hello everyone,
i am abbas, and i am building mu first ever rc airplane. it is cessna 185 (here are the plans...http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1190685) and i think it is quit suitable for me as it is a high wing electric airplane and a slow flier too(as said on the RCG thread). i have been following this forum since four months and have gaind enough knowledge to start my build.
But here arte a few problems that i am unable to solve myself and need the help of experienced forum members, especially the foam experts like ashta sir, zonuna sir, rc sir etc
I am using high density thermocol as the construction material which i got from air conditioners packing and from fish/ice box. this is not because i preffer thermocol but because it is the only thing thai i could get and because i have some experience in thermocol modelling (i build thermocol models for architecture students professionally).
i have build myself a hot wire foam cutter power supply but i am unable to find suitable wire to stari with.
apart from this i am unable to figure out how to reinforce the wings and fuselage as i can not afford carbom fibre
the plan suggests an undercambered wing but i want to use a flat bottomed clark y due to its gentle stall characterstics so i am unable to choose between the two
nd finally would it be better to use coro for the controll surfaces instead of 9mm thermocol?

Hey you dont really need CF. Get yourself wooden beeding. Its easily available and costs nothing - its not too heavy either. CF helps when weight is a constrain but since you are building fresh use these beedings and get an appropriate power setup.

@rajathv8:. sir i thought of using bamboo sticks/kebab skewers for reinforcing the fuselage but i am afraid it would add weight to it and since the plans suggest blue wonder 1500 kv motor which gives a maximum thrust of 460 gram with 8*3.5 prop and 3s lipo so you can see i don't have much room to experiment

Do you have to use that motor only?
There are a lot of other options available.
I would suggest you complete the model, weigh it and then based on that decide which motor-prop combo to use. Not the other way round.

hello bilal,
First of all a hearty welcome to forum...
i have made several wings using thermocol, and have used aluminuum beadings. I have used bamboo as well and they work good for electrics.
On more thing, if you cover the wing finally by a paper, applying glue(i use diluted fevicol), u will get drammatic but a very good strength.

using packing tape(brown color tape) is also0 a good method to get the wing stiff

thank you abhay sir and harsha sir for your valuable comments. Abhay sir i have tried the method suggested by u but with a slight variation, i have used newsaper soaked in 50:50 solution of fevicol sh and water but i am öt gettin a smooth finish

try to use packing tape,it may help,try on some sample piece so that you can understand

 Im sure you will be having problem, since the newspaper shrinks due to excess moisture.

You can use a bit thicker sheet..But dont dip the sheet in glue. instead apply the glue to one side to be stuck, using some paint brush. I use 1' paint brush for the purpose. The paper may shrink a bit, but you will surely get a good finish when it gets dry..
You can See http://www.rcindia.org/gas-glow-nitro-planes/high-wing-nitro-trainer-using-thermocol-bamboo-and-mirandi-and-waste-paper/msg67075/#msg67075.. Its the outcome of my method. I have used a T-section of aluminium at upper side(which suffers compression), while a bamboo on lower side(which suffers tension)..

Just make a try using A4 sheet on small thermocol.


you can also try Harsha's method.You will get near to the following outcome. The only difference is Cellotape instead of packing tape..
http://www.rcindia.org/beginners-zone/my-first-high-wing-foamie-made-from-thermocol-fish-packaging-box/
Abhay