workshop tips Archives - Model Airplane News

Removable Engine Installation

We’ve seen it time and time again: a giant-scale airplane noses over with enthusiasm and the engine and firewall are ripped out of the fuselage requiring major repairs. For the engine installation in my 85-inch version of the Ziroli Skyraider, I came up with a removable, through-the-firewall setup for engine attachment for a couple of […]

4 Simple Shop Tips

Simple tricks are the best, don’t you think? These tips may not change your life, but they will make your time in the shop easier and more enjoyable. Have your own tip you’d like to share? Send it to MAN@airage.com and you could be featured in the magazine–and score a free subscription to The Hangar, […]

10 Field & Bench Tips

With time, experience and lots of trial and error, we RC modelers all learn good way to do accomplish workshop tasks and/or flying field repairs. The simplest things can often make the biggest difference. Be sure to leave comments about your favorite field or bench trick or tip. 1 Charged Battery ID If you have a bunch of […]

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 […]

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 Foam Airplane Repair Tips

Now that we’re well into the flying season, chances are you have at least one plane that has been “benched” because of a not-so-gentle landing. Why not take a few minutes this weekend and repair it? Here’s what you need to know. Let’s face it! Accidents are bound happen, and when it comes to flying […]

7 QUICK WORKSHOP TIPS

MAN readers are a clever bunch; you’re always coming up with easier, more efficient ways to build and set up airplanes. Here are 7 workshop tips that we think you’ll enjoy using. Have a tip of your own you’d like to share? Send us an email at MAN@airage.com. Simple Pushrod Guide You may not always […]

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. […]

Resin Casting Scale Parts

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, […]

Workshop Video Tips: Splicing Balsa

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 shows […]

Video How To: Fabric Covering RC Planes

We’ve received several emails asking about covering scale models. While I was building my the 1/4-scale Sopwith Camel project, I wrote this post that goes into detail about what’s required. Your response was impressive and many of you asked about Scale Stits fabric and Poly Tak adhesive, from F&M Enterprises. So, I brought the video […]

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 […]