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Radio Controlled Airplanes
Building R/C Planes:
Material Considerations
Building a model
airplane today is different in some ways than when the hobby began. Early
model planes were often carved out of basswood, pine or some other
craftsman-friendly wood. Some of the more intricate or complicated parts might
be glued on. Then the plane would be carefully hand sanded, painted, mounted
onto a stand of some sort, or hung from a ceiling. And that was that.
A little later, it became increasingly popular to build model planes that could
fly. They would not be radio-controlled, at first, but made to soar or
possibly designed to be powered by rubber bands.
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| Classic Model Airplane Powered by Rubber
Band |
So far as
materials go, model planes built to fly might also have been built from
basswood, pine or spruce, but soon balsa took the lead, since it is so light. It
is still very popular today, in both blocks and sheets, as well as various ply
thicknesses. Basswood ply and spruce ply are also used, especially where greater
rigidity and strength are desired.
Composite materials are also popular today, especially for larger scale and
aerobatic rc planes, where greater stress is placed on joints and the overall
structure. Fiberglass has been used for years. Carbon fiber is a very important
material in rc aircraft because it is so light and strong. Aluminum is sometimes
used for fuselage construction, both as a framing material and for the outer
skin.
Beyond a model plane's skeletal structure is the surface itself. This may
consist of carved and sanded wood, just like in the old days. In such cases it
may be painted or varnished for protection and decoration.
 Surfaces
are also made of paper, aluminum, Mylar films, composite materials, such as
fiberglass or carbon fiber. Last of all are the decals and any painted trim.
Inside the fuselage of a larger radio-controlled aircraft (such as a pattern
plane), we can expect to find the receiver, one or more servos, pushrod and
pull-pull systems, as well as a battery pack and maybe a speed controller. Up
front will be the engine or electric motor and a prop. If there's an engine (gas
or glow) there will usually also be some form of exhaust system, such as a
header and muffler or tune pipe.
 Below
there will usually be some kind of landing gear. Out on top it's common on
larger planes to have a canopy, often removable for access to the radio and
battery.
To sum up, depending on the plane you decide to build, you'll need structural
material, such as wood, aluminum or a composite of some kind. You'll need
surface covering, hinges of some kind, push rods and clevises, servos, servo
arms, possibly a bell crank or pull-pull for rudder control, control horns, a
prop, landing gear, maybe a tail wheel, and some kind of power plant. Obviously,
for radio control systems you'll want a good radio system.
Jim Sutton
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