How to Build Model Airplanes From Scratch

Airplanes inspire all of us with their speed, freedom and even style. These vehicles inspire the creation of airplane-related toys, movies and video games, simply to give people the feeling they are in control of their own airplane. Creating a model airplane from scratch can be done with relative ease. The result can be used as part of a science project. You can even invite over friends and design unique paint schemes for each person's plane.

Things You'll Need

• 1 12-by-12 inch sheet of 1/32-inch-wide balsa wood
• X-Acto knife
• Acrylic craft paints
• Pencil
• 1-by-1/2-inch piece of soft tin
• Super glue

Instructions

1. 

   Trace out the patterns of the plane pieces on a thin sheet of balsa wood. Draw the wings with a rectangle, 9 inch long by 1-1/2 inches wide. Add a diagonal line in the upper left and right corners of the wing. Draw the body of the plane with a long thin rectangle, 9 inch long by 1 inch wide.

2. Add a 1/2-inch-tall by 1-inch-long trapezoid with a triangular point on the front edge for the cock pit. Add the vertical stabilizer to the back of the plane with a triangular shape, 1/2 inch tall by 1/2 inch long. Draw the horizontal tail stabilizers with a shape identical to the wings, 1 inch long by 1/2 inch wide.

3. Draw two, 1-1/2 inch long by 1/32 inch wide, slots on the body for the wings and stabilizers to go inside. Draw the first directly under the cock pit. Add another slot, 1/2 inch long by 1/32 inch wide, just below the vertical tail stabilizer.

4. 

   Cut the plane parts out from the balsa wood sheet with an X-Acto knife. Slip the wing inside the long slot and the horizontal tail stabilizer in the back slot. Fold a 1-inch-long by 1/2-inch-wide piece of tin over the tip of the plane. You may have to secure this with super glue. This will give the plane extra weight.

5. 

   Paint and decorate the plane with acrylic craft paint. Add red circles to the right and left side of the wing and small triangles inside the vertical and horizontal tail stabilizers.

Tips & Warnings

• It can be easier to paint the plane when all the components are separate.

• Cut slowly and carefully as the thin balsa wood can crack.

References

• www.hobbypalace.com

Resources

• Click here for some highly detailed carved wooden model airplanes.