by : Vgevge



If you have attained some expertise in building and flying model airplanes, then you could now start building and flying scale model airplanes. Basically, this means that you construct a miniature airplane by reducing the size using a reduced common ratio for the entire construction. There are some popular scales such as 1:72 or 1:144 or 1:48. Different countries have different scales, which are more popular than others. You will have to decide on the scale first before deciding on which plane you want to construct.

However, designing a scale model is one thing and making it stay in the air is another. You can use any related software to design your model airplane as per the required scale but since the density of the air has remained the same and your model plane has shrunk in size to quite a huge extent, you might have to make some changes in the wingspan or the tail to compensate for the difference in drag or lift changes during flight. This effectively means that you cannot design your plane with a 100% reduction in scale, but you will have to keep your scale accuracy to around 35% of the actual scale of the plane.

The rest of the scale will have to be changed according to the actual aerodynamic properties of your plane. That means that it is the aerodynamic behavior of your plane, which will have to be considered before you can construct a fully flying model plane. Many ARF [almost ready to fly] or RTF [ready to fly kits] thus manufacture kits, which are around 35% as per the original scale and the rest in terms of the wing size or stabilizer size would have been designed after taking its aerodynamic factors into consideration. If you do end up with 100% scale accuracy, then your model plane could be suited more to a showcase than on an actual airfield.

Choose an airplane where the wings are above the fuselage and with tricycle type landing wheels so that there is more stability. A design based on the Cessna 150 or the J3 Piper Cub could be a good start for entering the scale model plane field. Fighter planes require very powerful engines and those should be attempted later since their speed makes them lethal weapons in case you are unable to control them effectively. Once you have gotten used to flying a Cub or a Cessna, you can then progress to a model like the P 51 and eventually to Mustang's, which are fast and difficult to handle. You can also join a model flying club, where you could get an expert to help you out in the design, construction and flying of these model planes.

So, go ahead, upgrade your flying skills by entering into the miniature scale world of model airplanes and watch your dream take to the skies. The plane might be down scaled but your fun will be full sized.