Challenge idea:: LEGO plane

[WhatDoesThisButtonDo]

Build a plane out of regular LEGO bricks and make that puppy fly.

 

[rcspaceflight]

I was going to experiment with building a plane out of K'Nex. The idea being that if you crash the plane, the pieces will break apart and you can just rebuild whatever broke off. But I think it would end up too heavy unless you make it too big for the K'Nex pieces to stay together without glue. (I did build a simple wing and weighed it. For sure too heavy to even bother with.)

Legos will be far too heavy and will require glue for it to stay together. Even if it's a lot of spars and paper for the skin. Glue will still be mandatory which will just be a lot of disadvantages without any advantages.

 

[Snarls]

If this is ever attempted I think that instead of the classic brick, parts more on the line of the Lego mindstom/robot kits should be used. Something like this: Then you are effectively making plastic beams for spars. Downside is that it won't exactly be that Lego feel.

 

[Tench745]

I think LEGO technic pieces would be your best bet. They interlock the strongest and are relatively lightweight compared to typical bricks or plates. A multicopter would be easier than a plane, LEGO studs are very draggy, and adding enough tiles to smooth out a surface would add a lot of weight.

 

[ghost civic]

even with the technic pieces, the best I can see is to make the framework out of them. Then you would have to "skin" it with something, just like is done with most balsa planes.

that said, these days we have some pretty dang powerful motors. and the air doesn't care if a wing is made out of foam or legos...as long as it has an airfoil it will create lift.

But it would be an expensive project....legos are not cheap!!! When I think back to the legos I had as a kid, I now realize my parents spent a fair bit of cash for them. I think today it is even worse, since 80 or 90% of the lego kits are based on some movie/character...which means extra cost for licensing.

 

[Tench745]

Agreed. But if you had eveything planned you could order just the pieces you need. Bricklink for instance sells by the piece. It would definitely be an exercise in engineering. Too small and you wouldn't generate the lift. Too big and the structure would have to be doubly heavy to support itself and your power system. I'd be interested in anyone who attempted this. I suppose you could do a KFM pretty easily.

 

[rcspaceflight]

I actually semi-tested the K'Nex idea because I wanted to design plastic pieces that snap together to build planes. As in specifically design pieces so you can easily make great airfoils and fuselages in a Lego/K'Nex manner. Then when you crash you just snap the pieces back together and re-skin the broken area. I think it would be too heavy to work. Especially since I would have to design the pieces to practically be crash proof to be worth the money to buy a plane kit. Even with a light weight skin over the stick frame of plastic pieces, the total flying weight would still be too heavy.

It's a great idea, but I just don't think it's practical.

 

[ghost civic]

this one may not fly, but it has just about every control a real plane has. dang impressive if you ask me.

 

[EKflite]

Build a plane out of regular LEGO bricks and make that puppy fly.

I'm currently trying to get the old technic cargo plane set airborne... Is it ok if I used expanding PLA to make lighter parts because she is HEFTY. Also I don't think the power to weight ratio of LEGO motors is enough so I'm gonna use FT motors.

edit: this

 

[FlyerInStyle]

I'm currently trying to get the old technic cargo plane set airborne... Is it ok if I used expanding PLA to make lighter parts because she is HEFTY. Also I don't think the power to weight ratio of LEGO motors is enough so I'm gonna use FT motors.

edit: this

You can find files for Lego compatible bricks online if you want easily, lwpla just won't be strong enough, you'll still want some carbon reinforcement or smth, and fill in all the huge gaps

 

[EKflite]

You can find files for Lego compatible bricks online if you want easily, lwpla just won't be strong enough, you'll still want some carbon reinforcement or smth, and fill in all the huge gaps

I can design my own lego compatible bricks just fine but I meant LWPLA for filling in the gaps and paneling not structural just to save some weight. Carbon reinforcement is a bit far but I'd use an carbon fiber bar for a wing spar or something. The big weight loss was gutting the thing. Inside is a battery box, motor and gearbox to control all the functions and that weighed a ton. I do still want it to have cargo space, an opening cargo door, retractable gear etc. but not how it was implemented. Thanks for the feedback tho!

 

[bisco]

9 years later? perseverance!

 

[FlyerInStyle]

I can design my own lego compatible bricks just fine but I meant LWPLA for filling in the gaps and paneling not structural just to save some weight. Carbon reinforcement is a bit far but I'd use an carbon fiber bar for a wing spar or something. The big weight loss was gutting the thing. Inside is a battery box, motor and gearbox to control all the functions and that weighed a ton. I do still want it to have cargo space, an opening cargo door, retractable gear etc. but not how it was implemented. Thanks for the feedback tho!

That makes sense I did mean the wind spar not actual carbon fiebring although it may be easier to cove rit in tape to cover upt eh holes and lighter. With elgo being heavy retracts and a gear door should probably be saved for later until You get it flying without them. Any pics of progress?

 

[quorneng]

EKflite
If you stick to convention Lego parts you are on a looser. Solid ABS in "Lego" format is just too heavy.
The skin of a plane is very thin primarily just to keep the air out. Even the thinnest Lego plates are way to heavy.
If you printed Lego parts in LW-PLA (which would be about 1/10 the weight) and they were specifically designed to be air foil shaped but still pressed together like Lego you might stand a chance but whether it would still be "Lego" is open to question.

 

[EKflite]

That makes sense I did mean the wind spar not actual carbon fiebring although it may be easier to cove rit in tape to cover upt eh holes and lighter. With elgo being heavy retracts and a gear door should probably be saved for later until You get it flying without them. Any pics of progress?

I mean I could take pictures but it looks the same as the og set. Tape is a good idea, I didn't think of that.

 

[EKflite]

EKflite
If you stick to convention Lego parts you are on a looser. Solid ABS in "Lego" format is just too heavy.
The skin of a plane is very thin primarily just to keep the air out. Even the thinnest Lego plates are way to heavy.
If you printed Lego parts in LW-PLA (which would be about 1/10 the weight) and they were specifically designed to be air foil shaped but still pressed together like Lego you might stand a chance but whether it would still be "Lego" is open to question.

That's the idea