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Starting Gasoline Engines—Safely!

To properly operate and maintain models, you need support equipment that is up to the task. Two of the most important concerns we have with giant-scale models are safely starting the engine and handling the fuel (gasoline). When we switch from glow engines to gasoline burners, we need to change some of our equipment; we […]

E-flite/Horizon Hobby Gee Bee R-2

Ignore the Wind with this Golden Age Racer When it comes the air racers from the Golden Age of Aviation, nothing even comes close to the Gee Bee aircraft the Granville Brothers built. And, of all the Gee Bee racers, the awesome R-2 was by far the most famous. Years ahead of the competition, the […]

A Tribute to Our Veterans

Living history has a shelf life, and the expiration date cannot be extended. I’ve been interviewing WW II veterans since the early 1970s when I got serious about writing history, and it’s been a bittersweet experience. Anyone who’s made a career documenting aviation (or anything else) will tell you the same thing: you make older […]

RC WW II Luftwaffe Flying Wing Takes Flight

Erik van den Hoogen’s scratch-built, all-wood Gotha P.60A flies quite well, especially considering that the full-size interceptor it is modeled after was never completed! With a wingspan of 10 feet, 10 inches, this 1/4-scale, 77-pound model Is powered by two AMT Mercury turbine engines, each with 9.5kg of thrust. Our thanks to RCScaleAirplanes for taking this great video at […]

New for Premium Members — Aileron Differential –The secret to coordinated turns

When it comes to setting up airplanes, one of the most important things to get right is Aileron Differential. Being able to fly proper coordinated turns all depends on the type of airplane you are flying. The difference between 3D aerobatic airplanes and vintage WW I biplanes can be very big. This article highlights how […]

Basic RC Plane Setup Video

When it comes to flying your new model airplane, get into the habit of checking everything out before cranking up your engine. Finding problems before you take off is a lot better than dealing with them in the air. This video highlights some of the basics.

2-Stroke Glow Engine Basics

Two-stroke glow engines are by far the most popular engines used to power RC model airplanes. They are relatively inexpensive for the power they produce, they are easy to start, run and maintain, and once you learn how to properly take care of them they will last for many years. Let’s take a closer look. […]

DIY Fiberglass Engine Cowlings

When you find that you can not purchase a molded part for your scale project, it really isn’t all that difficult to make that part yourself. Here is a great way to make homemade fiberglass engine cowlings with readily available supplies. To make the engine cowling for my 1/4-scale Sopwith Camel, I used 1-inch-thick blue […]

Workshop Video Tip — Securing RC Airplane Wheels

When it comes to making good and safe landings, you need your wheels to stay put during your flight. Lots a broken props and more damage is caused when one of your wheels comes off the axle, usually during the takeoff run. Senior editor John Reid shows how to keep them in place.

New for Premium Members — Pro Weathering Tips

When it comes to making scale models look realistic, there’s one thing that really does the trick–Weathering! You can even take foam ARFs and with a little work really bring them to life! We just posted a How To article showing the technique of working with powdered pastel chalk and working it into the model’s […]

Gigantic RC Boeing 747-400 Airliner

This amazing giant scale Boeing 747-400 in Virgin Atlantic markings, is the work of Adi Pitz. The monster Jumbo Jet has a wingspan of 16.24 feet and it is 17.81 feet long. The all composite airliner weighs in at just under 150 pounds and is powered by four IQ Hammer 140 turbine engines. This video […]

Tips for a Great Fabric Finish — Using Scale Stits to cover your Airplane

There’s an old saying in the hobby that goes: “Once you’re finished “building” your scale RC airplane, you’re only half done!” That’s because all our efforts of gluing and bolting parts together leads up to one final goal—producing a smooth and even surface to apply the covering to. With any fabric covering job, the end results are […]

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