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How to Make Mini Actuators for Model Airplanes

Though magnetic actuators for model airplanes can be bought at most national hobby and craft retailers, many hobbyists might find that they can save several dollars by fashioning actuators at home. Even novice hobbyists should easily be able to complete an actuator in a short amount of time -- a few hours at most -- with only a few tools. The finished project should look like simply a copper coil, wide enough in the center to accommodate the rudder magnet of a model plane.

Things You'll Need

3 circular, mini servo heads
1 long, 2 or 3 mm screw with tight thread
Saw
Spool of thin, coated copper wire
White craft glue

Instructions

- 1
  Thead two of the three servo heads onto the screw so that their stubs face outward, until they fit together and offer some resistance when you turned them.
- 2
  Cut the stub of the third servo head off in the middle with the saw.
- 3
  Place this stub between the first two servo heads.
- 4
  Thread the copper wire through one of the holes in either of the outer servo heads, and fish it through the small crevice created by placing the stubs between the servo heads.
- 5
  Wrap roughly 30 cm of the wire around this portion of the screw. It should bulge until roughly 1.2 cm thick.
- 6
  Rub a bit of white glue on the end of the wire, placing it against the rest and allowing it to dry.
- 7
  Un-thread both servo heads at the same time.
- 8
  Carefully separate the servo heads from the newly formed actuator.
- 9
  Gently work the stub from the center of the actuator.
- 10
  Rub more glue around the outside of the copper, making sure not to get any glue in the center.

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