Thinking about my first plane
 

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 [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-shocked.gif[/img]

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 [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-tongue.gif[/img])

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. last but certainly not least, 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.

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

Thinking about my first plane
 

OH yes, ive come up with another question, how wide should i make my aleirons and elevators?

Thinking about my first plane
 

To design, build, and fly your own radio-controlled model is quite an ambitious undertaking. It will not be cheaper and will take much more research than you imagine. To get some idea of what it will involve, log onto http//webpages.charter.net/rcfu/ or do a search for R/C/Flight Unlimited. Select “Helps and Tips”, then select “Practical R/C/Model Design”. With a budget of $250 let me suggest several alternatives.

1. Build from a kit. A kit is cheaper than the “almost ready to fly (ARF)” aircraft, and since you already build fighting robots, you probably have much of the tooling to build a kit. With a kit, there is enough construction and working out of little details that you get the satisfaction of seeing something you created actually fly, while at the same time, the design has been tested to give you a reasonable chance of success.

2. Buy a set of plans for a .25 size trainer from one of the many sources on the internet. You can also get balsa and other material from several online sources. If you go this route, try to order everything at one time or the shipping charges will eat up any savings this might otherwise give.

You mentioned a crappy radio you already have. You need to be aware that if the radio is on a frequency for the fighting robots, it won’t be legal for an aircraft. Frequencies for ground vehicles are different than those for model aircraft and transmitters/receivers for one group cannot easily be changed to the other group.

As for the three controls, normally you would use rudder, elevator, and throttle control. Ailerons are not essential and most trainers use only these three.

Your best bet is to find a flying field near you and just go watch a few times. Get to know some of the fliers and ask them questions. With any luck, you may run across an old trainer and/or equipment that you can buy cheaply and may even get some help in getting it flying. At any rate you will need an instructor to help you learn to fly and their help at this stage will be invaluable.

Welcome to the hobby. Be patient and start right and you will have many fun years.

Thinking about my first plane
 

I agree with lou.. Every thing he said... and..

Your best bet is to have a few kits under your belt before you start a 'scratch built' plane, especially for your first. Also, with a kit, you'll see how some parts are put together, and why (somethings aren't obvious untill it's too late!)

Also, all teh parts are there for you, and pre-cut. There are methods to cut 20 or so ribs to be identical, but the set-up can be a daunting task. Again, with the modern 'laser cutting' of most kits, the parts accuracy is excellent.

While you buy the kit, you can save up for teh other parts. A kit is generally never a 'complete kit', and will require a few other parts, such as wheels, spinner, fuel tank, some hardware, covering, etc.. You can start with just the kit, and as you build, you can buy the additional parts as you need to. Assuming, of course, that you have a near by hobby shop.

And, from experince, the local hobby shop will never have all teh wood you require to build a complete plane, unless you visit them about 5 or 6 times over a few months! Murphy's law! (He'll have 5 of teh 7 balsa sticks you need for teh wing, and no 1/8 x 4" sheeting, just 3" which means butt glueing them together....) Sometimes it'll be more hassle than it's worth...

If you want cheap, and a bit of a 'scrathc built', visit www.spadtothebone.com, and see what they offer. These are planes made of coroplast, and are dirt cheap to build! In fact, you can probably get eh stuff for free, assumign tehtre's an election comming up in your area. It's the stuff they usually make signs out of!!