Hey everyone!
I wanted to share a project that has been both exciting and a bit challenging—my scratch build of the
FT Tubby B17, designed by Josh Bixler (J Bix). This build is my way of saying thanks to Josh for all the inspiration he's given to the RC community.
This was a
full scratch build, meaning I started from just the plans—printing, taping, transferring, cutting, and assembling everything from raw foam board. It was a fantastic experience, and I documented the whole process in a video, including:
✅ The full scratch-build process
✅ A satisfying build montage
✅ The maiden flight
✅ Painting & detailing the plane
✅ A re-maiden flight after the paint job
✅ …and an
unexpected ending that I definitely didn’t plan for! 😅
Check out the full video here:
Build Process & Photos
📌
Printing & Cutting the Plans
"No kits here—just a printer, tape, and patience!"
✂️
Foam Cutting & Assembly
"Measure twice, cut once… or at least try to!"
🛠️
Bringing It Together
"Slowly but surely, the Tubby B17 takes shape."
🚀
Maiden Flight!
"Moment of truth! Will she fly?"
🎨
Paint Job in Progress
"Adding some personality before round two!"
🛫
Re-Maiden After Paint
"Looking good… but will she still fly well?"
😲
The ‘Unexpected’ Ending
"Let’s just say… things didn’t go exactly to plan."
Next Steps
I’ll be posting a follow-up video soon on
repairing the FT Tubby B17 and what I learned from the whole experience. If you’ve ever had a
less-than-perfect maiden (or re-maiden), you might want to check it out!
Meanwhile, I’d love to hear from you:
➡️ Have you built the FT Tubby B17 or any other scratch builds?
➡️ Any memorable maiden flight stories—good or bad?
➡️ What’s your favorite Flite Test design?
Let’s talk foam, flights, and lessons learned! 🚀