EP16: Forming up the Fuse, Scratch Building a Giant Scale RC Airplane

Scratch building a Ryan’s Rebel stick style R/C airplane:

Episode 16: In this episode we will start throwing the fuselage together proper. I use my magnet board to securely hold and shape the sides to the lines on the plans as I test fit, and then glue in the formers and the reinforcement triangle stock to really secure and strengthen all of the joints around these bulkheads (formers). I’m not following the instructions that were in the article at this point, however, there are more ways than one to scratchbuild. I am comfortable with the procedure I am using because I know it will make for a very straight and non twisted fuselage in the end, and a straight fuselage will track well, and not need excessive trim to fly level and straight through the air. As I have said in the past, using this magnet system makes it very easy for me to build straighter.

If you have questions please add them in a comment below.
Tools and glues used in this series: Amazon affiliate links
100 count, seems like a lot, but more is better when the project is big.
The last pdf is the article from RCM magazine and includes that bonus materials list.

Let’s get building!!!

If you have questions about scratch building from plans, post them in the comment section below and I will do my very best to answer them.

Production equipment: Amazon affiliate links

[richz]

Yes! Let's bring back this dying art. I get as much enjoyment out of building my airplanes as I do from flying them. Keep up the great work Dan!

[donsoldgarage]

When you say it's a lost art. I know but I'm 82 so I learned the old way. thanks so mush. And there is a lot of new struff.

[tomewing]

Here I am again, I’m hooked on your videos. Please keep up the great work.

[maljohn]

Totaly agree great to see REAL building. Iv been building and desining from plans for 45 years . Aircraft up to 10 foot wing span.
Pepole just cant be bothered to build and most of them have not got the slightest idea regards arodinamic, building, wing airflow, ect .IT ON LINE PRESS THE BUTTON PAY BY CREDIT CARD ARRIVE TOMORROW. FLY THE NEXT DAY.
JUST LOVE THESE YOUTUBE CLIPS ITS ALL ABOUT AERO MODELING. AND THE SELF SATISFACTION THAT YOU BUILT IT AND YOU NOW FLY IT TO PERFECTION.
THANK YOU GLEN FOR YOUR TIME IN SHARING THIS WITH REAL MODELERS OUT THERE. 👍

[Robot_Child_Productions]

That’s so cool!!! I’m a 16 year old who scratch builds. We are a rare breed (young scratch builders). Not the sort of building I do but that’s cool!!

[oliverward]

Couldn't help but chuckle when you mentioned snapping the firewall on a hard landing. Never seen one go like that but I can imagine it xD

[arielgangas]

The cat, we want to see the cat!....Great video

[larrym.]

Fun to watch-- hopefully this enthuses a new batch of builders/flyers!

[luciogonzalezmoreno]

hi Dan, good building, please continue with more video.. all this Great

[woodfordjordan]

Great videos. I am scratch building a 1/5 scale PBY-5A Catalina. Your videos help me to see what is coming up for me.

[rcnatec]

Here’s a little tip on blocking up like you did with the tail. There are some things called adjustable parallel blocks that would work perfect for that.

[andrewjones]

If you put a small pen mark halfway across the top of the formers it helps a lot when you eye them through to avoid a " banana " or even use a string line from front to back touching the pen mark

[FINNIUSORION]

Great stuff, I'm working on my second scratch build of my own design. First design I pretty much copied my favorite techniques from all the different kits I've built, the one I'm working on now is about 80% lightweight birch plywood. It's very simple and lightweight and strong. It has a fuse very similar to a simitar flying wing, but its a parosol monoplane with a tail mounted on the top of the hopeful it flies as good as it looks lol.

[joewhite]

Hello Dan i am building a rc plane do you make the wingspan the same size as the body length

[daviddavids]

some info. 1) when joining wood, the surfaces to be joined Should be sanded/defuzzed. 2) at 3:59, when building a wooden model, the Preferred adhesives are wood CEMENT or CA. you have Just stated an example, of why this is so.

[salvatorealessandrino]

Hallo can you use something else to straight the fuselage
And the under side put the pièces also in oposide direction for strength
How do you gone fix the wing
Thanks and great building
I dont have a great experience but the one i made they fly greetings
Whats are the mearsuments of the wing and fuselage greetings

[ronmccall]

Where did you find the magnetic a billboard I had a balsa-wood looking for the magnetic one

[insanegaming]

Pardon my ignorance, but if the plans show the plane in completed form with the fuselage tapered, how do you cut the balsa to the actual non-tapered size needed?

[danielnogales]

Hi Dan where did you gen the red squares?

[kemillheim]

Hi Dan,
Great videos. I have subscribed and am trying to catch up with your build. Could you possibly number your videos so it is easier to watch them in the proper sequence? Something like S1E2, or PlaneX_Build_Pt3? That would be helpful. Or maybe you can pass this suggestion along to your editor. :)