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Building
RC Planes: Materials You Will Need
Early model
planes were often carved out of basswood, pine or some other
craftsman-friendly wood. Some of the more intricate or
complicated parts would be glued on. Then they were
sanded, painted, mounted onto a stand of some sort, or hung from
a ceiling. And that was that.
Model planes
built to fly might also be built from basswood, pine or spruce,
but soon balsa took the lead, since it is so light. It is
still very popular today, in both blocks and sheets, as well as
various ply thicknesses. Basswood ply and spruce ply are
also used, especially where greater rigidity and strength are
desired.
Composite
materials are also popular today, especially for larger scale
and aerobatic rc planes, where greater stress is placed on
joints and the overall structure. Fiberglass has been used
for years. Carbon fiber is a very important material in rc
aircraft because it is so light and strong. Aluminum is
sometimes used for fuselage construction, both as a framing
material and for the outer skin.
Beyond a model
plane's skeletal structure is the surface itself. This may
consist of carved and sanded wood, just like in the old days.
In such cases it may be painted or varnished for protection and
decoration. Surfaces are also made of paper, aluminum,
Mylar films, composite materials, such as fiberglass or carbon
fiber. Last of all are the decals and any painted trim.
Inside the
fuselage of a radio-controlled aircraft (such as a pattern
plane), we find the receiver,
servos, pushrod and pull-pull systems, as well as a battery pack
and maybe a speed controller. Up front will be the engine
or electric motor and a prop. If there's an engine (gas or
glow) there will usually also be some form of exhaust system,
such as a header and muffler or tune pipe.
Below there will
usually be some kind of landing gear. Out on top it's
common on larger planes to have a canopy, often removable for
access to the radio and battery.
To sum up,
depending on the plane you decide to build, you'll need
structural material, such as wood, aluminum or a composite of
some kind. You'll need surface covering, hinges of some
kind, push rods and clevises, servos, servo arms, possibly a
bell crank or pull-pull for rudder control, control horns, a
prop, landing gear, maybe a tail wheel, and some kind of power
plant. Obviously, for radio control systems you'll want a
good radio system.
Holding Things
Together
Any model airplane
is only as good as the sum of its parts. And
while the "parts" might usually refer to the larger
components of a plane, it isn't wise to overlook the quality and
durability of the other "parts," such as adhesives and
fasteners, that hold everything together.
Glues and epoxies used in model plane construction are
as important as any other consideration. So are the screws, nuts and bolts. These
elements
need to have the proper holding power as well as the ability to
hold up under stress (such as vibration) and time.
Central Hobbies is
happy to offer an excellent range of CA adhesives, tough
epoxies, and strong glues that will help you to do the job
right. We provide a brush-on Heat Shield that helps
to protect your plane from high engine & exhaust heat. We
also carry fasteners designed for practical and excellent model
airplane building.
When used
properly, these building materials offer a
long-lasting bond, strong connections, and
effective protection that will help to make
your plane everything you need it it be.
It makes good sense: Better materials help
to make a better plane. Just as
you're careful to take the time to make sure
each step in the construction and/or
modification of your aircraft is properly
carried out, so you will want to use the
right materials for each job. We're
confident that you'll be able
to find those materials right here at
Central Hobbies.
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