungnguyenhuy5078]

just wonderfull

[@modelnut]

Very nice build Tom & looks like she will fly nicely too. All the best.

[@TomGrigat]

Thanks, I hope so... I haven't got the suitable weather conditions until now

[@limespy3823]

Beautiful!

[@macrumpton]

Awesome plane and video! I would love to see a making of video of how you animated this!

[@jeffquinn5653]

This was a simple but very neat video. Thanks for sharing.

[@JessHull]

've been trying to find and original old one last time I almost got one on ebay but was out bid at the last second.

[@321bytor]

Keil Kraft! Wonderful!

[@TomGrigat]

Thanks

[@rvieira505]

As someone said, i don't know what's better: the beautiful model or the amazing edition.

[@grahamrdyer6322]

Great video but that must have taking months of filming, nice to see it.

[@raulmalaga1]

bonito e hipnótico como siempre

[@TomGrigat]

Gracias 😊

[@EleanorPeterson]

Wonderful stuff. A bit of a Vision On, Pat Keysell vibe, I thought... I'm sure a lot of aeromodellers watching this will have had a 'traditional' start to the hobby - i.e. RC gear used to cost (and weigh) as much as a family car, so Sundays were a case of lots and lots of free-flight models, towlines and rubber-powered things, chasing and retrieving, and perhaps a few tears when the dethermaliser didn't 'pop' and your pride and joy soared up and away and out of sight on a thermal, never to be seen again. (Sob, sniff...) But things have come full circle. Radio gear is now cheaper than balsa, tissue and dope! It's so small and light that you can build these lovely old designs and fit them with rudder and elevator and never have to worry about chasing and retrieving (or losing a plane in a thermal) ever again. I still love this hobby. The ghastly new drone registration law can be ignored, because free-flight models all weigh well under 250 grammes; you can fly them with impunity. Yay! And now: The Gallery...

[@TomGrigat]

Thanks for your kind words 😊

[@christopping5876]

Beautiful video, made me look for my unmade balsa kits!

[@CliffHarveyRCPlanes]

Just discovered your channel Tom, I look forward to delving deep into all your videos, this video is inspirational, thanks for making it. A definite subscribe I think.

[@TomGrigat]

I'm pleased to hear 😊

[@vitoturi3860]

Your video is amazing!! Congratulations

[@rosicroix777]

VVonderful animation , it must've taken you a good deal longer to both film & build this model @ the same time . As someone vvho only grevv up knovving only plastic models & hearing from my older relatives that airplane models in this form vvere the norm for the 1st half of the 20th century I can novv understand both hovv & vvhy so many young model makers grevv up to build & fly aircraft of their ovvn . IMO this should be taught in schools as an elective so vve might get another generation of great aviation designers,mechanics & pilots as building some models like this vvould be better than just putting kids in front of computers vv/some softvvare . TY for posting a vvonderful video

[@TomGrigat]

Thank you

[@grahamwood9428]

Made one in about 1970, just making another one in 2019. Video really useful as was having a problem with the fuselage. Brilliant.

[@TomGrigat]

Thanks

[@56Seeker]

Lovely

[@stormhansen1499]

Beautifully made - both plane and video! I just bought one of these and plan on converting it to RC - maybe even build one twice as big from scratch. One of my first model aircraft back in the day was a Keil Kraft Soarer Baby :) Again; great video!

[@TomGrigat]

Thanks a lot 😊

[@Inside_Aviation]

Really enjoyed watching that Tom. Very engaging video, perfectly edited and brought back many childhood memories! Thank you!

[@TomGrigat]

I'm pleased to hear - thanks 😊

[@guntherultraboltnovacrunch5248]

Holy crap man. How did you do this?

[@JB-xu1pm]

One of the best model airplane videos. Takes me back to the early 60's seeing tissue paper models. Really enjoyed the video.

[@TomGrigat]

I'm pleased to hear 😊

[@TheJohnRowley]

I thought I might see it fly at the end

[@fransoudt1]

Your video is a work of art 👍

[@TomGrigat]

Thank you very much 😊

[@IanTanLK]

Great video for beginners

[@TomGrigat]

I'm pleased to hear 😊

[@screaminlordbyron7767]

Such a beautiful thing except... rubber bands?... really?!

[@EnglishTurbines]

Yes, really...Its for a very good reason.

[@mikewaller4141]

Nice video and build. Mike

[@miltonball2591]

Absolutely love your work

[@jackdavis3988]

Yet ANOTHER Oscar-worthy presentation! Thank you for posting it!

[@TomGrigat]

Thanks - but too much honor 😊

[@jackdavis3988]

@@TomGrigat It's all MOST well deserved.

[@charlesbovalis6591]

Tom - just watching the video alone has given me tremendous enjoyment - and I plan to purchase that kit as well. Question: Do you have a US distribution center so I can place an order from here in US or can I still place an order from the website you specify above and still be able to deliver in the US ? Let me know when you can - Thank you

[@TomGrigat]

Please refer to the original page - I am not a member nor employee of the company. Just an artist who had fun to animate the aircraft...

[@charlesbovalis6591]

@@TomGrigat - Not sure what you mean by "original page" .. Either way your video presentation was fantastic and truly enjoyable to watch.

[@TomGrigat]

I'm no distributor and cannot tell were you might order a kit like this. Sorry...

[@massmike11]

Did you shrink the covering or is it just loose?

[@TomGrigat]

I covered it with dope. It shrinked through the drying process.

[@ikeimage]

wow, thank you!

[@michaelwhinnery164]

Nicely Done

[@TomGrigat]

Thanks

[@LyroLife]

that is art

[@TomGrigat]

Thanks a lot

[@stormhansen1499]

Great video!!!

[@Colin399]

Great video

[@SammyBFilms]

2 masterpieces in one!!! Wonderful! :-)

[@TomGrigat]

Thanks

[@Acko7753]

@@TomGrigat Hi Tom, I’m 69 now and constructed one of the early invader kits in the sixties when I was a small boy and had great fun flying it in the field at the rear of my house. I’m not well at the moment but I’ve got the inclination to have a try building another one after watching your inspirational video, trouble is, I can’t find a stockist, everywhere’s sold out but I’ve been in touch with a hobby shop to see if they can help me find something similar. All thanks to your elegant video. 😁

[@nicoderfeuerloscher1684]

Can it fly?

[@TomGrigat]

Yes, but I haven't got the chance to film it by now...

[@nicoderfeuerloscher1684]

@@TomGrigat good to know🤗

[@nezarmohammed5520]

رجاء كيف تحسب زاويه مثل هذه اجنحه مع شكر

[@f4udhorn]

Wonderful video and GREAT music. As good as maxfliart and that's saying something!