rcspaceflight
creator of virtual planes
I know I have a lot of projects started: The DC-3. I told someone I would design an A4 Skyhawk that I got really far on but still haven't finished. I still want to build another Swordfish and make it into an article. Same with the Basic Beaver. I want to buy a better motor (when I have money) and fix the design of the Skymaster.
However, my biggest priority is to get out there and fly. I love the One Sheet Trainer I made, but I keep breaking my cheap props when I land because I don't have landing gear on it. And I don't think it can handle the extra weight.
So... I decided to try an idea I've been thinking about trying for a while now. It's basically a Bixler clone, in a way. It's similar to CStence's Smash Drone, but without the wood boom and easier to build?
All I really want is to stop breaking props when I land. I'm perfectly happy with a RET 3 channel plane, but I can fly a 4 channel okay. I went with a 3 channel anyway.
My design uses the majority of two sheets of Dollar Tree Foam Board, so I'm calling it the Two Sheet Pusher.
Pretend that the piece on the bottom, the skid plate, is curved up along the bottom.
Build:
This is the only part of the plans that I actually printed off:
Everything else was measured out using a ruler.
Printed plans...
...cut out.
Fuselage all on one sheet, including skid plate.
I forgot to put a slot into the rudder in the plans, but this works too (see next pic also).
Gluing/laminating the three fuselage pieces together. The rudder gets sandwhiched in there too. (I just used hot glue to glue it together.)
Don't forget how useful packing tape can be. It helps to hold it all together.
Peel off the paper from one side of the skid plate.
Glue it as centered as possible and at a 90degree angle. Which I failed at, but not horribly.
Elevator glued on. With how I have the slots, it slide in there nice and tight and at the proper angle.
The FT Element Firewall is used.
Hot glue spar.
Hot glue the leading edge too. Makes it much stronger and prevents the paper from peeling off.
I cut 1/4" into the wing tips to create the angle. Which didn't turn out as well as I had hoped.
Wing tips glued on.
Finished plane. But I still have to add the electronics and I'm unsure of where to put the battery/how to mount it.
I went with a flat bottom airfoil on the wing tips to make it stronger, but it just made it awkward to mount the wing tips. Plus I may have them too small at 4.5" long on a 30" center wingspan. Making the total wingspan 39".
Plans will be coming if this plane works. The only thing I can foresee failing is the wing design. Otherwise the fuselage feels really solid and I love the skid plate. Should make for some nice landings. I'll still have to hand launch, but I'm used to that. ... I've never taken a plane off of the ground.
However, my biggest priority is to get out there and fly. I love the One Sheet Trainer I made, but I keep breaking my cheap props when I land because I don't have landing gear on it. And I don't think it can handle the extra weight.
So... I decided to try an idea I've been thinking about trying for a while now. It's basically a Bixler clone, in a way. It's similar to CStence's Smash Drone, but without the wood boom and easier to build?
All I really want is to stop breaking props when I land. I'm perfectly happy with a RET 3 channel plane, but I can fly a 4 channel okay. I went with a 3 channel anyway.
My design uses the majority of two sheets of Dollar Tree Foam Board, so I'm calling it the Two Sheet Pusher.
Pretend that the piece on the bottom, the skid plate, is curved up along the bottom.
Build:
This is the only part of the plans that I actually printed off:
Everything else was measured out using a ruler.
Printed plans...
...cut out.
Fuselage all on one sheet, including skid plate.
I forgot to put a slot into the rudder in the plans, but this works too (see next pic also).
Gluing/laminating the three fuselage pieces together. The rudder gets sandwhiched in there too. (I just used hot glue to glue it together.)
Don't forget how useful packing tape can be. It helps to hold it all together.
Peel off the paper from one side of the skid plate.
Glue it as centered as possible and at a 90degree angle. Which I failed at, but not horribly.
Elevator glued on. With how I have the slots, it slide in there nice and tight and at the proper angle.
The FT Element Firewall is used.
Hot glue spar.
Hot glue the leading edge too. Makes it much stronger and prevents the paper from peeling off.
I cut 1/4" into the wing tips to create the angle. Which didn't turn out as well as I had hoped.
Wing tips glued on.
Finished plane. But I still have to add the electronics and I'm unsure of where to put the battery/how to mount it.
I went with a flat bottom airfoil on the wing tips to make it stronger, but it just made it awkward to mount the wing tips. Plus I may have them too small at 4.5" long on a 30" center wingspan. Making the total wingspan 39".
Plans will be coming if this plane works. The only thing I can foresee failing is the wing design. Otherwise the fuselage feels really solid and I love the skid plate. Should make for some nice landings. I'll still have to hand launch, but I'm used to that. ... I've never taken a plane off of the ground.