Creating a radio control model airplane from a kit or set of construction plans is a great way to enjoy the hobby. In addition to balsa wood, there are many new and innovative model aircraft building materials and assembly methods, ranging from carbon rods to fiberglass. Knowledge of various model aircraft building tips and techniques is helpful for the successful completion of your model.

Building Tip #1: The first model aircraft building tip is to ensure that you have a suitable work area. Many of us have the luxury of a dedicated workshop in a basement or garage. Others have to make due with temporary arrangements due to a smaller living area. The size or location of your workshop does not matter. The important point is that you have a plan and focus for a place to work, to include a storage area for your tools and supplies.

Building Tip #2: As basic as it sounds, it is vital that you have a flat wood building board into which you can stick pins. Metal pins are used to hold various balsa pieces in place as you build your model. Without a flat building surface, it is easy to have warps creep into your modeling project. A model plane must have straight and true surfaces to fly properly.

I live in a condo and do not have a dedicated workshop area. I use a 30 inch Guillow wood building board that fits nicely on my desk. All my model plane parts and pieces fit on this building board. After a building session is complete, I store the board in a closet.

Building Tip #3: When building a model airplane from a kit there is usually some sort of instruction manual. This building tip is to carefully study all the building instructions prior to the start of construction. If there are no instructions, as is often the case with a set of model airplane plans, work out a sequence of steps to make your model plane. The old adage of “measure twice and cut once” can save a great deal of time.

Understanding the instructions is especially important these days, as some advanced airplane designs are being produced via computer drawn plans and laser wood cutting techniques. These types of aircraft go together well, but often do not follow tradition assembly techniques. It is vital to follow the designer’s instructions to the letter.

Building Tip #4: Once you have determined your building sequence of tasks, the next tip is to ensure you have all the materials needed to finish the airplane. The goal is to avoid interruptions in the construction process. Check that you have all the wood, music wire, glue and covering items readily available in your workshop. Once you start on your model airplane construction process, you want to be able to finish whatever task you are working on without interruption.

Building Tip #5: After you understand the building instructions and all of the materials are in place, make a “kit” of the model airplane. With a standard kit, most of the model’s components are likely already laser cut from the included balsa or plywood. Ensure that anything required outside of the kit supplies is in place. If you are creating a model from a set of plans, cut out all the parts before the start of any construction. You will be surprised at just how much this organizing step will speed the completion of your project.

Building Tip #6: Once you have all the elements of your model plane build process in place, schedule time to actually build the airplane. This may sound obvious, but it is surprising the demands on everyone’s time these days. Your goal should be to devote some amount of model aircraft construction work every day, even if only 15 minutes. A short period of time spent on building, for example, a portion of the wing means you are 15 minutes closer to your model being completed and headed out for that first test flight.

The theme running through all these tips is planning ahead. Time spent preparing to build a model airplane will always result in the project being completed sooner and with less frustration. Planning ahead is probably the best overall tip available to achieve success with flying radio control model planes.

Until several years ago, radio control aircraft models were almost exclusively constructed from balsa wood. There were some rudimentary building attempts with styrene plastic and other methods, but balsa was the preferred material. Balsa wood’s low cost, light weight and ease of use made it a natural choice to build any type of model plane.

Foam RC models have recently entered the scene in the form of ready to fly aircraft. There is a growing interest in the smaller park flyer and indoor micro radio controlled aircraft. Foam fabrication methods are ideal for this genre. The question remains: “What is the best method to construct a radio control model airplane – from foam or balsa?”

The best way to discuss these options is to understand why the two materials are used. Foam is usually a first choice for park flyers due to its lower weight and ability to produce just about any aircraft shape you can dream up. By injecting the liquid foam into a carefully crafted mold, manufacturers can rapidly produce a wide array of uniquely formed model planes.

These “foamies” are very affordable and fly well. They appeal to the RC pilot who likes variety and the ability to get airborne quickly. Some of these designs are so well laid out that the radio control electronics are buried inside the fuselage and are not accessible to the pilot. Many of these foam micro models can be ready to get airborne within minutes of opening the box.

The foam used for park and indoor model aircraft is strong enough for the maneuvers and flight loads they will encounter. There is typically no need to reinforce the aircraft structure.

Foam can be a limiting factor should you wish to modify your airplane. The use of the wrong type of glue or paint can quickly attack and dissolve the foam. Always be certain the adhesive or paint is “foam friendly.” Should you desire to incorporate any modifications, the best approach is to experiment on a piece of scrap foam before working on the main parts of the model.

Balsa and plywood are traditional model aircraft construction materials. They have proved their worth for over a century of use in free flight and radio control model airplane designs. Balsa is well understood by the hobbyist. Balsa is easy to work using common hand tools. Differing grades and strengths of balsa provide the opportunity to produce any type of aircraft from the smallest indoor flyer to a large, quarter scale plane.

Balsa accepts a much wider range of adhesives, paints and heat shrink coverings as compared to foam. An RC pilot can achieve a much nicer outer finish with a balsa structure. Balsa construction does not require the need to make a mold as with foam models. Balsa is also more suited for making a model airplane from a set of plans.

It is not common to see ready to fly RC models made from balsa. This is starting to change with the use of computer aided design technology coupled with laser cut production and assembly techniques. The main limitation with balsa and factory made models is the higher costs associated with the amount of labor required to create the final product.

While difficult to quantify, many RC pilots have an affinity towards balsa and ply construction. They are more comfortable dealing with these wood products. Many of these modelers embrace foam models as an addendum to their flying fleet. Another important consideration is that balsa models are typically easier to repair after a crash as compared to foam.

Is there an answer to the question over which is better for an RC model plane, foam or balsa? The short answer is no, it depends. A modeler who prefers known construction techniques and materials they are familiar with will gravitate towards balsa. An RC pilot who has not constructed balsa wood models, a flyer who likes a variety of aircraft, or one with little time to build their own planes will typically favor foam airplanes.

In the final analysis, there really is no right or wrong answer. Both balsa and foam can produce exceptional aircraft. It grows your awareness to operate with both types of materials. In the end, you will gain greater enjoyment of the hobby and be a more informed pilot by flying all types of radio control aircraft.

Answers to Common Questions about Model Aircraft

Article by Victor Epand

What are the types of model aircraft? Model aircraft are of two types; one that can be flown and another that is static and intended to be displayed for decorative purposes.

What materials are used to make model aircraft? Aircraft models not intended to fly are usually made from wood, canvas, molded plastic, die-cast metal or any combination of such materials. One type of non-flying model planes are made as exact miniature replicas duly carved and painted with attention given to the minutest details. The other type consists of those that are made from unpainted wood, embodying the basic shape of the plane they represent with just black decals for windows. The surface is sanded to a silky smooth finish and clear lacquer coatings impart a high gloss to give them a strikingly attractive look.

What are the ways in which model planes can be displayed? There are a number of ways to display model planes such as on a base standing separately, on the mantle, on your desktop or tabletop. Some models come with a small base, which allows desktop display. Some models are made to hang from ceilings to give an impression of being in flight. Large-scale models should be displayed on a floor standing base with lots of space around them. Rare models should be kept in protected display cabinets, away from direct sunlight to prevent damage and discoloration.

Is assembling necessary before the model is ready for display? Not necessarily. However, in some models, small and fragile parts like guns, ammunition, propellers etc may need simple assembly, without the use of tools or glue etc.

In what sizes are model planes constructed? Decorative model planes are made in many sizes with large models measuring upto 5 feet. However, some small desktop models are built to scale, which is a reference of the model size to the size of the real plane. A model built to a 1/35 scale that has a 1-foot wingspan indicates that the original plane had a 35 feet wingspan.

What is the price of model planes? Model aircraft are priced according to their size, the material used in construction and the details incorporated. Models with minute and exquisite detailing carry the highest prices.

How do flying model planes work? Flying model planes have miniature engines that work on gas or battery power. Some even work on jet propulsion. The control of these flying models is through a remote control similar to one used to operate a remote controlled car. The basic difference between the two is that model planes use radio waves for control, whereas the others use infrared waves.

About the Author

Victor Epand is an expert consultant for model planes and model helicopters. You can find the best marketplace for model planes and model helicopters here: http://www.sellmodelplanes.com, http://www.sellmodelfighterplanes.com, and http://www.sellmodelhelicopters.com.