Guillow RC Conversion for Newbies!

Guillow RC Conversion for Newbies!

The Guillows model airplane company produces a popular line of kits to construct free flight balsa model aircraft. While not fully scratch built, these Guillows RC conversion are a lot of fun.

The Guillows kits have been popular since they were first introduced in 1927. The boxes have convincing artwork for a wide range of aircraft, from WWI fighters to light private aircraft. Do note that these kits, using electric power, are fully suitable as indoor RC planes.

All Guillow kits offer the same method of construction with half the fuselage built over the plans from formers and stringers, and the wing made from ribs and stringers. If you can build one Guillow kit you can build any kit. The kits also offer vacuum plastic cowlings and clear canopies.

The problem with the early Guillow kits is that the die-cut balsa wood was heavy and the models, when finished, were usually too heavy to have acceptable free flight characteristics.

The updated Guillow kits now offer laser cut balsa and the wood is much lighter. Many of these kits are suitable candidates for RC conversion.

The ParkZone line of RC electronics, weighing in a half an ounce, are the perfect choice to control an RC conversion of a Guillows model airplane kit. The radio control model plane, using stick and tissue construction, works well for indoor flying.

Here is a link to my YouTube Channel:

Many thanks in advance for a post of this video on Facebook, it truly helps the channel a lot!
Regards,
Tim

Chapter (simply hover over video timeline):

00:00 - Intro
02:22 - ParkZone electronics
04:45 - Guillow catalog
07:48 - Plans
13:10 - Lancer flight

[stevemoskal]

Tim, this is perfect. You taught me TurboCAD via your priceless videos. Now, you are helping me get back to the basics with your conversion of the Lancer and Arrow. After I get my first COVID vaccine dose, I'm stopping by my LHS to pick up the Lancer kit. I asked them to order the Arrow kit. Thanks for the inspiration, Tim.

[MrDanoman]

Great video, Sir. Building up a Guillow's BF109 24" Kit #401 right now. Love building these with these little micro radios in them. It's like a childhood dream come TRUE...!!! hahahaha. Thanks for the suggestions, great ones at that. Been building these since i was about 9 years old (now an 'ole 53 man now)

[austntexan]

Great video Tim. Thanks for putting this together. You're a great teacher!

[RobertCookcx]

Tim, your videos are giving me more ideas than I have days left to do. But they are great videos! Thank you.

[monkfry]

Just started in on balsa kits again recently. You’re spot on about building these back in the day though. It took quite a bit of patience, dedication and determination to get them up in the air successfully. I think the frustration is where the firecrackers and zippo fluid started coming into play haha!!

[lilgreencanoe]

I was out shopping for some odds and ends to finish another project today and found a Lancer at the store! This video inspired me to try a Guillows conversion for myself. Your videos are awesome, I can’t wait to start building it. I built dozens of these as a kid and never dreamed that technology would allow for a feasible RC model 😃

[juanjoserecalde]

Guillow kits are great for electric conversion, all of them fly really well, I have stearman, a sopwith camel and others

[Mguitar]

I'm building a 20 inch span WW I Bristol Scout, 150 Sq in from scratch and thinking of using that power setup. I've been building balsa models FF and RC since 1969 and I really enjoy your conversion videos.

[robertgregory]

Nice work. I’ve built that model and four others. Thanks for inspiring me to build another.

[GrotrianSeiler]

This is such a great and instructional channel. I'm surprised there aren't more subs. I just did. many thanks for all these great suggestions. I'm fairly new to this hobby. Fun!

[josephfreeman]

great video. i have done a handful of guillows conversions myself. i have a hard time getting the center of gravity right on those lancers but i think its one of the best candidates for rc conversion. may have to do another piper here soon

[haroldneely]

I bought Cessna 150 not really knowing much a about guillows but it looked like a good candidate for a cox peewee. I’m liking this plane and going electric. The peewee looks good on the shelf clean and dry.

[geoffyoung]

Great video. Just starting out and always wanted to build/convert a balsa model plane.

[alexgonzales]

I finally got around to my first gillows kit. Im doing the Steerman. But im using the umx timber electronics. I think that would be enough.

[MrCrossbiker]

Amazing video ! Greetings from Germany !

[davidburns]

Hello Tim! Thank you for your reply. I've seen on youtube where a guy built a British SE5A as a RC model, It flew quite well. The SE5A has a longer nose than the others in the 200 series, which helped a lot, I'm sure. You should build a P-40 from the 400 series. There's a lot of room in the nose of that airplane, so getting the center of balance right would be easy. Are you planing to do more Guillow's RC conversions ? I've sure have learned a lot from your videos, and look forward to more!

[mrfacechair]

This would make a great series of videos.

[kylesulcebarger]

When I built a Lancer as a kid, I warped it badly when the tissue shrank. 50 years later, it might be time to try again!

[CMDRkarstenvader]

A DIY RC airplane kit for under 100 dollars all together... Amazing...

[ToMeTheFool]

What about a PBY? The high wing and larger size look inviting