FTFC 2025 Build-Ruary by Hankflies

[hankflies03]

This is my buildruary entry! Most of these builds are in preparation for FF25 but some things like the Rv 12 will be fun for flying in the spring. without further ado, Here are the planes.
build skill: 3.5 Pilot skill 4
1. Rv 12 from FT kit (FTCA plans)
2. Noob wonder (for FF combat) plans
3. Tiny trainer (w/ speedy motor for extra fun) plans
4. Another wonder (for combat TBD)

I had completed this challenge the previous two years but I have less time this year so now I have my doubts. I would like to at least finish the first 3 planes though.
Updates to come!

 

[hankflies03]

Ft Rv-12iS
Build level 3 Flight level 2
I got the kit for this one because I had heard it flew good and the landing gear looked fairly durable which is rare for foamboard planes. The build was very similar to other planes Dave designed like the twin otter using lots of score lines to create curves instead of removing paper. I used a budget B motor and an emax 30A esc with 4 cheapo servos. Here are some pics of the build:

 

[hankflies03]

Noob wonder complete! This is for some FF combat with a 3530 910kv value hobby motor, 40A esc and a 4s battery. I have built 2 of these before and they both performed great in combat winning prizes and combat winner tokens.

 

[hankflies03]

reserved for Tiny trainer

 

[hankflies03]

reserved for TBD wonder

 

[hankflies03]

I have completed the Ft RV-12iS build and now just need to paint and fly it. This was a really fun build with lots of nice angles and curves created by the score lines to give it less of a boxy look. I have heard great things about this plane so I am excited to try it out!

 

[AIRFORGE]

I have completed the Ft RV-12iS build and now just need to paint and fly it. This was a really fun build with lots of nice angles and curves created by the score lines to give it less of a boxy look. I have heard great things about this plane so I am excited to try it out!

I'm converting the plans to vector atm. I'll be making 2 versions. One of the original design and another version removing the score marks for the compound folds/curves and making those areas smooth folds.
During your build, did you see any areas that might be adversely affected by smoothing the folds? It looks doable, but hoping you have a bit more insight since you have built one already. Thanks, in advance!

 

[hankflies03]

I'm converting the plans to vector atm. I'll be making 2 versions. One of the original design and another version removing the score marks for the compound folds/curves and making those areas smooth folds.
During your build, did you see any areas that might be adversely affected by smoothing the folds? It looks doable, but hoping you have a bit more insight since you have built one already. Thanks, in advance!

Yeah, it should be fairly straightforward with the removed paper method for a capable builder, but because this plane doesn't have many formers it would probably be pretty tricky to get all the angles correct and keep everything square. On the hatch and nose the lines help keep the angles correct so there might need to be an additional former in there. The other problem I can think of is that you would need to make sure all the parts can align properly with the grain direction of the foamboard which might require extra sheets of foam. I think if people are lazer-cutting it would be easier just to do the score lines. Hope this helps, and thanks for converting these plans!

 

[AIRFORGE]

That info is much appreciated! Thank you!

 

[FoamyDM]

That info is much appreciated! Thank you!

I was thinking the same thing

 

[hankflies03]

Finished up the noob wonder! This is for some FF combat with a 3530 910kv value hobby motor, 40A esc and a 4s battery. I will go fly it tomorrow and then decorate. Also, I ran out of foamboard so unless my shipment comes in from dollar tree I may be done building this February.