Small, radio controlled one, but very nice none the less!
A little over a month ago I picked up a block of crap encrusted packaging foam from an empty plot on the back of the office, I drew some plans inspired on the Porco Rosso plane (from studio Gimli film) and started building the thing.
It´s not actually finished yet, I want to add a windshield and little pilot on the cockpit, but it´s good for flying already.
So, a couplepictures of it. All up weight is about 85 grams and it has a wingspan of a tad over 60cm. A week ago I put it in a box and hauled it around all the way to the Mu Koh Rung archipelago in the Gulf of Thailand where I proceeded to make the maiden flight. And as places to do so go, top this.
Finally, here´s a video of the plane in flight, a bit jumpy I have to admit, but it was windy that day and the plane needs a little adjustment of the center of gravity. But all in all, sweet sucess!
By the way, if someone has a lot of time in their hands they can browse around the construction log I have in another forum.
Thanks, there´s nothing to it about the carving, it only takes a little practice and a lot of wet sanding.
As a matter of fact what took me more time wasn´t carving and shaping the foam, but building the wing strut framing. That thing was hideously complicated with, not only the carbon fiber framing (which was relatively easy), but also all the wiring for the servos, motor, lights, speed controller, battery, etc. The fuselage hatch was integral to that frame so it also included the latching and sealing mechanisms. It took me well over a week to make.
Super job, makes the meagre hour’s work I put in last night on a kit I bought two years ago and still haven’t built look like the pathetic effort it is.
… and a lot of sanding, don´t forget the sanding, very important. Good use of sand paper is all that separates a bad model from a good one.
Although I´ve been making model planes for more than 15 years I´ve only made a few, 3 or 4, like this one; that is, carved foam. I usually make them out of balsa wood sticks and japanese tissue.
So, when are you going to finish that model at this rate of work?
I was a little disheartened after building my previous one, a GWS Stearman, and finding myself unable to keep it in the air for more than seconds at a time. The last time it was airborne, I was doing OK but got unsighted behind a tree and lost orientation - had to let it come down in a field. But this is only a minor interest of mine, an itch unscratched for 35 years or so and restricted by my almost complete inability to cut straight, glue straight, or as the case may be, fly straight.
Point taken about sandpaper, but I’d wager that something else that separates a bad model from a good one involves “letting me anywhere near it”.
