In this episode of DIY Radio Control Hobbies, host Chris Chianelli looks at giant-scale ARF ("almost-ready-to-fly") planes. After an introduction to giant-scale flyers, he shows how to install an engine and aerobatic smoke-delivery system on one of these scaled down aircraft, and offers some flying tips and suggestions.
Introduction to Giant-Scale ARF Flyers
- All of the ARF flyers shown in this episode of DIY Radio Control Hobbies can be assembled and ready to fly within about 3 days. Prior to the advent of ARF kits, models comparable to these might have required weeks or months of painstaking assembly.
- Though some high-end planes in this category can be expensive, the ones shown here are priced for novices and the budget-conscious -- roughly in the $250-$300 price range.
- A misconception about these large flyers is that their size makes them difficult to fly. In actuality, these planes are not only easy to build, but they are easy to learn to fly as well. Easier, in fact, than some of their smaller counterparts.
- The plane built and flown in the demonstration is known as the Taylorcraft built by Hangar 9 and available from Horizon Hobbies.
- The plane comes largely prefabricated, with the fuselage (figure A) and other main components already pre-assembled.
- The interior of the fuselage (figure B) already has cut-outs for accommodating radio receiver, servos, etc. The plane is constructed mostly of high-quality balsa wood and plywood throughout.
- The wings are also constructed from balsa, rather than foam or plastic, and join easily together and to the fuselage by means of the main dihedral brace (figure C).
- Giant-scale flyers incorporate flexibility in terms of engine options. For our Taylorcraft, a Sonoa-23 was selected. This gas-ignition engine (figure D) that uses a sparkplug, and is actually similar in design to the motor in a leaf-blower. This one can be outfitted with a smoke muffler, and attached to a smoke-delivery system, which is installed in a later segment.
- Other popular giant-scale flyers include real-plane replicas such as:
- The DeHaviland Tiger Moth, an accurate facsimile of a WWII-era RAF trainer biplane;
- The famous American P-51 Mustang (figure E) that comes with working wing-flaps and retractable landing gear;
- The S1 Pitts, a stunt-flyer biplane and a staple at air shows (figure F).
- One of the best giant-scale RC planes for beginners and novices is the Spacewalker (TM ) from Great Planes (figure G). This quarter-scale plane has a full 79-inch wingspan, and is one of the least expensive kits in this category at under $250.
In the segment that follows, Chris installs the gas-powered engine on the Taylorcraft flyer, and prepares the fuel lines and smoke muffler.
RESOURCES :
Horizon Hobby
Horizon Hobby is a supplier of radio-controlled planes, cars, boats, etc.
Horizon Hobby
Website: www.horizonhobby.com
Great Planes Model Distributors
Distributor of radio-controlled model planes, cars, boats, trucks etc.
Great Planes Model Distributors
Website: www.greatplanes.com
TaylorCraft by Hangar 9 (giant-scale RC plane)
Horizon Hobby
Website: www.horizonhobby.com
Spacewalker (giant-scale RC plane)
Great Planes Model Distributors
Website: www.greatplanes.com
| 
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
