Hobbies And Interests
Choose a Design
Planes come in several basic designs, each with unique flying properties and required skill levels. There are single-engine high-wing aircraft that are good for beginners, and low-wing war-bird-type aircraft and jets that require more skill, making them a good second or third model. The type of aircraft you choose to build will determine how it's built and the components that are used.
Weight
Make the model as light as possible to conserve fuel and extend flight times. Lighter planes (under 10 pounds) require less thrust to stay airborne and can be flown from shorter runways. Electric brushless motors can also be selected for lightweight designs, as they will provide adequate power while being nonpolluting and much quieter than an equivalent nitro or gas engine.
Materials
Use whatever construction materials you have at your disposal. Planes can be built with high-density EPP (expanded polypropylene) foam, balsa and plywood, or even Depron sheeting. Once the fuselage, wings and control surfaces have been built up, you will be ready to add the electronics that will power and steer the plane. Use the highest-quality servos you can find, as the servos are what ultimately use your inputs to fly the model and produce the most stable flight. As the final step, you may wish to paint the model, or if using wood, cover the plane in a skin of UltraCote.
Following a Building Plan
Almost any real aircraft has a scale building plan available for RC modelers to follow. The plan will provide exact measurements and detailed diagrams to aid in construction. Plans can often be purchased at your local hobby shop or even traded by fellow hobbyists. In addition, a full set of microtools, a hot-glue gun and basic power tools such as a drill and jigsaw are recommended when building models from scratch. If possible, have an experienced modeler supervise all aspects of the process.