Popular Articles
Model Rocket Maintenance
You've built a rocket and flown it several times and you are starting to notice some wear and tear on both your rocket and launch equipment. How do you keep your rocket gear looking good while performing at a high level and staying safe?
Gundam Model Basics
Welcome to the fun world of Gunpla. Gunpla is short for "Gundam Plastic Models" (In Japan, it's just a fad if it doesn't have some weird word to describe it's fanbase). Gundam models are perfect kits...
Filling Model Kit Seams
Let's face it. No one, and I mean no one, enjoys filling seams. It is easily the worst part of building model kits. But, it's gotta be done. Nothing ruins a model faster than a poorly filled seam. Today, I will share some pointers with you...
Model Rocket Range Boxes
You've built your model rocket and have it all ready for its maiden flight. You've watched the weather report and have a good day for launch. In order to launch a rocket, you need to gather your range box. A range box is a fancy term for...
Aftermarket Model Kit Parts
Previously, I have talked about ways to save money by using alternatives to aftermarket parts for your model kit builds. Today I will discuss the various types of aftermarket sets out there and point out their strengths and...
Building A Model Rocket
Today, I will show you how to build a model rocket. I will be using Estes Mini Max for this demonstration. This is a basic rocket that will provide a good first step and teach you all the skills necessary to complete your very own rocket.
Model Rocket Recovery
You've just spent the weekend building your new model rocket and it's time to fly. The last thing you want to do is have all that time and hard work come crashing into the ground. So, let's talk about rocket recovery.
F-100 Model Kit Review
The Trumpeter 1:32nd F-100D is the first production styrene model kit of this aircraft in the bigger scale. The kit does come with a hefty price tag, selling for $150.00, though it can be found in the $120 range from...
Model Kit Weathering Guide
Weathering can be as subtle as the discoloration from a super-heated exhaust pipe on a motorcycle or as prominent as faded paint on a plane. A good weathering job will make your model kit stand out and jump off the shelf.
Radio Controlled Airplanes
Radio controlled (RC) planes are available with both gas powered and electric engines. 3 and 4 channel receivers are the most common, though some gliders and entry level planes can operate with just a 2 channel receiver. Read on for more information about RC airplanes.
History of Radio Controlled Airplanes
Remote controlled airplanes have been around since the early 1900s. As soon as the airplane was created, everyone has wanted to duplicate its ability to fly through the air in miniature form. Some of the early radio controlled airplanes were of war-era planes while today, you can often find modern types of aircraft such as jets, propeller planes, and commercial airliners. Radio controlled planes are also getting more and more advanced because technology is allowing for smaller battery packs, for instance.
Radio controlled (RC) planes and aircraft are filling up the shelves in both toy stores and hobby shops alike. Whether you are looking for an RC plane to build yourself or a ready to fly kit, you'll be able to find various sizes from a miniature 1:64 scale all the way up to a large 1:5 ratio. Other RC aircraft are available too, including fighter jets, water planes, and crop dusters.
Types of R/C Plane Kits
The kits that you can purchase can range in cost as well as amount of assembly that is required. Some are complete kits that allow you to build the entire plane, add the wings, paint your own logos on them and attach the wires to make them fly. If you just want to open the box and fly the plane those are available, too. They are as easy or as detailed as you want to get. The kits can range in cost from about $20 to upwards of several thousand dollars. The more control you want to have and the larger the plane, the more expensive they'll be.
R/C Plane Propulsion Systems
The method of propulsion is also something a hobbyist should consider when shopping for a RC airplane. The heavier the plane, the more power it will take to propel the plane through the air. Most model airplanes use a glow engine, also referred to as a nitro engine. These are much easier to come by and are cheaper than gasoline engines. Glow engines burn nitro-methane fuel and use a glow plug to initiate the combustion.
If you've got a larger plane (over 10 pounds), you'll most likely need a gasoline engine. These will require an ignition system, so they're more costly and it will usually mean less power than a nitro engine, too. The general rule here is that the smaller the plane, the less expensive it is to power it. Nitro fuel is ultimately more expensive than gasoline, but if you are using only a little bit, it's going to last you longer so the cost effectiveness of nitro versus gasoline may not be a big issue for you. If you are all about cost savings and don't care about power, then you don't even need a gas engine - look for something that's powered by a few AAA batteries instead.
R/C Plane Transmitters
The biggest part of a remote control plane is not what's in the air but in your hand. The transmitter is the handheld device you'll use to send radio signals to the receiver that's in the plane. Each signal you send to the plane, whether it's to turn, land or perform aerobatics will need to be transmitted through a handheld device. The number of channels that you will use to transmit your commands to the airplane depend on the number of servos that are in your model. If you have the money, go for a spread spectrum technology transmitter. Your plane will change frequencies as needed and only to ones that aren't in use.
Generally, you will want to control:
- Up and down of the aircraft (also called the elevator).
- Throttle, which is the amount of power or speed transmitted to your RC plane.
- Turning (also called Yaw, or the left and right controls).
- Flaps, which help to increase lift and conversely increas drag. Flaps are primarily used for takeoffs and landings.
Now that you've got a plane, you may want to fly it around the neighborhood or show it off. Various cities and states have competitions for flying. Just as you would enter a soap box derby, you can enter your radio control plane in various competitions. Many of them are designed for planes that you have built from scratch or through the use of a kit, but check the rules. It's a great way to have some extra fun with your plane and even win a little bit of money or bragging rights.