Scratch Building Your Own RC Plane Episode #12 Tail Surfaces Part One

[@dirkgrobler2179]

Mike....you make it look so easy! Well done! 👏👏👏

[@mikencrcf6018]

Thanks Dirk!!! It is easy, "Super Easy".

[@rigobertodelosrios9120]

Mike : you the best, simple to build.

[@mikencrcf6018]

Thank you so much!!!

[@WinshipModels]

Flat stabs are good. They are easy to build, plenty strong and easy to align and install IMHO. I enjoy your channel, keep up the great work....oh I mean fun.

[@mikencrcf6018]

You too!!! I only recently found your channel and am trying to get caught up. Very cool stuff!!

[@vmokrousov]

Great job!

[@mikencrcf6018]

Thanks man!!!

[@THEFALCON58]

Hi Mike, Glider Builder for over 30 years, can you join the two half elevators with a long piece of hard wood along the hinged edge of the elevators save on a servo $

[@mysticsmokers3014]

Great question! Gliders, trainers and even some mild sport planes don't produce the elevator forces that these planes will see regularly. The two major differences are the obvious control surface size difference and the the flying style differences. Flat spins at full throttle, slow high-alpha rolls right of the ground and the general abuse of dragging the tail on the ground demand a much stronger linkage between the two halves than a hardwood connector could provide. If the plane could handle the added tail weight, a second servo would be a much preferred option. Sadly, the plane tail wgt is always a challenge with these planes until we get 50cc and up. These planes are basically flying tractors. The goal for this project is an extremely durable plane that flies well with the added benefit of easy parts replacement if needed. I've built my share of lighter (more fragile) designs over the years. This is definitely not one of those. Gnats are made for abuse. The huge control surfaces are great for building flying skills utilizing tremendous tail authority. Those demands require a lot of rigidity back there... Thanks for the great question!!!

[@scottduckworth3299]

If you saved weight on the elevator by using one long strip of balsa on the trailing edge, would you also save weight doing the same on the wing?

[@mikencrcf6018]

That's a great question. My instinct days no. Due to much longer stretch of area that we would be applying the epoxy. Epoxy I'd by far the heaviest material we use by volume. It's worth a try though. I've been wrong before. Another consideration is cost. Balsa is sooooo expensive now. Join the FACEBOOK GROUP RC FOAM CORE WINGS for great discussions like this.

[@tobyturnbough8532]

Hi Mike like your videos how do I go about getting a copy of your plans or tracing of the templates I would like to try building a plane like yours

[@mikencrcf6018]

Thanks Toby. I'll re post the pdf to the FACEBOOK GROUP RC FOAM CORE WINGS. It's just easier to attach and discuss there. It's also on the web site rcfoamcorewings.com. I can mail a hard copy if needed. You pay shipping and print. $20.