Mark's RC Building Tips

This page explains basic modeling information this at often assumed. When I built my first plane, most of the following items were things it would have been helpful to have someone share a little advice on. For example, my plans said to install hinges, but I had never even seen hinges at the hobby store. I had no idea what my options were...

I use drywall as a build board. A 4x8 sheet is under $10 at the local home center. And depending on how large your work area is, that's pretty cost efficient. I usually cut one board into three pieces and use both sides. I can also usually build two or more planes per side. That is under $2 per plane - not bad.

I used wax paper to cover my plans on my first plane but have used the backing of Ultracote for just about everything since. Ultracote is a plastic plane covering that I discuss below. I have also used clear backing off some window tinting I installed in my garage.

Tip: don't let things dry too long on your plans/covering. Glue will seep through pin holes and will also sometimes stick to the clear covering. At times you will not have a choice and will be forced to let things dry over night but most of the time (especially when using CA) parts can be removed a few minutes after gluing. When using thin CA glue I try and remove parts within a minute of gluing. And if I have a lot of pin holes, I will try and remove the part as soon as I feel it is dry.

When I was a kid all we used was white/Elmer's glue. Now everyone uses CA glue. I still use white glue at times but it really slows down your build. CA glue is basically super glue. It comes in thin, medium and thick. What is cool about thin CA is you just drip it onto two pieces of balsa that are held together and it runs between the pieces and binds them together. Assuming it does not get onto your fingers, you have a nice joint that is joined instantly. Medium and thick CA are placed where you want the glue and then the two parts are held together. It binds instantly but should he held for a few seconds or it might come loose. Thin CA can also be used to stiffen up a piece of balsa, such as the point where rubberbands hold the wing on.

Fifteen or thirty minute epoxy is used to join wings, motor mounts or anything that needs some strength. The longer it dries the less brittle it will be - so fifteen minute will be stronger than five minute. I will sometimes use five minute epoxy when gluing something that needs to be strong but must be held while it dries.

They also sell accelerators or kickers that cause evaporation to encourage CA glue to dry quickly. This really works but be careful as it also causes the area to heat up and leaves behind a white residue.

One last word of caution: CA is quite toxic so be careful. It is not too bad if you are only joining a few pieces but when joining sheeting or when covering a large area it can quickly become toxic. So be careful.

Hinge Tape - this is basically clear packing tape that is maybe two inches wide. You basically tape the two pieces together with enough of a gap so the parts can swing in each direction.

CA Hinges - A CA hinge feels like a starched piece of fabric. It is actually a thin piece of plastic sandwiched between material that makes it kind of rough. CA hinges are installed by making a slit with a hobby knife along the piece you want to hinge. You then slide the hinge into the slit. Repeat this with the other piece to be joined and then apply thin CA to the hinge. The CA will work its way into the slots and you will have a nice hinge. Some modelers recommend placing a pin between the parts to create the perfect gap to prevent binding. I have used this method and been unhappy. I recommend installing the hinge as tight as you can get it. And then before gluing flex the hinge to its extremes. This will create the gap that is actually required and then apply CA. Be careful the hinge does not slide in its slot before gluing or you will be unhappy. Also be sure to work the hinge as it dries so it does not become stiff.

Pinned Nylon Hinges - This is my favorite hinge. It actually looks like a hinge which I like. It is installed just like a CA hinge. Cut a thin slit into the piece to be hinged and force the hinge in. Once both parts are installed apply glue to the joint. Be sure to work the joint or it could become still.

Back when I was a kid we covered balsa planes with tissue or silk and then dope. Today everyone uses Ultracote or MonoKote. They are both a plastic film that when heated to 150 degrees causes a sticky coating on one side of the film to stick to the balsa and then when heated another 100 degrees it shrinks. It then forms a nice looking light strong covering that is glued to whatever it touches. It is amazing how strong a balsa plane is once it is covered.

The coating is applied with a special iron. Don't try and use a heat gun as it is too easy to overheat an area and quickly end up with a hole. Irons are sold at hobby shops in the same area as the coating. I have used a heat gun to remove wrinkles but only after experimenting on a piece of scrap.

Once applied, the coating can be shrunk a second or third time by heating it more than the previous. This makes repairs a piece of cake. Basically you cut away the damaged section and reapply a patch over the hole. You can see blue patches on my Telemater where I ran out of green Ultracote.

When selecting a color, pick something light. When I first covered my Telemaster, my first plane, I covered it with a dark green coating. It looked really cool but it was hard to see while flying on the far side of the field. After a crash I decided to build a new tale and then a new wing both of which were covered in yellow.

I usually fly in soccer or baseball fields that are not used on a regular basis. That translates to rough grass. I started flying with two inch wheels, then purchased a set of two and a half inch wheels and slowly worked my way up to three and a half inch wheels.

For someone new to the hobby I would highly recommend building a Mini Telemaster. It is by far the funniest of the planes I have flown and flies like a real plane. (The other models I have flown fly more like models than real planes.) The Telemaster also makes a great aileron trainer with some slight modification. I have seen ARF Telemaster models with aileron wings but I would recommend the Aero Craft Ltd kit if you like to build - just modify the wing.