How to Build a Homemade Wooden Model Plane

Pick a year and simple model design for which to build your model. Review an airplane book or search online for the many different airplanes which can be built. Choose one that is not too complicated, if this is your first effort at building without a kit.

Draw or trace out the entire selected model plane on paper. Separate out the different parts and draw them individually. Start with the body or fuselage of the plane.

Pay close attention to details of the fuselage like the cockpit design, bubble or smooth arc and where on the nose of the plane is located. Note if the cockpit is near the tip of the nose or set farther back just in front of the wings.

Draw the wings next, sticking as close to the original as possible. Check the angle of the wings in relation to the body of the plane. Look at the shape of the wings themselves. Make note if it is an angled tapered wing, or if it retains full width throughout the body of the wing into a rounded end.

Review the tail section and where it is located on the fuselage or the body of the plane. Measure and locate it precisely at the end of the fuselage just like you did the cockpit. Pay attention to the rudder and stabilizer, their shapes and angles and how they are situated.

Examine the landing gear diagram of the craft and carefully notice where the landing gear housing is situated under the body of the plane. Check to see it the wheel setup is a simple two-wheel or more.

Transfer these detailed drawings, as exactly as possible, to a thin sheet of light, model building balsa wood. Detail the pattern far enough apart on the wood to be able to cut them out without getting too close to the other parts.

Cut out each part carefully using a pair of sharp scissors. Assemble the parts and attach them, starting with the smaller parts first using hot glue. Attach the wings last. Be sure to work the hot glue into the grain of the wood to insure stronger connections.