Scratch Building RC Model Airplanes Guide
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Alex GurovichScratch Building RC Model Airplanes Guide
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Alex Gurovich- Introduction to Scratch Building
- Design Guidelines
- Construction Examples
- Conclusion and Contact
Common questions
Powered by AITo maintain motivation in the hobby, the author advises embracing the excitement and learning involved in bringing one's own design to the sky. He suggests developing skills through constructing models from kits before attempting scratch builds and continuously engaging with unique designs, as reflected in the joy he found with the Simitar Slo Motion .15 model's flying capabilities and planning to build another .
The author highlights that creativity in design can lead to unexpected challenges, as seen with his fourth scratch-built airplane that showed unique and problematic flight characteristics due to design errors. He emphasizes the importance of learning from such failures, continuously iterating designs, and correcting oversights to improve, demonstrated by adjustments like shimming the engine and the decision to build a whole new wing for future projects .
Design choices like wing airfoil shape and engine placement significantly influence flight capabilities. For instance, the author's fourth airplane's incorrect airfoil led to stalls, prompting engine adjustments to improve thrust and stability. Conversely, his Simitar Slo Motion .15 model's wing design, with a carefully set center of gravity, allowed long, stable flights, especially under updraft conditions, showcasing how thoughtful designs can enhance flying performance .
The Simitar Slo Motion .15 model featured wings with high stall-resistance, and control through elevons (aileron/elevator), using a mechanical sliding tray arrangement. The unique design allowed it to sustain flight with reduced throttle for about 10 minutes. Strong updrafts at the flying location allowed for extended flight durations, making it almost stall-proof and enabling flights of over 45 minutes. The airfoil design, with its center of gravity set slightly aft of the wing leading edge, contributed to these characteristics .
External environmental conditions, specifically the strong updrafts present at the Mediterranean location where the Simitar Slo Motion .15 was flown, significantly enhanced its flight experience. These conditions, coupled with the model's aerodynamic stability, allowed for extended flight durations with minimal throttle, showcasing how suitable environmental factors can complement well-engineered designs .
The author addressed stability issues in his fourth scratch-built airplane by shimming the engine to add additional down thrust. During the second test flight, this adjustment eliminated the stall tendencies observed during the first flight. Once at a level altitude, the airplane flew gently at only 1/3 throttle, indicating improved stability .
Before attempting to scratch build radio-controlled model airplanes, it is recommended to construct a couple of models from commercially available kits. This experience assists in understanding the thicknesses of wood (balsa and plywood) needed for structural elements, the types of glue, hardware, and assembly methods. These skills and knowledge help assure the success of the scratch-built project .
Community interaction played a crucial role in the development and success of the author's projects. By promoting the hobby and assisting others, such as helping young Italians and a local boy in Italy, the author fostered enthusiasm and shared knowledge, contributing to broader engagement and skill development in RC model building within the community .
The author balanced trial and error with systematic problem-solving by first identifying issues through initial test flights, such as the stall problem in his fourth airplane. He then applied targeted adjustments, like shimming the engine for added down thrust, systematically testing changes to improve performance. This pragmatic approach allowed for iterative refinement of designs, ultimately leading to successful and stable flights .
The peculiar flight behavior of the author's fourth scratch-built airplane was attributed to an incorrect airfoil design. Although intended to replicate a true Clark Y airfoil, the wing did not meet this specification. The oversight was identified after initial flights showed undesirable stall tendencies and peculiar flight dynamics, not typical of a properly designed Clark Y airfoil .
