Mon August 18, 2003 03:36 PM



Hi everybody, im bran new to the rc aircraft scene. But i have experience with radio control because i build fighting robots as well. For my first plane i have decided to make a scratch built top winged trainer like plane with a .25 engine, and flat bottom wings

I know building a plane from scratch as a first one is a great undertaking. but i have a few reasons why i chose to do this. #1 its a bit cheaper and i can get parts 1 by 1 instead of all at once so that i dont have to spead loads of money off the batt.

#2 I think its more fullfilling to see something you made completely on your own soar into the air (and crash 5 seconds later )

I have a few questions ive been looking around on the net a bit but i cant seem to find these answers.

1. how large of a plane could i make with a little .25 with say a.... 9x6 prop? I was thinking maybe 45"-55" wingspan?

2. i know how important it is to get the wings just right so i need some basic infor on them like, how thick i should make them, (top of airfoil to the bottom) how wide should they be(leading edge to trailing edge)?

3. im on a tight budget (im 14 and dont ahve a job yet). so i have to use the 1 and only crappy radio i allready have. a 3 channel. with this setup i cant think of a way to control the rudder if i use a knob for throttle, the left stick for elevation and the right for ailerons. i dont beleive a rudder is absolutly necessair except for manuvering on the ground and advanced areobatics.

4. How big should i make my aleirons and elevators for this size of plane?

5. when i build the ribs for the wings, how thick should they be? how close together should they be? and should i leave them solid or cut our there centers to make them lighter?

do you guys think its possible? im trying to do the whole thing for under 250 bux, maybe 300.

Im dreadfully sorry about this long post, thanks for reading.