Super Cheap Cessna

[pitts special]

Hello every one I though I would share my latest build. The plans are a old one, the Cessna 172 by WP Holland. The original plan used balsa wood, but balsa is expensive so I used chloroplast and foam to build it. The foam wings are covered in blue duct tape and the rest of the plane is chloroplast. The power plant is a weed eater featherlight that I got at the pawnshop for twenty bucks. I did some modifications to the engine such as a bigger carburetor, new piston ring and raised the compression. Wing span is 72 inches and all up weight is 8 1/2 pounds. The servos are standard cheap hobby king ones. The original plan called for tricycle landing gear, but I decided to convert it to a tail dragger. It flies like its on rails. The first flight went great, the landing was not so great. Because of the small field, I landed it at a rather steep incline. The airplane was fine but I broke the prop.The project was a blast and was a super cheap way to get my first gas plane. In flight pictures are coming up!!

 

[Tritium]

Is that a 2 stroke from the weed eater?

Thurmond

 

[pitts special]

Yes its a 21cc two stroke

 

[bicyclemonkey]

Welcome to the forum! It's nice to see some more fuel planes popping up. Here's a link to a ton of free plans for coroplast fuel planes (which can also be built as electric). I think I'm going to try out the Ultra Spad Stick.

http://www.spadtothebone.net/SPAD/

 

[pitts special]

I have checked it out before.The website is really cool. I have got a ryobi 31cc, but I have not decided on a plane to put it in yet. Thinking I might build a USS to put the engine in.

 

[earthsciteach]

Great looking plane! I like your improvisation of materials and engine. I should build a coro Sig Kadet from the plans that I have. Never thought of doing it till seeing your post.

Welcome to Flite Test!

 

[pitts special]

In flight pictures

Forgot to say in first post its 5 channels throttle, elevator, rudder, ailerons and flaps. Here is the flight pictures.

 

[FlyingMonkey]

Ok, now we need video!

 

[pitts special]

Video is here

Thank goodness my cameraman did not get that bad landing.

 

[Foam Addict]

Good job, that looks really nice! Now all it needs is a cowl.

 

[pitts special]

Good job, that looks really nice! Now all it needs is a cowl.

Yea it does. Any one got some recommendations on how to go about building a cowl for this plane? Since it is gas engine it needs to be heat resistant. That rules out foam and coroplast. Any ideas?

 

[Tritium]

Yes its a 21cc two stroke

Ok so I liberated the engine from my old 2 stroke weed eater but the back plate, reed valve and carburetor mount are part of the weed eater plastic casing so I am at a loss on how to proceed since these have to be mounted differently (the carb is mounted to the back of the engine) in order to fly with the engine.

Thurmond

 

[earthsciteach]

Can you cut the casing and fabricate some kind of mount to attach to the engine?

 

[Tritium]

Can you cut the casing and fabricate some kind of mount to attach to the engine?

Probably but that puts the carburetor and air intake INSIDE the fuselage if the mount does not standoff the engine nearly 4 inches from the firewall. A better solution may be sand casting an aluminum "box" for the back of the engine with enough depth for side mounting the carburetor and reed valve but that is going to be a hassle.

Thurmond

 

[lonewolf7717]

Get the homemade soda can smelter going!

 

[earthsciteach]

How do you keep the sand bound for sand casting. That has always been mysterious to me.

 

[colorex]

How do you keep the sand bound for sand casting. That has always been mysterious to me.

Water and glue maybe?

 

[pitts special]

something like this?

 

[lonewolf7717]

Bentonite clay + fine sand preferably sand blasting silica + a dash of water (believe some use oil) = greensand....a diy casters best friend

 

[pitts special]

Color

Finally got around to taking some pics of the Cessna after finishing the trim. To keep with the theme of "Super Cheap" all the trim is colored duck tape. Enjoy