How to Build Classic Model Airplane Skeletons

Model airplanes have been around longer than actual planes. Ancient cultures like the Egyptians and Greeks made flying toy birds that remarkably resemble the exact shape of many of our model airplanes today. Creating a model airplane is an activity that is exciting to all generations. However, no model airplane can be complete without the skeleton or frame for the plane. This is perhaps the trickiest part in building your own classic-style model airplane, but the process can be very rewarding once completed.

Things You'll Need

• Balsa wood sheets 1/32-inch thick and 12 x 12 inches long
• Wood glue
• Jigsaw
• X-acto knife
• Drill with 1/2 inch drill bit

Instructions

1. 

   Trace the patterns of the airplane body on a sheet of balsa wood. Do this by drawing a rectangle that is 10 inches long and 4 inches wide. Dip a line down from the top of the rectangle 3 inches from the left side. Continue this line straight for 2 more inches and then tilt the line up and back down again to create the cockpit for the airplane. Draw the window with a curved triangle shape inside the cockpit. Add six small circles in a horizontal line just below the cockpit and a small notch at the front of the plane for a place to insert the propeller.

2. Draw the frames for the back of the wings with two rectangles that are 5 inches long and 1 inch wide. Add 8 triangles inside the rectangles. These will later be cut out to reduce weight. Draw these by placing 2 "V" shapes inside the rectangles and then adding a vertical line in the center of each "V" and a vertical line where the two "V"s meet, to split the "V"s into triangles. Draw a rectangle 3 inches long and 1 inch wide. Place 6 small triangles inside the rectangle the same way as above. This shape will be the horizontal tail stabilizer.

3. Cut 2 balsa wood strips 10 inches long and 1/4 inch wide. Cut 2 more balsa wood strips 10 inches long and 1/8 inch wide. Cut 4 teardrop shapes 5 inches long and 1/4 inch wide at the right side and 1/8 inch wide at the left side.

4. 

   Cut the body of the plane out of the balsa wood using a small jigsaw. Cut the holes out from under the cockpit window with a 1/2 inch wide drill. Cut the cockpit out using a jigsaw as well. Drill a hole in the bottom right corner of the cockpit and use that as a starting point for the jigsaw. Cut a small horizontal line 1 inch long and 1/32 inch wide in the back of the body near the tail. Do this with an X-acto knife. This will allow you to insert the horizontal tail stabilizer into the slot. Cut out the triangles on the small rectangular shapes of the tail and wind supports with an X-acto.

5. Create the wings of the airplane. Glue the 1/4-inch wide balsa strips to each side of the body of the airplane so that you form a "t" shape. Glue the 1/8 inch strips just below and to the side of the first strip. Glue a teardrop-shaped strip to the outside edges of the wings with the wide end pointing toward the front of the plane. Glue another teardrop-shaped strip in the middle of the wing, so that the wide end is glued to the front two strips.

6. Place wood glue on the ends of the teardrop shapes and glue the wing supports to the side of the plane's body so that they also are secured by the teardrop shapes. Place a bead of glue along the top of the horizontal tail stabilizer and insert this into the tail of the plane. Let the entire structure dry overnight.

Tips & Warnings

• To add even more visual interest, cover your frame with card stock paper decorated in whatever colors and designs you desire.

• Take your time when cutting so that you do not snap the balsa wood.

References

• www.m-a-e.com (Model Airplane Engineering)
• 4 H Aerospace Adventures Supplement.

Resources

• Check modelflight.com for more information on model airplanes