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How to Build Airplanes

There are many kinds of airplanes that you can build yourself, ranging from toy model airplanes to fully functional small passenger aircraft. While it is possible to build experimental passenger aircraft, even helicopters, as a do-it-yourself project, the most popular kind of aircraft to build these days are remote-controlled (RC) scale model airplanes. The various parts of RC aircraft were up until a decade ago largely made of wood, usually balsa wood. But RC aircraft today are more and more made of lightweight plastics, foams and fiberglass.

Research and select the RC model airplane that you want to build by browsing through a couple of the websites in the Reference section, or you can go to a larger hobby store (or even Walmart or Target Supercenters) if you want to do hands-on shopping.

Things You'll Need

RC model kit
Safety goggles
Glue(s)
X-acto knife
Screwdriver(s)
Pliers
Sandpaper
Paint
Razor saw (optional)
Soldering iron (optional)

Instructions

Building a Remote Control Airplane
- 1
  Prepare to build your RC airplane by assembling all of your tools and materials and carefully reading the assembly instructions. There is no substitute for reading the instructions, and the airplane has been designed to be assembled in a specific sequence. Note that the instructions below are general instructions and should be superseded by the specific assembly instructions for your airplane.
- 2
  Assemble the fuselage of your RC airplane. This is the body of your airplane, and usually comes as a unibody construction or as a two-piece shell assembly. Keep in mind that any but the most basic RC airplanes will require the use of more than one kind of glue and possibly even soldering.
- 3
  Install the motor, servos, control linkages and radio parts in the fuselage. This is the most intricate part of the assembly, and requires great attention to detail. One of the most common errors is installing the controls backwards. To make sure you have installed them properly you can test by standing facing the same direction as your airplane and manipulating the control stick. When you turn the control stick to the right the rudder should also move to the right, etc.
- 4
  Assemble the wings and landing gear to the fuselage. In more advanced or custom kits, welding might be required to attached the wings to the fuselage, otherwise it likely will require gluing and/or riveting. A few modern designs even have slide-in wings with locking brackets for easy removal. Aligning the wings and adjusting for slight warpage can also be a bit tricky, but is an important part of balancing the airplane to make sure the center of gravity of the airplane is in the right location. The instructions should offer further details on testing the balance point of your airplane.
- 5
  Finish your RC airplane by sanding, painting and decorating. The finish process is more than just decorative, you are also improving the aerodynamics and weatherability. This is your chance to express your creativity or some enthusiasts even attempt to recreate the color and paint scheme of the original airplane.

Aviation