How to Build Your Own Gas Powered Model Airplane
Building gas-powered model airplanes is a hobby that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. These remote-controlled aircraft use a nitro-fueled internal combustion engine to provide flight performance much like their full-sized counterparts. Building a gas-powered model airplane can be a complicated endeavor, but a step-by-step process can break down the project into easily managed slices, resulting in an inexpensive, foam-bodied aircraft model that can provide hours of flying fun.
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Things You'll Need
- Foam model aircraft kit
- Epoxy
- Plywood sheet
- Engine mount
- Screws
- Gas-powered engine
- Exhaust system
- Gas tank
- Servos
- Landing gear
- Push-pull rods
- Speed controller
- Radio receiver and transmitter
- String
- Lead weights
- Paint
- Paintbrush
- Decals
- Battery pack
- Propeller
Instructions
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1
Buy a foam-based remote-controlled model airplane kit online or from your local hobby shop. A foam kit is great for beginning models and sturdy enough to handle some rough usage during flight. Purchase a gas-powered model aircraft engine and remote transmitter and receiver, as these generally do not come with the kit.
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2
Build the body of the aircraft. Glue the wings, tailpiece and rudder to the body according to the kit instructions.
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3
Mount the engine to your aircraft. Attach the exhaust system including muffler to the engine as you mount it. Use a single panel of plywood as the firewall between the engine and the body of the airplane. Attach your engine to the plywood using a screwed on engine mount, and then clamp the plywood into place in the body of your aircraft. Apply metal epoxy in a coating around the engine firewall to increase the strength of the engine joining and to prevent grease from loosing the glue.
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4
Install the gas tank and the servos in the body of the aircraft, using the epoxy to secure them into place.
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5
Mount the landing gear. Use a metal epoxy to stiffen the foam at the mount to provide additional protection during landings.
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6
Install the push-pull system to control the flaps and rudder of the airplane. The push-pull system is a servo setup that runs rods through the body of the aircraft to the flaps and rudder.
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7
Install the speed controller to control the engine of your aircraft.
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8
Install the radio receiver to deliver the movement information from the transmitter to the servos and speed controller in your aircraft.
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9
Find the aircraft's center of gravity by attaching a string to the fuselage. Check the tilt of the aircraft, and make modifications to correct any natural tilt directions by gluing small lead weights underneath the wings to bring the aircraft level.
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10
Paint the aircraft your desired design. Mount any decals after the paint dries, and then apply a layer of clear-coat to the aircraft.
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11
Plug in the battery pack to provide power to the servos, and mount the propeller.
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Tips & Warnings
Check the airplane controls prior to the first flight to be sure they're operating correctly, with no lag between inputs at the transmitter to reaction from the aircraft.
