What’s Included in a Mini-Max Kit?
What’s Included in a Mini-Max Kit?
Mini-Max full aircraft kits give you the major materials needed to build your aircraft, and every kit level includes a covering kit, a ½-gallon T-88 epoxy kit, the Metal & Hardware Kit, and the aircraft plans (the assembly manual for the 1950S AeroMax). Personal choices like engine, propeller, paint, and instruments are left to you.
What a full kit gives you.
Mini-Max full aircraft kits are built around a simple promise: provide the major materials needed to build your aircraft, with a covering kit, a ½-gallon T-88 epoxy kit, the Metal & Hardware Kit, the plans, one fuel tank and a windshield included at every kit level, without forcing you to buy the engine, prop, paint, or instruments before you are ready.
A complete kit means you are not starting from a blank shopping list.
A Mini-Max kit is designed to save you from chasing material lists, guessing at hardware, buying more stock than you need, or losing momentum before the project even starts.
We gather the major raw materials, the Metal & Hardware Kit, the covering kit, the T-88 epoxy kit, and aircraft-specific parts so you can focus on building. You still get the hands-on satisfaction of creating your aircraft, but with a better starting point.
For most Mini-MAX and Hi-MAX models, the full kit includes the materials and components needed to build the aircraft structure, minus engine, prop, instruments, and paint.
Why we do not include everything.
Engine, propeller, instruments, and paint are personal choices. Builders often have different flying goals, airport conditions, budgets, panel preferences, and finishing plans.
Keeping those items separate gives you flexibility and helps keep the aircraft kit focused on the airframe and core build materials.
Mini-MAX 1030 through 1700 models
What is included in most Mini-MAX full aircraft kits.
This list applies to the standard Mini-MAX, Hi-MAX, V-MAX, and EROS-style full aircraft kits unless a specific product page states otherwise. Every full aircraft kit, at every kit level and including the SuperMax and AeroMax, includes a covering kit, a ½-gallon T-88 epoxy kit, the Metal & Hardware Kit, one fuel tank, a windshield, and the plans (the assembly manual for the AeroMax).
Airframe materials
- Plywood required for the aircraft structure
- Wood timber and structural wood stock
- Metal raw stock for aircraft components
- Molded plastic and fiberglass parts
- One fuel tank and its accessories (additional tanks are optional extras)
- Windshield
Hardware and systems
- Metal & Hardware Kit
- Hinges, cables, turnbuckles, and fittings
- Bolts, nuts, washers, and other hardware
- Landing gear components
- Wheels, tires, bearings, and springs
- Shoulder harness and seat belt
Covering, epoxy, and plans
- Covering kit
- ½-gallon T-88 epoxy kit (a separate item, not part of the covering kit)
- Aircraft plans
- Builder support from Mini-Max USA
Not included
Items most builders choose separately.
These items are normally not included in the full aircraft kit because builders often choose them based on mission, budget, regulations, performance goals, and personal preference.
Powerplant
- Engine
- Propeller
- Some firewall-forward accessories depending on engine choice
Panel and finish
- Flight instruments
- Avionics
- Paint and finish coatings
Builder-specific items
- Tools and shop supplies
- Registration, inspection, and documentation fees
- Transportation, crating, or delivery unless stated separately
AeroMax note
The AeroMax kit is a little different.
The AeroMax is designed with more prefabrication in the kit package. Its standard kit contents may include items that are optional on some other Mini-MAX models.
AeroMax includes
- Plywood, wood timber, and metal raw stock
- Prefabricated metal components
- CNC laser-cut and marked plywood components
- Molded plastic and fiberglass parts
- Hinges, cables, turnbuckles, fittings, and hardware
Also included
- Metal & Hardware Kit
- One fuel tank and accessories (additional tanks are optional extras)
- Windshield
- Landing gear, wheels, tires, bearings, and springs
- Shoulder harness and seat belt
- Covering kit
- ½-gallon T-88 epoxy kit (separate from the covering kit)
- Assembly manual
AeroMax not included
- Engine
- Propeller
- Instruments and avionics
- Paint and finish coatings
- Other optional accessories unless selected separately
How Mini-Max USA kit pricing works.
Each full aircraft kit page shows a compare-at retail value beside the current price; today's savings run 12% to 19% depending on the model and kit level, and every kit level includes the covering kit, the ½-gallon T-88 epoxy kit, the Metal & Hardware Kit, the plans, one fuel tank and a windshield. Mini-Kits are priced per section, with the plans, covering kit and epoxy kit bought separately.
Mini-Max USA's own estimate is that a full aircraft kit costs roughly 20% less than buying the same airframe as separately purchased Mini-Kits. That figure was calculated by the owner, is approximate and is not a price guarantee; it is a different comparison from the compare-at savings on each kit page, which are calculated from today's store prices.
Kit levels
Choose the build path that fits your time, budget, and confidence.
You can start with plans, buy Mini-Kits in stages, or purchase a full aircraft kit up front. Some models also offer prefabricated parts or quick-build options to save time.
Plans
Best for builders who want to study the aircraft, plan their shop, and understand the project before buying materials.
- Printed plans or documentation
- Good first step before buying kits
- Helps you understand the build sequence
Mini-Kits
Best for builders who want to spread out cost and build one major section at a time.
- Sub-kit approach
- Priced per section; plans, covering kit and epoxy kit bought separately
- Less waste than sourcing everything yourself
Full Aircraft Kit
Best for builders who want the full package up front and the strongest overall kit savings.
- Complete airframe material package
- Priced below the compare-at retail value shown on each kit page
- Best path for steady build progress
Kit levels
Base vs. prefab wing ribs vs. prefab ribs and metal parts
Every Mini-Max full aircraft kit is sold at three kit levels. The airplane, the plans and what the kit includes do not change between levels. What changes is how much of the wing-rib building and metal-part fabrication is finished before the kit ships.
| What changes | Base KitSKU <model> | Kit with Prefabbed Wing RibsSKU <model>-PF | Kit with Prefab Wing Ribs and Prefab Metal PartsSKU <model>-QB |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $10,899.99 to $17,999.99across current models | $11,399.99 to $18,699.99across current models | $11,899.99 to $19,699.99across current models |
| Wing ribs | You build every wing rib yourself from the rib materials in the kit. | Wing ribs arrive prebuilt. Rib building is the most repetitive, detail-sensitive part of the wing, so this is the time saver most builders ask for first. | Wing ribs arrive prebuilt, as in the prefabbed-ribs level. |
| Metal parts | You lay out, cut and fabricate the metal fittings from the metal stock supplied with the kit. | Same as Base: you fabricate the metal fittings. | Selected metal components arrive prefabricated, saving layout, cutting and fabrication time. This is the most complete kit level. |
| Everything else | Identical at all three levels: the airframe materials, the covering kit, the separate ½-gallon T-88 epoxy kit, the Metal & Hardware Kit, one fuel tank, a windshield and the aircraft plans. Additional fuel tanks are optional extras. | ||
| Mini-Kit equivalent | Wing Rib Kit (Raw Materials) and Metal & Hardware Kit (Standard) | Wing Rib Kit (Prebuilt Wing Ribs) | Wing Rib Kit (Prebuilt Wing Ribs) and Metal & Hardware Kit (Prebuilt Metal Parts) |
| Build time | The longest of the three. Each model's base-kit estimate is on its product page under Build Time & Skill Level. | Shorter than Base. The published prefab estimate assumes both prebuilt ribs and prefab metal parts, so expect this level to land between the two figures. | The shortest of the three. Each model's prefab estimate is on its product page under Build Time & Skill Level. |
| Best for | The lowest price, and builders who want to make every part themselves and have the shop time to do it. | Builders who want to skip rib building but are comfortable making metal fittings. | Builders who want the shortest path to assembly, or the least shop equipment for metal work. |
Included at every kit level
- Covering kit
- ½-gallon T-88 epoxy kit (a separate item, not part of the covering kit)
- Metal & Hardware Kit
- The aircraft plans
- The airframe sections used in the staged-layaway schedule: empennage, wing rib, wing assembly, fuselage, Metal & Hardware, landing gear and fabric kits
Not included at any kit level
- Engine and propeller
- Instruments and avionics
- Battery, wiring and electronics
- Paint and upholstery
- Registration, certification, inspection services and training
- Shipping and assembly labor
Usually bought separately
- Engine, propeller and any firewall-forward accessories your engine needs
- Flight instruments and avionics
- Paint and finish coatings
- Tools and shop supplies
- Registration, inspection and documentation fees
- Transportation, crating or delivery unless stated separately
The set of prefabricated metal components varies by model. Ask Mini-Max USA for the current list for your aircraft before you order. See What's Included in a Full Kit for the complete list and exclusions.Buying guides: What does it cost to finish a Mini-Max? · Base vs. Prefab vs. QuickBuild: what changes? · Building a Mini-Max in a garage: space, tools and experience
Optional add-ons
Save time or customize the aircraft with optional upgrades.
Optional add-ons vary by model, but these are common examples builders may consider.
Save layout, cutting, and fabrication time on selected metal components.
Speed up one of the most repetitive parts of the aircraft build.
One fuel tank is included with every full kit. Add capacity where compatible with your model and mission.
A molded accessory option for easier cockpit entry on select models.
A cleaner finished look around the propeller hub, where compatible.
Add trim control capability on models where this option is available.
Reduce build time by starting with more factory-prepared metal components.
Bring your project to Niles, Michigan and work alongside factory-trained builders.
Start building with confidence.
A Mini-Max full kit gives you the foundation: airframe materials, the Metal & Hardware Kit, the covering kit, the T-88 epoxy kit, plans, and support. You bring the time, care, and pride that turn those parts into an aircraft.