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How to Make Removable RC Plane Wings

Having removable wings for your radio controlled aircraft makes transport and storage easier, particularly for large-scale planes. By making your wings removable, you gain the ability to break down the aircraft to a smaller size. Removable wings do not compromise the integrity of strength of the wings or airplane. Plug-in style wings are among the most practical of the removable wing styles.

Things You'll Need

Measuring tape
Vise
Hacksaw
Carbon fiber tube
Cardboard tubing
Carbon fiber rod
Model aircraft glue solvent
Cotton swabs
Hobby power-drill with bits
Two rubber bands

Instructions

- 1
  Set the aircraft on a workbench. Measure the wing length from where they join the fuselage to the tips. Place the carbon fiber tube into the vise. Measure and mark the tube with the wing measurements. Saw the tube at the measured marks leaving you with two same-sized carbon fiber tubes.
- 2
  Place one tube under each wing's airfoil (underside of the wing). Mark the fuselage where the tubes meet. Drill out the fuselage so there is a hole on both sides of the airplane, under the wing and where the tubes connect to the fuselage.
- 3
  Measure a distance going forward on the fuselage a third of the distance from the nose to the wings. Align the carbon rod to this and drill out a hole the same diameter as the rod. The rod gets placed into this area to add strength to the wings and airfoils.
- 4
  Drill a hole the same diameter as the cardboard tube through four ribs along the wings. Do this on both wings. Drill a single hole on each side of the wings where they connect to the aircraft fuselage.
- 5
  Disassemble the wings off the aircraft. Use glue solvent and cotton swabs to dissolve the epoxy. Seal the fuselage fabric with a patch kit appropriate for your aircraft. Glue the patch to the fuselage and apply heat from a heat gun to fuse it tight to the air frame.
- 6
  Slide the cardboard tube through the fuselage. Push the carbon rod through the reinforcement hole that you drilled out.
- 7
  Slide the carbon fiber tubes into the wings. When ready, push the wings onto the cardboard tube and the carbon reinforced rod. Crisscross the rubber retaining bands over the wing connections and the fuselage.The set of concentric rods, bands and tubes secures the wings to the fuselage for safe flight, while remaining free to disassemble after the flights.

Aviation