by : Vgevge



Building a model plane does not require you to possess an engineering degree, but the plane itself should have some engineering qualities in it at the time of the build. This will ensure that it holds together while in flight and also withstands crashes without falling apart.

Most do-it-yourself hobbyists would be making a wooden plane, since a plastic or fiber plane requires various moulds in which the fibers and glue is poured into and formed. In the case of wood, all you need are proper cutting and finishing tools. Contest Balsa is still the preferred wood because it is lightweight. Plywood is quite heavy and heavy planes can have a very sluggish response time, even if you do manage to get it up in the air. The power to weight ratio and the weight to strength ratio have to be properly balanced in order to create a lightweight plane that flies well and responds to your commands immediately. Even if you are using a thin section of wood, at least provide sufficient ribs inside so that the skeleton of your plane is strong enough to withstand hard knocks.

Your plane's engine capacity will also determine as to how your plane will behave in the air. You will first have to decide on going 'electric' or 'gasoline', since electric motors will need batteries to be slotted in and a gasoline engine will require storage tanks for the fuel. Gasoline engines are normally more powerful as compared to similar electric motors and wooden frames can easily accommodate a gasoline engine. Your design thus, will require your plane structure to be based around your engine choice. You could also try out single glues instead of epoxy glues in which two glues have to be mixed together to turn it into a single hard glue. Epoxy is costly and requires more energy to sand it once it has dried off. Apply weights on the parts, which have to be stuck after gluing them. This will result in a better bond.

In addition to the structural strength and the matching choice of motor, the design of the plane is also very important. A poor design can render your excellent construction useless if your plane behaves like a radar-less bat in the air. Designing the appropriate ailerons, fins and rudders, which match with the dimension and weight of the plane is equally important. A trussed fuselage where thin balsa wood is skinned on top of a skeleton made of square braces, which can also be supported by diagonal beams, will not only make the plane lighter but also provide a strong spine for your plane. Finishing is also important and the plane has to be sanded to a perfect smooth finish.

So, in short, a proper design for your plane, lightweight but strong material and a strong inner skeleton skinned by a thin sheet of wood and all that mated to a perfect motor will ensure that your flying machine takes to the skies with the least effort and stays there until you beckon it back into its hanger.