How to Put Together an RC Slow Stick Airplane

Radio controlled slow stick airplanes are also known as park flyers, because they are so small they can be flown anywhere.

Radio controlled slow stick airplanes are designed for beginners. They are easy to control and simple to build, since they come almost ready to fly (ARF). Unlike a standard RC kit, which needs to have every wing rib and strut cut out and glued together, an ARF comes with the wings and fuselage already assembled. All that you need to add are the control servos, motor, receiver and battery, then attach the wings and your airplane is ready to fly.

Things You'll Need

• Slow stick airplane kit
• Electric RC engine
• Screwdriver
• Screws
• Velcro
• Scissors
• Battery
• Epoxy
• Plastic of styrofoam cup
• Popsicle stick
• 4 micro-servos
• Micro receiver
• Propeller

Instructions

1. Remove the fuselage and wings from the box and place them separately on a flat, dry surface. Although the body of the plane is already built, you need to attach the electronics in order to make it fly.

2. Place the engine in the motor mount on the front of the airplane and screw it into place with a screwdriver. The instructions for the airplane will tell you which engine to use, in case the kit did not come with one.

3. Mount the battery behind the engine and connect them together by plugging the battery into the space provided on the motor. Cut a half-inch piece of Velcro with the scissors. Place one side on the inside of the engine compartment where the battery will go, and the other on the underside of the battery. This will hold the battery in place, but allow you to remove it for charging.

4. Prepare the epoxy in a disposable cup. Stir an equal portion of each bottle together with a Popsicle stick until they are blended well.

5. Connect a micro-servo to the engine with the provided connectors. It should fit right behind the battery. Use a small amount of the epoxy applied with the Popsicle stick to hold it in place.

6. Epoxy one micro-servo to the bottom of each of the wings. They need to connect with the control lines that will move the flaps.

7. Connect the last micro-servo to the underside of the tail on the rear of the fuselage. It will control the rudder and needs to be attached to the exisiting control lines. Use the epoxy to hold it into place.

8. Place the receiver on the underside of the tail, slightly further in than the micro-servo. Connect it to all of the micro-servos using the existing control lines. Cut two half-inch pieces of Velcro and use them to hold the receiver in place, with one piece of Velcro on either end.

9. Attach the propeller to the front of the engine. Unscrew the propeller nut and thread the center of the propeller over the base. Screw the nut back in by hand until it is secure. Be careful not to over tighten the nut, or the propeller will not spin correctly.

References

• Hooked on RC Airplanes: Choosing a beginner plane
• Millennium RC: Slow stick trainers
• Hooked on RC Airplanes: Building radio controlled airplanes