How to build a simple model plane
Purchase kits
No experience or tools needed! Just add glue! Then follow video instructions below. |
or make parts yourself.
Visit your local hobby and craft stores for materials. You will need tools to cut balsa. Parts list is in the instruction sheet. Then follow the video instructions below. |
Video series on how to build your Squirrel
A brief video of what all the parts will look like once you have purchased a kit or have made the parts yourself.
Don't hesitate to contact Darcy at any time for help or to provide feedback.
This video shows what the part looks like and where they go on the model. Watching this video may make it easier to follow the video series below.
Study each step all the way through before starting the step. Watch the video and study any pictures that are provided.
Here is a picture of all the parts of a Squirrel.
If you have purchased a kit or are satisfied that you have all the parts follow the video instructions below!
Good luck and have fun!
Step 1: Lay out tissue paper
Cut or tear the tissue into three strips that are at least:
16", 6" and 2" (about 40 cm, 15cm and 5cm)
It's important to lay everything out neatly in front of you with the long piece of tissue furthest from you.
Tip 1: You should cut these a bit oversize so that there is room for error. The extra tissue will be cut away later when the model is complete.
They are for the wing, rear wing (horizontal stabilizer) and fin respectively.
Tip 2: Make sure you have enough space to work and the space in front of you is clear. Especially in a group environment as if you are crowded, people elbows will break their airplane and other people's air planes.
Tip 3: If you crumple the 16 inch piece it will be more immune to warping.
Advanced Tip 4: Another method is to join two strips together from two narrower strips using a glue stick. You can use different colours. It will look nicer. It will not be as prone to warp because if the tissue shrinks, the glue joint may slip.
Step 2: Wing Leading Edge
We use the Glue Stick to glue the 12" (30cm) Wing Leading Edge to the tissue. It's one of the thin 12" pieces. We want to glue it right on an edge of the tissue. Be sure to leave two inches of extra tissue on each side which will become the winglets later. When using a glue stick be sure to not press too hard and to always rotate it or use a different part of it so that it does not get groves in it.
Step 3: Install Outer Wing Ribs
The Outer Wing Ribs are the Wing Tips of the airplane. We need to use the glue stick AND the white glue.
IMPORTANT: We never apply white glue (carpenter glue, kraft glue, tacky glue, etc.) directly to the airplane from the bottle. It's important to put a blob of white glue on a wax paper or plastic surface and then use a toothpick to transfer the glue from the blob to the surface being glued. This allows us to use the right amount of glue (which is very little). With this technique, the glue will dry in minutes. If you don't use this technique it may take hours to dry and add excess weight to your model. Other glues such as Cyanoacrylates (CA, Super glue and such) may work but are very dangerous and are not suitable for children.
We use the glue stick to glue the Outer Wing Ribs to the tissue and White Glue to glue them to the Leading Edge.
Add the Glue Stick first then the White Glue to the end of each piece. Be sure to get a firm wood to wood glue joint.
