Learn How to Design and Develop an Original RC Plane
Designing an original RC model aircraft - Easier than you think!
Pencil sketch of Robin RC model airplane
Flying radio control model aircraft is a great hobby. Today’s RC flyer has a wealth of ready to fly model aircraft available. These well engineered and affordable planes range from micro indoor flyers to giant scale monsters. If you look carefully, you can still find a model airplane kit. And there are thousands of model airplane plans available for the home builder. But what if you want to try and design and develop an RC plane on your own? Can this be done, and where do I start?
Top view of the Robin with structure detail
The short answer is “yes,” anyone can design and develop their own RC model aircraft. Thinking up a unique RC model airplane design, drawing up a set of construction plans, building the first prototype, and going for a test flight is all part of the process. And it can be done by any modeler who can construct a model airplane from a set of plans. And you may be able to publish your original design in one of the model aircraft magazines, as discussed here.
Build from a set of plans
The first step on this path is being able to build a basic RC model airplane from a set of plans. This effort can start with a kit. But you need to demonstrate that you can figure out how to cut out the various parts and build a finished plane just from information on a set of plans, as a first step in the design process. Consider starting with one of the free CAD RC plane plans here.
The next stage on your path to an airplane design is sketching out your new airplane. For your first design, stick with a conventional aircraft layout. The canard or pusher scheme can wait a bit. You can use the dimension parameters for aircraft design that I discuss when drawing out the Robin. Or make your design mirror the proportions of another model’s outline that you are “bashing” for your first design. The idea here is to get an initial layout down on paper, with the idea that changes can be applied anywhere along the prototype build process.
TurboCAD drawn side view plan of the Robin 4 channel profile RC model plane - note center of gravity location
Once you have an outline you are satisfied with, prepare a full size plan using this layout. The plans can be drawn by hand or via a computer aided design program like TurboCAD. The plan does not have to be complicated. It is essential that the full size outline is completely drawn out. The more internal structure you can add the better. This internal detail will make for an easier build process, and in any event you will require a complete plan at some point in the process.
TurboCAD sketch of the Robin prototype
Building a prototype
Once the first cut at a plan is complete, go ahead and build a prototype. The first model from a set of original plans will have a lot of items that you missed. The fuselage might not be wide enough for your radio gear, or the nose might not have the proper placement for the firewall. There may not be a good method to access a flight battery, or attach the landing gear.
Robin prototype frame construction
This is all part of the design process. I bring these points up, because you need to keep from getting discouraged with your first design attempts. Stick with the process, and you will be amazed at how much you learn for your next design and development of an RC airplane. You may wish to incorporate foam with balsa, as Evert did with his build of the Blackburn. It is just like with anything else in life, practice makes perfect.
Learn how to use CAD
I will put in a pitch to take the time to learn how to use a CAD program. I use TurboCAD for all my designs. I cannot tell you how easy this makes preparing the design of an original RC model airplane. Do consider obtaining a set of my TurboCAD training CDs. TurboCAD truly is an intuitive program to use, once you understand how it “thinks”. The three hours of video instruction will get you to this point quickly.
View of completed Robin RC model aircraft
Realize that as you construct your first design prototype, you will make many modifications along the way. This is a normal part of the development process. I jot down a note of any modification or changes that I make as I build the first version, to ensure these updates are incorporated in the final plans.
Learn TurboCAD with video lessons!
After the first test flights of your prototype design, you will see a few more changes will need to be made. Add in all these modifications to your final plan. Go ahead and make a second model from a second set of updated plans. You will likely make a few more minor updates, and these changes can be easily incorporated in the final version.
The design and development of an RC plane can be done by any modeler who wishes to devote the time to actually take on these tasks. It is really not that hard, and is more a matter of sitting down and getting started on this fun project. Your first model should be a simple subject to ensure success.
Once you have your original design model flying, the second one will be that much easier. And, as discussed here, try and get your design published so that others can enjoy building and flying what you created.