Build Your Models from RC Aircraft Plans!
Learn how to construct unique flyers from RC aircraft plans
Early gas powered model airplane
The very first radio control models were large gas powered aircraft conceived in the early 1940s. Hefty models were needed for the primitive and bulky radio control gear that was state of the art. The RC aircraft plans and materials used to construct these early pioneers of remote control flight were not practical for the home hobbyist.
As electronics technology advanced, small and practical radio control equipment became available for the every day user in the 1960s. Just about all model aircraft at this time were made from either kits or RC aircraft plans. Almost and ready to fly RC model aircraft were not readily available. The enabling technology for ARF and RTF airplane models would be heavily dependent on advanced computer technology, to include the use of CAD programs and computer guided laser wood cutting techniques.
Kits for model airplanes
RC kits were the most popular method to build model aircraft. Model aircraft kits offered convenience, as all the wood and accessories required to complete the model are included in the box. Model airplane kits provided the modeler with a large selection of subjects. But the best method for the radio control pilot to enjoy building and flying the widest variety of models remains via RC aircraft plans.
Popular Guillow's Lancer free flight kit - can be converted to indoor RC
RC aircraft plans are much easier and less costly to prepare as compared to a model airplane kit. RC aircraft plans can vary from hand-drawn outlines to a full computer aided design (CAD) production. The concept behind any RC airplane plan is to ensure the builder has enough information to complete the model. The key point is that a much wider selection of aircraft can be brought to market via aircraft construction plans than with kits or ARFs, as plans benefit from significantly lower production costs.
Blackburn RC model airplane plan drawn with TurboCAD
In addition to offering a broad variety of model aircraft subjects, RC aircraft plans allow one to add their own details or variations to the finished model. You can easy apply useful building tips. As the builder has complete insight to the model’s design and layout, it is very easy to adjust the construction process as required to incorporate special features. Check out the absolutely free RC airplane plans here.
Albatross scale RC indoor model airplane
Scale airplane info
For scale radio control models, the internet is an ideal resource for interesting modifications of a model constructed from RC aircraft plans. You can readily discover pictures and diagrams of the airplane you are modeling that show interesting modifications to the full scale version that add character to your RC adaptation. As you create your model from RC aircraft plans, it is very straightforward to incorporate these lesser known details to the build process of your model.
An often overlooked feature of RC aircraft plans is the convenient method plans offer to build different sizes of the same model airplane design. Your local copy center can quickly prepare RC aircraft plans in different sizes to suit the type of model you wish to construct. A great example of this is what I did with the Chickadee and Finch RC model plane plans.
Chickadee RC model airplane with Spektrum transmitter
The Chickadee is an easy to build 44 inch wingspan three channel electric powered RC model that can be flown either outdoors or in larger indoor facilities. With TurboCAD, in a matter of a few minutes, I took the Chickadee CAD plans and resized them to the 20 inch wingspan Finch. I then updated the Finch’s free RC aircraft plans to use smaller sizes of balsa and plywood, to include widening the fuselage to accommodate the superb line of ParkZone miniature radio control electronics. The result is an easy to build indoor micro radio control model made from RC aircraft plans.
Micro indoor RC aircraft can oftentimes be challenging to successfully build and fly due to strict weight requirements. The Finch, with its large wing area and optimized construction methods combined with the powerful ParkZone geared electric motor, makes a perfect project for the first time RC aircraft plans builder making a micro indoor flyer.
The Finch is modeled after the Chickadee
Finch free full size CAD plans
Best of all, the Finch has a set of completely free, full size CAD plans that can be downloaded here. Model airplane plans downloaded from the internet often need to be enlarged to the full size required to build the model. With the Finch, the entire model plan is contained on eight pages of a Microsoft Word document. You simply tape together the pages listed on the cover sheet. You will immediately have a full size CAD model airplane plan with all details needed to make this fun indoor flyer.
Download a set of Finch plans today. The Finch’s plans do not contain any difficult or unusual construction methods, and the model can be built in a weekend. The Finch is designed specifically for the ParkZone RC electronics, so you are assured of success with this fun to build three channel micro RC model airplane.