Balsa USA Smoothie RC Plane Kit Build No 2 Build Setup, Tools, Stuff

In this video I setup my workspace, building board, and go over the basic tools I will use to build the Balsa USA Smoothie radio control plane kit. The Balsa USA Smoothie kit is a 40 class (size) sport plane and has been around for a long time and is still readily available on the Balsa USA website. For this balsa kit build I will use traditional rc plane kit build techniques.
In each build series episode I will focus a different aspect of the build including the wing, fuselage, tail section rudder and elevator, engine mount, landing gear, tail gear, engine set up (OS Engines .46 AXII), fuel tank, servos and receiver (Futaba), control rods and horns, monokote covering, carving and shaping wood, using CA glue (Zap CA, Starbond CA), epoxies (JB Weld, Bob Smith Industries, Z-poxy finishing resin), tools and everything thing else involved with building a radio control plane kit (RC Airplane kit)..
I have been building, flying, crashing, modifying, and repairing radio control planes for many years and enjoy sharing what I do with the radio control plane community so I started RC Plane Tech channel.
My methods of building rc plane kits, maintenance, running engines and equipment, and flying are not the only way to do things. I always recommend checking other sources and learning from others. I do not consider myself an "expert" but just a guy who has been doing this stuff for a while and enjoys sharing what I know and learning from others.
I fly with Futaba radio equipment, OS Max engines and Saito engines, Master Airscrew Propellers and APC propellers, Sullivan RC fuel tanks and hardware, Dubro RC fuel tanks and hardware and typically run Morgan Omega and Powermaster glow fuels. I fly ARF rc planes, but I also really like to build rc plane kits including Balsa USA RC kits, House of Balsa, Royal and Marutaka RC kits, Sig RC Kits. I use Monokote and other RC covering fabrics.

[@lacrossewisconsin]

Excellent advice! I recommend keeping these videos as long as possible. People can always fast forward.

[@JamesRCPlaneTech]

Thank you.

[@fd2237]

Great work this video series! I will go through all, next weeks. Thank you very much for the input. Clear English, good sound, thorough explanations but very balanced. Well done!

[@JamesRCPlaneTech]

Thank you very much for your comments , I appreciate the feedback

[@stevenzielinski7229]

Hello. I’m a long , long time builder and I truly enjoy your videos. Regarding the pinning down of parts, particularly hard woods, get yourself a set of pin clamps. They are old Rocket City brand parts but are now available through Peck Polymers. Absolutely indispensable when pinning down thin strips ( ie 1/8 x 1/8 balsa ), hard woods, or sheeting.

[@JamesRCPlaneTech]

Thank you, Im happy to hear that you are enjoying the vids, I appreciate insight from experienced builders such as yourself . Ill check out you suggestion on pin clamps. Thanks!

[@liamkelly8684]

Thanks great help

[@billypelkey4766]

Thanks for sharing

[@JamesRCPlaneTech]

Thanks !

[@alaningram8954]

Can’t wait for the build to start. Just the right amount of detail in the Barn Stormer videos IMHO. Keep it up.

[@JamesRCPlaneTech]

Thanks for the feedback on the barnstormer. Its helpful. Thanks!

[@pauloconnor6331]

Great tips for us newbies and those contemplating attempting their first builds. Thanks.

[@JamesRCPlaneTech]

Thank you!

[@helischorsch9786]

…just run into your build serie and enjoy it so much👍…looks to me there is a kind of renaissance coming back to kits and the joy of building something on your own instead of finishing an ARF. It reminds me to my first builds back in the 80‘s 🙌 Thanks for this great video and cheers from Munich🍺

[@JamesRCPlaneTech]

Awesome! Yes I hope to see more building in the hobby as well. That one of the purposes here is to reach out see what’s going on with building in the hobby. I’m happy to see it’s still alive and maybe growing like you mentioned. Thanks for the comment!

[@cotybridges6642]

Love what you're doing! I'm just trying to get back into the hobby after a 10+ year hiatus and desperately want to build my first balsa kit and I feel clueless at best sometimes lol. With no mentor this time around your channel is a saving grace. Keep it up!

[@JamesRCPlaneTech]

Thanks, you sound like me, I took a long off from the hobby. I’m learning myself about getting back into it. Luckily there is so much online to guide us.

[@stevebarr9604]

I use thick plywood with thin corkboard on it to hold the pins! Been using the same one for 30 plus years!

[@JamesRCPlaneTech]

Nice!

[@MrGunnar177]

We could use a video on building a true flat table

[@JamesRCPlaneTech]

Ya, thats a tough one. I struggled with getting my table made. I’m not a carpenter, lol. I don’t think you can buy one . I was looking at a lot of table options and when I would bring a square to look at them they all had imperfections that wouldn’t matter for everything else. So building it appears the best way, but that takes some thought. I end up using a solid door blank, and some square steel fence posts from Home Depot that I bolted together to make a flat frame to support the door. Then used 4 by 4 s to make legs to support the frame and door. It worked out ok, but was a lot of work. I went with a metal frame because I found that even the best cuts of wood could have a little bend. The steel fence posts were pretty true.

[@jimdinwiddie4837]

Just a suggestion for the table, I used a hollow core door, good and flat and sizes 24 to 36 inches wide by 80 inches long.

[@JamesRCPlaneTech]

Yes! That is a great suggestion. I was going to use a hollow core door and ended up getting a solid door for my table. At the time, the choices at my local hardware store were slim. I wish I did hollow because the solid is very heavy and required additional support. Thanks for the comment, much appreciated.

[@richarddarlington1139]

32:22 For many years, I used a brush too...until I discovered Swiffer!

[@JamesRCPlaneTech]

Nice, I also have a little rechargeable hand vac that is handy

[@richarddarlington1139]

@@JamesRCPlaneTech Yes indeed. One should always keep a handy hand vac on hand. 😁

[@fosback13245]

This is a great video for beginners like myself. Do you have any favorite places where you buy kits?

[@JamesRCPlaneTech]

Hi, I would check out Sig Rc Planes sigmfg.com/collections/sig-kits They make quality kits and have a range from beginner trainer models up to more advanced scale kits. Although with the holidays their stock may be low. Balsa USA has a great range of kits. And I never built a kit from Old School Model works but apparently they have some nice kits www.oldschoolmodels.com/ Unfortunately there are not a lot of kit manufacturers these days. Ebay is a good source, but its hit and miss with condition and prices. You can pic up some nice kits on ebay with a little patience. I have about 8 kits on hand and only one, the Balsa USA Smoothie was purchased from the company, all of my other kits were off ebay. I think If I was new at it, I would check out Sig and see if there is a high wing trainer kit. If you have never flown before then you may want to get an “almost ready to fly” (ARF), high wing trainer to learn with then tackle a build. You don’t need to be an expert modeler to build most rc planes. If you have done other hobbies or work with your hands on stuff, then most kits are approachable. I hope this helped.

[@JamesRCPlaneTech]

Also… If you go to Sig for example and you see a kit that interests you but they are sold out, check ebay because Sig has been making kits fir decades and you will have a good chance at finding someone who is selling one… good luck!

[@EdMarbach]

Have you considered any method to help the ceiling tile grip the table, keeping the ceiling tile from sliding around?

[@JamesRCPlaneTech]

I have not had a problem with that so far. Or if it does slide not much. I guess you could try some thin double sided tape or maybe a few light clamps if they don’t get in the way.

[@richarddarlington1139]

26:30 Model builders tend to find themselves in unusual places, looking for things to use for unintended purposes.

[@JamesRCPlaneTech]

Yep, the more doodads you have, the better

[@richarddarlington1139]

@@JamesRCPlaneTech Like pinking tape to simulate rib stitching or a dressmaker's pattern perforating wheel for simulating rows of rivets. The possibilities are endless, I tell ya!

[@JohnSmith-xl9bo]

copy those plans first.

[@JamesRCPlaneTech]

Thats a good idea.

[@daviddavids2884]

skip wood glues.!!!! get some wood CEMENT. i swear by Testors.

[@JamesRCPlaneTech]

Interesting suggestion, thanks

[@Smokeyr67]

I’m a fan of deluxe materials “superphatic” glue, it wicks better than thin CA, is stronger and more flexible than wood cements or CA.