Bleriot XI balsa kit

First look at the Bleriot XI balsa kit - Tony Ray's peanut scale.
my first built-up balsa kit for decades. Hope it ends up looking as good as the picture. 420mm wingspan model that actually flies. Build video coming soon-ish.

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[riverbankmactavishmcghee]

I built a Bleriot model for a school project when I was 9 or 10 using balsa strips, Bristol board and mum's sewing thread. Wish I had a photo as it was a proud moment of accomplishment and a great memory as well as a significant part of aviation history. Thanks Andrew. Great fun as always.

[RobisonRacing]

As they used to say on Monty Python, "And now for something completely different". Can't wait!

[peterfranzen]

Very nice kit can't wait for the build and maiden. I think you'll enjoy the process.

[thecraftking]

If you ever want to make room for some more balsa bilds . i have room. 😜👍cant wait for this one .

[christopherstarzyk]

I think you will end up flying it. Just make sure it's a super calm day.

[EleanorPeterson]

Peanut scale is fantastic fun, and as far away from ARTF foam thingies and FPV as you can get. I used to fly rubber-powered indoor models which weighed about as much as a gnat's elbow. It's a shock to realise that today's aeromodellers expect to fit tiny electric motors and even micro RC gear. When I started out, a typical Rx weighed more than 6 complete planes.

Flying outdoors usually meant a calm evening, just before sundown. Flying during the day was a really bad idea because of the risk of finding lift. Yep, even in gloomy old England. A passing thermal could snatch your dear little plane away like a dandelion seed. I lost a Piper Cub that way. Sob, sniff...

One nice thing about building super-light was that the planes were actually quite difficult to break. They'd whirr and flutter about like moths, and if they crashed, they just bounced. Sharp blades of grass and thistles could puncture the covering, though, so indoor flying was always safer.

And you were closer to the kettle, tea and biscuits, too. ;-)

[ukulelefatman]

Looking forward to the build. The "old school" kits definitely increase the pucker factor on the maiden flight !

[PiefacePete]

Soo... you can teach an old dog new tricks after all! :o) Looking forward to the result.

[insertnamehere]

Another great video Andrew! Thanks for your content

[properlytwisted]

Can't wait to see this one..Awesome plane..:)

[CradyLab]

Brilliant! I'm rather fond of the Bleriot XI myself =) I think I'd be tempted to swap out that coreless motor for a brushless unit now that they've gotten so small. Looking forward to the reveal

[plemli]

These balsa kits are very fun to build as everything fits perfectly. Whether it will fly (indoors only) with the single motor remains to be seen.

[typxxilps]

Great and far easier than building a

ZEPPELIN

with all its parts ...
Can't wait to see your plane.

[rcaviationuk]

I've just started construction of a Bleriot myself. Not a kit model mind, a scratch built foam and balsa model. Hoping to get it ready for my clubs annual fun day/fly day in 5 weeks time.
Looking forward to seeing how this turns out and hopefully you will give us some updates on anything weird you came across during the build.

[alasdair]

Hi Andrew, you could use a receiver board from an F949 (wltoys) in that plane very successfully. They have everything on board including servo's and a brushed esc for just a few grams, plus they bind to flysky and run on 1S.. theres even a fourth channel pwm output on board if you want ailerons too.
Cheers.

[antonblebann]

🎼I see lot of work
I see Your quiet prepared to
do...🎵🎶🎵

[BlažPetrinčič]

Uh very nice kit...i always liked this kind of model very nice design...

[Spicks]

Ooh a proper bit of building. Are you going to do a time lapse video Andrew? I have just finished building a hand made Micro Stick kit. My 4th traditional balsa build so far. Looking forward to seeing this one built up. Never seen that elevator arrangement before . :)

[joecaraco]

Very cool! I haven't done a stick & tissue build in 50 years. I built a lot of planes as a kid. I now just assemble foam planes, that's not building.

[Tsnafu]

I wouldn't hesitate to ditch the brushed motor and gearbox. Due to the tiny quad revolution there are many dirt cheap tiny brushless motors out there that'll give at least the same power for less weight, and weight is everything for tiny planes.