1st 3D printed build - Eclipson Skyward

[FlyingTyger]

I am very new to 3D printing in general, but as a long-time RC builder/flier, I had to try a 3D printed plane.

Due to my limited printing knowledge, I decided to go with an Eclipson design as my first, and their new Skyward really caught my eye.

The Skyward reminds me of an old nitro ARF, the Flitecraft Cardinal.

This is what I was wanting as my first RC trainer back in the early 90's, but was steered away from it by several experienced modelers; for good reason... But now I see a chance to finally have the plane I wanted way back then, but in a better flying version. And it'll still be made of plastic!

This will also be my entry in @FoamyDM's 2026 D'Arch Challenge.

Here we go!

 

[LitterBug]

I am very new to 3D printing in general, but as a long-time RC builder/flier, I had to try a 3D printed plane.

Due to my limited printing knowledge, I decided to go with an Eclipson design as my first, and their new Skyward really caught my eye.

The Skyward reminds me of an old nitro ARF, the Flitecraft Cardinal.
View attachment 257121
This is what I was wanting as my first RC trainer back in the early 90's, but was steered away from it by several experienced modelers; for good reason... But now I see a chance to finally have the plane I wanted way back then, but in a better flying version. And it'll still be made of plastic!

This will also be my entry in @FoamyDM's 2026 D'Arch Challenge.

Here we go!

Sweet! I have been 3D printing planes longer than I have been flying! It is what got me into 3D printing AND flying. Just got parts to upgrade my "Good" printer today, which means the take off parts go on my previously good printer..... So I can print more better planes and faster too!

Keep us posted on your printing and how it turns out!

Cheers,
LitterBug

 

[FlyingTyger]

I am using Overture PLA Air, which is a pre-foamed LW-PLA. Having absolutely zero knowledge of printing with this stuff, I loaded Eclipson's 3mf file and hit print. Completely expecting to get an unusable part, but it would at least give me a baseline.

I cannot believe this part can even hold its shape It felt like a sponge! But I have a baseline to work from.

Make adjustment, print test, and repeat... It only took 3 or 4 tries to get it pretty well dialed in. Time for some bigger parts.

 

[qwijibo]

I am using Overture PLA Air, which is a pre-foamed LW-PLA. Having absolutely zero knowledge of printing with this stuff, I loaded Eclipson's 3mf file and hit print. Completely expecting to get an unusable part, but it would at least give me a baseline.

I cannot believe this part can even hold its shape It felt like a sponge! But I have a baseline to work from.
View attachment 257126

Make adjustment, print test, and repeat... It only took 3 or 4 tries to get it pretty well dialed in. Time for some bigger parts.

Look'n good so far, seems like you have your settings dialed in. I'm just finishing up a Skyward myself and it seems to be a great design. I just need to drop in 2 more servos and then wait for a calm day to maiden it.

Keep posting your progress though, would love to see how yours comes out.

- Steve

 

[FlyingTyger]

Look'n good so far, seems like you have your settings dialed in. I'm just finishing up a Skyward myself and it seems to be a great design. I just need to drop in 2 more servos and then wait for a calm day to maiden it.

Keep posting your progress though, would love to see how yours comes out.

- Steve

View attachment 257150

Looks great! Let me know how the maiden goes.

 

[FlyingTyger]

I have a pile of parts. Time to get them put together.

 

[Mr NCT]

I have a pile of parts. Time to get them put together.

View attachment 257174

How springy does the landing gear spring feel?

 

[Jo's squadron]

I have a pile of parts. Time to get them put together.

View attachment 257174

Kind of like a 3D puzzle!

 

[FlyingTyger]

How springy does the landing gear spring feel?

It squishes but doesn't feel super "springy". It should help with hard knocks, but I am not worried about it bouncing the nose into the air.
The files did come with an optional nose gear strut that uses a TPU "shock" in place of that PLA zig-zag. This seemed simpler and good enough for a plane of this size.

 

[FlyingTyger]

Kind of like a 3D puzzle!

EXACTLY! I just need to find the motivation. I keep getting distracted by my other projects...

 

[Mr NCT]

I keep getting distracted by my other projects.

 

[FlyingTyger]

Fuse is done.

Nothing too exciting here. Went together super quick with really no issues. But I did make a few modifications.

First thing I adjusted was the motor mount. Nothing wrong with the Eclipson mount, but my motor had a different bolt pattern and was a little longer than what they designed for. I did a quick redesign in Fusion and now everything lines up the way it should.

Next was the wheel axles. Instead of using a piece of metal rod and some sort of keeper, I tapped the holes in the wheel pants for a 6-32 socket head bolt, then drilled out the wheel hubs for proper clearance.

The last change was to swap out the rubber band specified for the hatch latch with a small spring. Again, their design is fine, but I have bad luck with rubber bands breaking at the most inopportune times. Springs are far less likely to break.

 

[FlyingTyger]

The airframe is together!

Nothing really worth noting, everything just slid together. I had the wing and tail done in about an hour.

Plan now is to give it a light sanding, then a couple coats of Polycrylic to seal it.

 

[Mr NCT]

Looks great!!

 

[FlyingTyger]

Graphics cut

Fuse stickered up

Wing done

I was warned that vinyl doesn't stick well to 3D prints. I was hoping my couple coats of Polycrylic would eliminate the issue...it didn't. Probably made it better, but I still had some areas that were refusing to stick. I used very light heat to help those areas stick down and that seemed to work. But man, it does not take much heat to soften the skins...

 

[Mr NCT]

I was warned that vinyl doesn't stick well to 3D prints.

I had the same problem, even Oracal didn't want to stick. I used a tack coat of 3M Super 77 on the sticky side of the vinyl. A little messy but it worked.

 

[FlyingTyger]

I had the same problem, even Oracal didn't want to stick. I used a tack coat of 3M Super 77 on the sticky side of the vinyl. A little messy but it worked.

My guess is that it has something to do with the texture of the print. FWIW, the Polycrylic didn't stick as well as I expected either.

The next printed project will get self-etching primer and a real paint job. Any markings should stick fine then as there will be no texture and a good 3-4 coats of paint and primer over the plastic. But that much finish work was not the intent of this project...