How-tos

From assembly secrets to repair tricks


Must-Know Workshop Tips

Must-Know Workshop Tips

We have the best readers, and we love your unique ways of making building and assembling RC planes easier. Here are a few of our favorites; bet you’ll use at least one on your next project! (Have a tip you’d like to share? Send it to MAN@airage.com and you could win a free subscription to […]
How to: Make a Cooling Baffle for a Radial Engine

How to: Make a Cooling Baffle for a Radial Engine

Warbirds with powerful engines usually develop high operating temps unless they are carefully integrated into the airframe. Therefore, they really need a custom designed cooling baffle to keep temps down. Those that think the big round hole in the cowl is going to cool that engine, as is, are usually in for a surprise after […]
Installing Scale Gear Doors

Installing Scale Gear Doors

Setting up the gear doors on the P-51 for the first time isn’t that difficult assuming you are given some ground rules. I’ve been building for many years, but never set one up with the scale features as on the CARF P-51. The P-51 has outer doors attached to the retract struts and inner gear […]
Favorite DIY Advice

Favorite DIY Advice

Who says old dogs can’t learn new tricks? Here at Model Airplane News, we learn something every day — usually from our readers, the best RC’ers on the planet. Here are four of our favorites. Have a tip you’d like to share? Send the tip and a quick photo to MAN@airage.com! Simple Crush Plate Purchase […]
Paint Scale Markings with Vinyl Masks: Neat and precise results every time

Paint Scale Markings with Vinyl Masks: Neat and precise results every time

For this 1/3-scale RC Thomas Morse S4B, I used Replicraft 1/5-scale plans for reference. They include everything needed to build a full-scale aircraft let alone a model. You can see my entire building thread at the Radio Control Scale Builder forum (rcscalebuilder.com), which includes multiple photos of all the scratch-built details. For color & markings […]
DIY Control Horns and Servo Mounts

DIY Control Horns and Servo Mounts

I receive at least one unsolicited credit card every month. Usually, I cut them up and throw them in the trash. Ollie Edwards of the Scottsdale, AZ Model Flyers uses the cards to make control horns and servo mounts. They work great on his flat-wing models and probably would be adequate for backyard airplanes of […]
LAND LIKE A PRO

LAND LIKE A PRO

We’ve all heard the old adage: takeoffs are optional; landings are mandatory. Bringing a plane back to the ground safely is a pilot’s top goal. Unfortunately, one of the hardest maneuvers for an RC airplane to perform is the landing, and it is the first one that we pilots must learn to perfect to keep […]
Corsair Metal Canopy Frame

Corsair Metal Canopy Frame

William Warburton is building a heavily modified, totally scaled-out Gold Edition Top Flite Corsair, and he has shared some of this aircraft’s special details with us. Check out the canopy frame in process! William writes: I fabricated the canopy frame from 0.016-inch brass sheeting material. I made a paper tracing of the canopy frame from […]
Custom Servo Installation

Custom Servo Installation

This neat workbench trick is the work of Ken Park, who worked out his servo installation issues while working on an electric jet with relatively thin wing panels. Here’s what Ken has to say. Well, it’s been a lot of fun getting into RC Jets, but I have noticed is that the really impressive ones come […]
3 Favorite Workshop Tips

3 Favorite Workshop Tips

From “part stickers” to prop safety, these tips have got you covered!   Propeller Safety Tips To prevent accidents, full-size aircraft are equipped with propellers that have brightly colored tips. Do the same with your model airplane propellers. Mask off the tips and spray on some bright yellow or white to make the prop tips […]
Easy Scale Louvers

Easy Scale Louvers

When I built a scale model of a World War I German Albatros D.V, I needed to make some functional louvers. I powered the model with an Enya .53 four-stroke engine, and it was almost completely enclosed in the fuselage. To add sufficient cooling, I needed to make the louvers function, but at the same […]
Master the Basics: Straight & Level Flight

Master the Basics: Straight & Level Flight

You should practice straight and level as much as you do any other maneuver. It is also where new precision aerobatics pilots  should begin. It may seem like the most boring thing to do, but in reality, straight and level flight is one of the most difficult maneuvers to master. Sure, rolling circles, tail slides […]
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