Inspired by FliteTest’s foam board scratch builds and the FT 3D, I thought would give the construction technique a try. I picked up some foam board, a hot glue gun and a bunch of glue sticks and started researching designs, followed by a puzzled look on my girlfriends face, “...You’re going to build a plane from that?!”
Utilizing some of the construction techniques of the FT 3D, I drew up rough plans hoping to create a 3D and IMAC flight capable plane. I roughly modeled the plane off a mixture of the Extra 330SC, Edge 540 and the Sbach 341. I scaled up the dimensions from the plans to draw and cut the components out of the foam board. The build went pretty smooth hot gluing the foam board was quick and easy. I cut out control horns from light-ply and used salvaged carbon gear from a dearly departed Mini Funtana. For the trim scheme I used left over Oracover film and some black spray paint for the ‘canopy’. I also bedazzled the new plane with some left over decals modified as a play on my initials reading ‘JK Hobby Shop’. After about 20 hours of design and construction the plane was ready to go!
From the first flight I was very impressed as to how well these foam board planes can fly. I had reserved expectations on flight characteristics, but as that plane climbed out on the first take off I knew I had a winner! The plane flies very smooth and is highly aerobatic. It can knife edge from one end of the field to the other with very little coupling. Although I am still learning 3D it seems to hover quite nice, especially after I bumped the C of G back a touch on later flights.
I fly small electrics to 30cc gassers and I can honestly say this little foam board plane has become one of my favorites! I would highly recommend people try such projects as they are highly rewarding and lots of fun. It’s also fun when guys at the field ask you “…what ARF is that?” Thank you FliteTest for the inspiration and keeping the hobby fun and simple!
Specs: E-Flite Park 480 1020kv, E-Flite 30 amp ESC, Turnigy 113MG servos on the elevator and rudder, Hitec HS-55 servos on the ailerons, 2200mah 3S LiPo battery, Spektrum AR500 receiver.
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