Build a Foam Wing in 10 Minutes!

Build a Foam Wing in 10 Minutes!
Follow along as I demonstrate how to build a foam wing in 10 minutes. All you need is foam board, available from Dollar Tree or Amazon and hot glue.
This easy foam wing is surprisingly strong. The foam board folds back on itself. With a 3/8" foam spar, the shape of the folded wing is amazingly close to a Clark Y airfoil. The foam spar is glued to both the lower and upper inner surfaces of the wing, resulting in a rigid lightweight structure.
Foam RC wing plans are included in the Foam Bug 2 video. A card is shown in this video for your reference. The foam wing for beginners is an ideal starting point for a new scratch build of RC planes.
RC airplane foam wing construction is really quite straightforward due to the inherent strength of the foamboard product. Note that the foam board product is similar to foamcore.
Foam board is typically 30 inches wide. You can make a wingspan of 30 inches, or make a second wing section and glue to two halves together (with dihedral) to form a larger span wing. I use popsicle sticks to reinforce the wing joint. Good luck!
Here is a link to my KZbin Channel:
/ timmckay56
Many thanks in advance for a post of this video on Facebook, it truly helps the channel a lot!
Regards,
Tim
Chapters (simply hover over video timeline):
00:00 - Intro
00:28 - Completed wing overview
02:16 - Start of wing build
09:33 - Discussion of finished wing

[@learningpower9437]

Excellent video!!! This type of wing..which is flat and have a maximum thickness at around 10 to 30 % of the cords...looks like ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clark_Y_airfoil ) a clark type of airfoil...For a novice like me...will there be a NACA designation for this ? Thanks.

[@TimMcKay56]

LP: Thanks for checking in! As there is zero research or documentation on my folded airfoil, no chance of a NACA designation. But, on a light model like my foam board Bronco, the wing works great. Tim

[@learningpower9437]

@@TimMcKay56 I have found that the N-10 airfoil...looks very similar to this foam wing. Hence...I'm planning to do a CFD for getting the CL and Cd ....on this airfoil (I want to check on something like 60" x 24 ")....at very slow speed (10 MPH). From your experience...what have been the best angle to set this type of wing ?...One final request...Do you have a piece of this foam board around that you can measure its weight and volume? ...I need the density of this foam...so that I can calculate the total weight of the wing. If the piece is square..then the volume is L*W*h. Thanks^(N Power+1) as N ---> approaches infinity!!!

[@TimMcKay56]

About 2-3 degrees should be fine. Tim

[@robertmayfield8746]

Tim, that was inspiring. I started my rc plane with something too complex. And I think I should begin with someting more simple.

[@TimMcKay56]

Good luck! Tim

[@iammeobviously6815]

Thanks! Now I'm gonna build a glider using this wing

[@TimMcKay56]

Go for it! Tim

[@kenrobba5831]

Stumbled on to your video - I have been working at foam aeroplanes. I really enjoyed your A to B construction. The technique showed a lot great practical tips. ThankX

[@TimMcKay56]

Ken: Hey, thanks for stopping by! Tim

[@armorhobbies]

Absolutely incredible video! I'm new to the hobby and am trying to build my first plane. I was about to just use flat foam bard for my wing because it seemed very difficult to make a proper air foil. Your video saved me from a huge mistake. Thank you!

[@TimMcKay56]

Glad the video was helpful! I've used this wing technique on several of my models, to include the Bronco, twin motor design and the Boeing L-15. Good luck! Tim

[@perrylopez5884]

Great video, thanks.

[@TimMcKay56]

No worries! Tim

[@timhynde8611]

I've never flown foam... but I'm going to have to try this. So many possibilities. Wondering if CA melts the foam? love everything about this vid except the hot melt, perhaps it was used for convenience, but seems like there would be better options for weight/strength. - Thanks for taking the time to make this vid.

[@TimMcKay56]

Tim: CA will attack the foam. You can use other glues like 5 min epoxy, but the hot glue guns ($10 or so on Amazon) really work well. Tim

[@dylanbirenbaum4473]

This is a great video for a beginner RC plane hobbyist!

[@TimMcKay56]

Dylan: Glad it was helpful! Tim

[@alexismartinez5292]

...saludos desde Guantánamo.Cuba, gracias por compartir,me ha servido su trabajo...

[@TimMcKay56]

😊👍🏻 Tim

[@TimMcKay56]

😊👍🏻 Tim

[@goldenfish77]

Nice wing building vid...I will try it to make a DLG foam wing, but i will take some carbon or wood spar to the middle of foam spar.

[@TimMcKay56]

Goldenfish: Good luck! Tim

[@waynemiller6070]

I've built a few Twisted Hobbys airplanes. And it's almost kind of annoying to spend $100 on something that I think I could probably build myself for a few dollars. This video it's really pointing me in the right direction. Thanks!

[@TimMcKay56]

No worries, good luck! Tim

[@sebastianhill5171]

Good video. Thanks!

[@TimMcKay56]

SH: No worries! Tim

[@fonwoolridge]

Good man!

[@TimMcKay56]

Fon: Thanks for the visit! Tim

[@firozdang]

thanks, how do you add ailerons and flaps on it? Do you add extra foam for that or just cut the part of the wing?

[@TimMcKay56]

Firoz: I always cut out my ailerons or flaps from a separate section of foam board, be sure to bevel the edge at 45 degrees so it can move down without binding, and then hinge. I usually use tape for the hinges. Tim

[@Mikinct]

Great video- Being brand new to RC flying could you help answer a few questions. Last month I went out & boy h my first Aeroscout was 2 1.1. The larger model that has ailerons & all. It came with a Specktrum DXS transmitter. I’d like to start building a lot of smaller Faom RC planes myself. A) where can I buy servos, receiver & motors/propellers. B) how do I know if it’ll work with my existing Specktrum transmitter to bind? C) do most receivers with I move left Aileron up automatically move right one down it does that take programming? Newbie here interested If you have a email I’d be happy to converse through that

[@TimMcKay56]

Michael: Thanks for checking in! I use Spektrum RC gear for everything. www.HorizonHobby.com is the place to buy. Great chat line help, etc. I think the Spektrum DX6 is an affordable start for the transmitter, the Spektrum AR620 a great 6 channel receiver. Servos can be other companies, I use Hitec HS40 and HS55, like them a lot. I am not sure of the bind status with the DXS, may have to ask Horizon. The ailerons should work normally with any receiver. Purchase a Y connector from Amazon, plug into the aileron plug on the receiver (#2, I think). Ailerons will work normally. Tim

[@Mikinct]

@@TimMcKay56 thanks Tim

[@ZmuFFinMan]

If you used 3 spars would it increase the lift?

[@TimMcKay56]

Yes, if you make a "thicker" airfoil you will create more lift, at lower airspeeds, but at the same time more drag. Best for slow flyers. Tim

[@kevinperera7531]

Can you show how you built the dihedral brace using the two sticks. I tried to do something similar but I am not able to achieve the dihedral

[@TimMcKay56]

Kevin: The dihedral brace is a "cut and fit" approach. I glue the two wings halves together, which will hold the wing in place. I cut an oversize channel for the popsicle braces to go into, with as much overlap as I can, and hot glue them in place on either side of the foam wing spar. Not scientific, but with the drywall reinforcement tape, together, seems to work for a model under two pounds or so. Tim

[@skyartrc8286]

I can show you how in one of my videos.

[@jmillerfpv]

Is that the full wing or do you connect more than one together using the popsicle sticks?

[@TimMcKay56]

AS: I connect two separate foam board panels with reinforcement tape and glue, with popsicle sticks to aid as a dihedral brace. Tim

[@rva1945]

Do you have a "how to make ailerons" video?

[@TimMcKay56]

RVA: The ailerons are simply 3/16" foam board cut to shape . . . no real build or construction. I use scotch or packing tape for the hinges. Tim

[@najron7152]

Hello sir, I have a question. Do I need to calcute where I need to do the thickness spot and how thick do I need to do it?

[@TimMcKay56]

Najron: Thickness 20-25% back from leading edge. 1/2” to 1” thick should work. Tim

[@Solo-lb3mq]

Hello sir, I have a question. Does the bend on the top side and on the bottom side? If not, is there a way to make the bend symmetrical?

[@TimMcKay56]

Solo: Works best with bend on top side. Would be challenging to get the same bend on both sides. Tim

[@shankardivate1041]

do you have a proper name for the foam board something wich will make it easier to find online tim?

[@TimMcKay56]

Shankar: Foam board is available from a wide range of art supply stores. I order mine from Amazon. I use Royal and Langnickel 20x30" double sided white foam board. With this brand the paper peels off easily if needed. Tim

[@dylanbirenbaum4473]

Is the paper easy to get off on Dollar Tree foamboard?

[@TimMcKay56]

Dylan: Not sure on the Dollar Tree foamboard, as I have never used it. Getting the paper off is always a challenge, just need to experiment. Tim

[@AndyPorter79]

How do you monokote on foam? Can't use the iron I'm sure

[@TimMcKay56]

Andre: I tend not to use MonoKote for covering foam models. MonoKote is heavy and uses a lot of heat to adhere. I have had good luck with Oracoate as well as the lighter coverings (ParkLite, etc.) which weigh less and need less heat. Also, some foam is just very tough, such as the Eflite Timber. That could probably take MonoKote. Other, lighter foam (such as foam board) essentially cannot be covering with heatshrink coverings, as the heat needed will deform the foam. Just need to experiment a bit. Tim

[@Togidubnus]

Brown paper attached with wallpaper paste is how I"ve always covered my foam wings. Or use gift wrap if you want something jazzier. Paper will shrink slightly which will tighten up your structure. Keep in mind that the grain of brown paper needs to run with the longest axis. Finish with varnish for waterproofing.

[@hanha1559]

How do i know if i made the wing right?😅

[@TimMcKay56]

😊👍🏻 Tim

[@omnamahshivaya2519]

Is it thermocol sir

[@TimMcKay56]

👍🏻 Tim

[@omnamahshivaya2519]

@@TimMcKay56 thank pro sir

[@Danburdick-lm5xt]

if you cant get that paper off the foam spray with "dollar store Auwsome comes in a spray bottle wait few minutes then peel the paper right off, thiers a glue on that paper so auwsome cuts it

[@TimMcKay56]

Perfect, thanks! Tim