Conventional radio controlled airplanes consist of three essential sections: the fuselage, the wings and the tail, or rudder. The tail needs to be attached to the fuselage, but can be fashioned separately out of different parts. However, unconventional aircraft can be made from household objects. In order to make one, you need to find lightweight items that are sturdy, yet aerodynamic, The frame of the plane needs to be able to support a small motor and servos, or else it will not fly correctly.
Arrange the wooden stakes into an overlapping five-pointed star pattern. This will be the body of the airplane: the pointed front is the nose, the two points on either side are the wings, and the remaining two will make up the tail. Slice the stakes near the overlapping areas to make the fuselage flat, not bumpy, and discard any extra pieces. Glue each remaining piece of the wooden star together securely, and let it dry for about two hours.
Lay the tarp on a flat, dry surface. Place the star-shaped airplane on it and trace its shape onto the tarp. Remove the airplane and set it aside. Measure 1 inch around the entire shape, marking the distance every 4 inches. You are creating the overlap that will give you a room to glue the tarp to the star. Draw the new star shape and cut it out. Epoxy the tarp to the airplane, folding under the extra to give it extra strength. Let the epoxy dry for a half-hour.
Place the Styrofoam tray so that the flat bottom is down, and the raised edges face up. Sketch out a large triangle with the marker. The triangle needs to be at least 4 inches long on all sides. Cut it out with the utility knife. Position the triangle at the back center of the fuselage. It needs to be equally between both tail sections, on the top side of the plane where it is supported by the wooden frame. The Styrofoam triangle should be on its thin edge so that it stands up, with the wider section pointing towards the back of the plane. The small pointed end needs to face the front.
Attach the motor of the plane to the underside of the fuselage at the nose point with some epoxy. Remember to use a very lightweight electric motor, or else the plane will be nose heavy and will not fly well.
Things You'll Need
- Five 24-inch-long wooden garden stakes
- Wood glue
- Styrofoam tray
- Utility knife
Amanda Hevener has been a freelance writer and photographer since 2006. She is a member of the Akron Press Club. Her writing has appeared on SeededBuzz, Swords.com, Baseball Fandom and Deep Left Field. She reviews restaurants for AltOhio and other websites. She has a Bachelor of Arts in journalism and English from Ashland University.