workshop tips Archives - Model Airplane News

RC Warbird Tail Repairs

I’d like to present this article as one more example of how doing repairs to your favorite warbird can be done if you take it one step at a time, and “eat the elephant in bites” rather than fretting over the entire sad picture. I will also say it was a privilege to work on […]

5 Great Servo Installation Tips

After you install your servos according the manufacturer’s directions, you might find that when the servo arms are placed on the splines, they aren’t at a perfect 90-degree angle to the servo case and control linkage. Or, after you’ve hooked up the various linkages, you discover there is too much or not enough travel throw […]

Splicing Balsa Sheeting — Video RC workshop Tips

Working with large models, it is often necessary to splice the balsa sheets together for items like wings and long fuselages. To produce strong slices in the balsa sheeting you have to make them at an angle to increase the glue surface so the sheet’s overall strength is not compromised. This workshop video tip by […]

Install a Scale WW1 Engine

When it comes to really looking scale, it’s in the details that we make the most progress in giving our model’s that “used” look. For my 1/3-scale Fokker Triplane, I wanted to bring a better scale look to the front end so I installed a resin cast Oberusel rotary engine available from Nick Ziroli Plans. […]

5 Tips to Dress Up Your Cockpit

With so many great-looking scale model ARFs to choose from today, one of the neatest ways you can make your particular Pitts Special or P-51 Mustang stand apart from the rest is to install a great-looking instrument panel for your pilot figure to look at. (You did install a scale pilot figure, didn’t you?) There’s […]

Resin Casting Scale Parts: Mass Production Spark Plugs

Once you get to a certain level of scale modeling, you’ll start making parts that need to be produced in multiples and, most likely, are not commercially available. This is easily dealt with by making a master part and then reproducing it with a mold and resin casting liquid. Resin casting is considered an advanced technique, […]

Favorite Workshop Tips

In 2018, we wish you fair skies, calm winds, and plenty of time in the workshop. And speaking of the shop, these tips are sure to come in handy. Enjoy! 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 […]

Functional Scale Cockpit Hatch RC Airplane Access

When it comes to RC Golden Age racers, no one does flying models better than the world recognized guru of scale Gee Bees – Henry Haffke. When I teamed up with Henry to build the 1/3-scale version of his Howard DGA-5 “Ike” Golden Age racer, I added several details that a racer this size needed to look right. One […]

Model Airplane News Favorite Reader Tips

Check out these reader tips! Betcha you’ll use at least one on your next building project. (Have a tip you’d like to share? Send it to MAN@airage.com … ... Continue reading ... Join our premium membership!

Laminating Balsa Made Easy

When building model airplanes, especially scale WW I subjects,lamination work for parts of the wing and tail are a requirement. This technique has been used for decades but to new RC model builders the technique of producing lightweight curved parts may need some explaining. Here’s how I do it. There’s nothing exotic about the technique. […]

Balance your RC Propeller — 4 Steps for Better Performance

After you build a sport plane, there are a couple things you need to do before you head off to the flying field. For your engine to operate properly you first have the break it in, and before doing that, it’s important to balance your propeller. Why? Most, if not all, propellers will be out […]

Repair RC Wings — Video How To Series Part 3

Here is the third and final installment of editor Gerry Yarrish’s video How To for repairing built up wood wings. When it comes to doing repairs to built up RC aiplane structures, fixing a busted wing is always less expensive than buying a new one. And of course these techniques can be used on all […]