First foamie DIY (first plane) need help please.

[aperseghin]

I am looking to build a medium sized foam plane utilizing pink insulation board form the depot. Its for my wife but I will also be flying it.

I am looking for a simple build but I THINK i want 4 channel (maybe not?)
Criteria:

• needs to break down (top wing attach with bands and skewers)
• needs to fly in light to moderate breeze (dont want to always be grounded)
• would like it to LOOK like a generic top wing plane (like and old cub or cessna or storch)
• open to suggestions about build style (solid wing, hollow wing etc)
• powered takeoff on wheels
• would LIKE to reuse a 1700kv motor I have (510w brushless)

Thoughts?

[CrashNburn420]

Have you looked at the flitetest planes. They're made out of Dollar tree foam, so it's cheap to build.
Foamy planes don't do great in wind. They're light and have a lot of surface area. So they will get blown around.

http://flitetest.com/articles/ft-explorer-build

I prefer no landing gear on foamies. Hand launch it.

[aperseghin]

so if i wanted to go with something heavier, I could make a foam internal structure (Llike ribs) connected with wood or carbon spars and cover it with cloth that is sealed. that would be a little heavier and do better in a breeze?

[aperseghin]

ok i know what i am looking to build.. a 4 channel High wing trainer.
thats exactly what I want. so whats the best route?

[JEEPWORLD2002]

Hobby king tundra 3s 1800/3000 comes pnp has flaps but not needed for flight. Or hanger 9 has a 15 cc gas one coming out soon

[HeliLust]

Flite test planes rock. Cheap easy to build well documented. They fly nice and are quick to build.

Blucor planes are nice as well but the build is more involved, messy and take a while and the cost get expensive for the foam. Usually when I do a blucor build, I hot wire the wings and vacuum bag them with fiberglass. I also glass the fuse and tail feathers as well. It makes for some nice planks, but time, tools and techniques are probably a bit much for a trainer.

There are some nice blucor trainers out there, but I would think there at least x 5 the cost of a flite test plane. With the flite test planes the prop usually cost me more than the airframe does.

[CrashNburn420]

Usually you try keeping it light with these foam planes. They will fly in light winds no problem but you'll reach a point where you wish you had stayed on the ground. If you make it heavy it won't fly well.



My club is mainly planks, when it's windy they all pack it up and head home.

[aperseghin]

ok so this guy
http://flitetest.com/articles/ft-simple-storch-build

they use cheap foam, can I use insulation foam instead?
i feel like it will be a little sturdier.

[CrashNburn420]

You can try any foam you can find. Might have to mod the plans slightly if it's a different thickness.

I've built a few FT planes with dollar tree foam. The paper adds some strength. I did find the $tree foam to be a little too flexible for the control surfaces (ailerons, rudder, elevator) and used poster board foam for those.

You can get these plans printed at staples, just get them printed in black and white to save money. Should only cost a couple bucks a set.

[Corvette & Copter Guy]

Check out this: https://www.youtube.com/user/ExperimentalAirlines
They are based on the Armin wing.

[aperseghin]

Originally Posted by Corvette & Copter Guy

Check out this: https://www.youtube.com/user/ExperimentalAirlines
They are based on the Armin wing.

thanks, but not what im looking for.

[aperseghin]

Started on the FT Storch over the weekend, made a few mistakes but its pretty easy going. Biggest thing is to make sure all your cuts are very accurate. There are a few places where there is very little wiggle room. Ordered my power pack. it was actually cheaper to order it as a pack than to try to part it out from hobby king.

Still need to get a radio.

[CrashNburn420]

What foam did you use?

Use a metal straight edge/ruler for the straight cuts. Also make sure to use sharp blades, when it starts ripping instead of cutting change the blade. You can 100 packs of blades on Amazon for $10~.

If you can cut on a cutting mat or over glass. I have a sheet of 24"x36" glass that I work on. The blades last a lot longer if you're not cutting directly over wood. I like the glass for building helis too.

[aperseghin]

I use 1/2 inch EPS as a cutting mat and im using the standard Ready Board (dollar tree) foam board. I will probably make a second airfoil wing out of the 1/2 in EPS I have later on.

I plan to cover the plane with tissue paper brushed with a light elmers and water mixture for color.

[yakky]

I'm a huge fan of the minibipe. Very easy to build, even easier to order the kit!

It flies slow, it flies fast, it does ok in the wind. It crashes very, very well too. Its one of my planks that is almost as fun to fly as a heli.

[aperseghin]

looks fun, maybe for my next plane