Plank Evolution: Pursuing FPV's Easiest Build Plane

[@MrZeek101]

Another great build video Brett . Going to be honest for the video as long as it was you kept my attention the whole time . As to the glasses thing I have the same problem myself and it is age I can find myself looking for the pair that's on top of my head . Again always a pleasure I think you have a pretty fine tuned plank already looking forward to the next video take care

[@usefulaircraft]

Thank you. I'm glad I'm not the only one losing and somehow simultaneously hoarding my glasses. I'm on the road for the next few days, but I'll have more. I've got a host of different builds to share, and the process of improvement is never-ending, so I'll hopefully be able to keep you entertained. And one day, when it cools down, I'll bring y'all flying. Thanks again for the note.

[@mikeb5556]

Interesting; simplicity evolving. Details and rabbit holes welcome!

[@usefulaircraft]

Thank you. I'll have something else out in the days ahead that I hope holds your interest. I'm glad you enjoy.

[@rcforall4842]

I like your build technique great 🎉

[@usefulaircraft]

Thank you

[@AdamWeatherall]

My friend you need more subscribers, this is good content with top tier information contained within. Good work, keep it up, please. Thanks 👍

[@usefulaircraft]

Thank you. I hope you like my other designs as well - I’ve got plenty more to share. Just give me the time to make some more videos. I appreciate your comment.

[@MatyasArby]

Nice! Never did RC, but on reserve last week and thought to give foam boards a try after watching some Experimental Airlines vids. You have a lot invested, most will not invest so much. Good techniques and explanations from an aviation pro perspective.

[@usefulaircraft]

Thank you - I’m happy to share, and have a bunch of other designs - I just need to find the time to get in the garage, build and record videos. If you stick around - I’m hoping to have more for you to watch and enjoy.

[@AndrewHollywood]

This is very cool. Im subbed.

[@usefulaircraft]

Thank you! I hope to have other stuff to share when I get back from this trip. Sadly - the job takes me out of the shop from time to time.

[@Kiromos]

Been watching your videos for the last week or so while on vacation to fill empty time and I have been enjoying your content. Just subscribed. Cheers. I played with foam board a few years back and am now building mostly with XPS foam. Now it might be harder to find in your climate but you can buy here in chilly Colorado 4'x8'x2"thick XPS. Hotwiring foam has been a great joy. I can make consistent 1mm or 2mm thick foam sheets for building even lighter. You can make stencils and cut out foam blocks for fuselage shapes then cut them full of holes and skin with the very light 1mm foam and it works great. I recently started using a CNC machine and am hoping to build bigger and more accurate.. cutting by hand is a huge time suck. But back to you. I love the simple designs and the goal to stay under 250. Stay cool.

[@usefulaircraft]

Thank you! I’ve wanted to build a hot wire cutter, and a CNC - but I’m really limited on shop space, and my one car garage is very optimized for my current workflow. If I ever got a larger shop - I would LOVE a CNC hot wire cutter (as well as a lathe, mill, proper drill press, Tormach….). Either way - you work with the tools you have. I really appreciate your comment, and I’m jealous of your tools…. I’d love to see your designs as well.

[@Kiromos]

My hotwire just hangs on a wall, they really don't take much room, I use folding tables in my 1 car garage to work off of and have to pack up to park the car. Space is always at a premium! Oh man, a drill press and a lathe would be awesome. But try explaining to the wife that you need 2k more of tools to make proper landing gear for your hobby lol "well yea, I just bend wire now by hand... And yea the planes land fine... But this would be so much better! Imagine tiny shocks!!" Lol

[@CarlosVargas-k3j]

Thank you. You made resolved an issue i had on my own plank build.

[@usefulaircraft]

Planks ere a mysterious creature with a very finite balance. I hope your plane flies well. If not, I'll have a beer and chat with you about it. Thanks for your note.

[@ltdorn]

hello, just wondering if we could get more information on your Laser cutter setup and why you picked the one you have.

[@usefulaircraft]

It's a G. Weike LC1290 with a Rudia controller driven by Lightburn. I spent quite a bit of time in makerspaces trying different types, but found the Chinese CO2 lasers net my needs. I've got a 100 watt tube, and a spare 130 watt tube. A CW-5200 chiller, giant air extraction fan and a small compressor for the nozzle. Get a spare power supply, as they go out occasionally. They're an incredible tool. Just do it.

[@hubba002123]

I like this design! I still can't figure out how your camera latches down the nose plate. You showed it in another video but it was off camera and you couldn't see how it worked.

[@usefulaircraft]

The camera arm passes under the piece of foam board at the front of the fuselage that bridges the left and right walls together. The camera itself then slides back into an indent in the bridge piece preventing the nose from sliding side to side. When the camera and its associated hatch are in place, and the camera is slid aft into the detent in the fuselage bridge, the arm prevents the lid from moving vertically. The camera arm’s ability to slide forward and aft allow it to be moved for installation and removal of the camera hatch. The sliding vent at the aft end of the camera top plate slides aft and engages a tab under the leading edge of the wing. When I get home in a few days I’ll try to get a better video of this engagement system to clarify things. It sounds complex as I write it out - but when you hold it in your hand it’s obvious. I’ll work to capture this system better. Thanks for your note.

[@hubba002123]

@@usefulaircraft Very clever! I like your 3D printed parts to keep stuff neat. I also really like the idea of the re-useable O3 camera. I fly quads mostly. Gonna have to think of a way to do this with my quads too. Do you buy extra FC to O3 cables and leave the cables in your planes?

[@hubba002123]

Oh, do you sell your planes cut out? I actually have access to several laser etchers and it never occurred to me to design planes and cut them out on the laser. Does the foam board cut well? Seems like it would burn and melt. I'd probably be as interested, if not more, in getting our design. SVG files?

[@richiebricker]

Love the design, Its almost a wing but just long enough to need horiz stabs i guess. How are ya at making a rounder, sportster type of open cockpit style. Ive scratch built a couple that look amazing but maybe dont fly so well

[@usefulaircraft]

I’ve got some other designs that you may like - but I just need to find the time in the garage between work trips to build them and make videos. The horizontal stabs are an aerodynamic bandaid to help reduce an occasional pitch oscillation at high angles of attack (particularly in turbulence). Look at the tail end of a Beech 1900D, and you’ll see all kinds of aerodynamic attachments covering for any number of sins. Sometimes it’s just easier to add a fin than to correct instability. Thanks for your comment!

[@rbc725]

What type/brand of glue stick and glue gun do you use? Thanks

[@usefulaircraft]

The glue gun is a Surebonder I picked up on Amazon way back in 2015. They changed their colors - but they’re still available, and I like the hand feel and extruded width of the glue line. That said - I’ve used plenty of different brands, and it’s whatever you get used to and feels good. The hot glue is AdTech - the 10” full sticks, also off amazon. They’re about $25 a box - but that’s a lot of hot glue. I really like the consistency of their glue. Thanks for the comment.

[@rbc725]

@@usefulaircraft Thank you for the info - appreciate it ...enjoy your channel and look forward to your PDF plans whenever they are available !!

[@thatguyblue4811]

Are these designs that you plan on selling?

[@usefulaircraft]

I'll get around to putting kits out. I've just been waiting for the summer temperatures to come down a bit, as I don't like running the laser when it's so hot. Today I just got around to putting out plans, but they're very much a beta test as I'm new to making plans for others. If you're interested, check out UsefulAircraft.com/plans

[@stephengould9385]

how come the paper on foam board did not come off?

[@usefulaircraft]

I don’t often peel the paper off. Unless you really get it wet or work to peel it off - it’s pretty well stuck on there. Peeling it off would just be another step, and I’m a lazy man. Thanks for your comment!

[@jonnscott4858]

sub'd, hope it helps 👍

[@usefulaircraft]

I appreciate the support.