Free-Flight Basics #11 - Making Props From a Cheese Container...

...or a plastic bucket, or from a soda bottle. Therein lies the fun of this tutorial. Many have asked about my homemade props, so this episode will show you all that you'll need to start making your own, using basic household items, along with a few bits of brass & aluminum tubing. Filmed & photographed by Tom Hallman using a Canon PowerShot SX20, iPhone 11Pro & 14Pro. Thx to Pete Kaiteris for his in-flight photos. Music via the talented musicians at artist.io, who breathe life into my films.

There are many, many ways to build a model airplane, but the approaches seen here are what has worked best for me. I try to take a grass roots approach, as I was taught by my mentors early on within the Flying Aces Club. Hopefully the methodical step by step approach in this film will be universally understood and received by newcomers to the hobby.

The complete FF Basics playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLP6c2w2UvGmeX5W-FBP4SbPbPydcHUBzG

Prop blade design for many of my models: http://2002.hallmanstudio.com/Prop_blades.pdf
Prop pitch gauge plan by Paul Bradley: http://2002.hallmanstudio.com/Prop_Pitch_Gauge.pdf
Prop pitch gauge kit from Retro RC: http://retrorc.us.com/freewheel-pusher-1-1-2-1.aspx
Nocal prop pitch gauge from Volaré Products: https://volare-products.myshopify.com/products/3d-printed-nocal-prop-form-and-pitch-gauge

Plans for models in this tutorial :
Babcock: https://thegeebee.com/product/1931-babcock-taubman-lc-13-36-5in-wingspan/
Corona Cougar: http://2002.hallmanstudio.com/corona_cougar_1322.pdf
Corona Cougar doc: http://2002.hallmanstudio.com/CoronaCougar_doc.jpg
Ryan M-1 Mailplane: http://2002.hallmanstudio.com/Mooney_RyanM1.pdf
Nicholas-Beazley NB-3: http://2002.hallmanstudio.com/nicholas_beasley_nb-3_3622.pdf
Hodek based on this 15" plan by Lubomir Koutny: https://store.flying-models.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=466
18" Curtiss Condor plan: http://2002.hallmanstudio.com/Condor_plan.pdf
Peanut Mr. Smoothie plan by Dick Howard: http://2002.hallmanstudio.com/Smoothie13_Howard.pdf
37" MiG-DIS based on plan by Lubomir Koutny.
Boeing 306-C based on plan of the 306-B by Pres Bruning: http://2002.hallmanstudio.com/Bruning_BOEING_306B.pdf
Boeing 306-C 3-View and general plan layout: http://2002.hallmanstudio.com/Boeing_306C_3V_spread.pdf

*** 10 steps to trimming a rubber model, by John Koptonak: http://www.flyingacesclub.com/PFFT/Trimming10steps.pdf

Here's a source for rubber: https://www.faimodelsupply.com/product-category/tan-super-sport-rubber/
Generic rubber turns calculator: http://2002.hallmanstudio.com/rubber_turns_calculator.pdf
Badge Classic DT & spring (at the bottom of the page): http://www.starlink-flitetech.com/timers.html

Also, these tutorials from Easy Built Models: https://easybuiltmodels.com/tips.htm#gsc.tab=0
For more info on free-flight rubber-powered models, check these websites:
https://brooklyn-balsa.square.site
http://www.easybuiltmodels.com/
https://volare-products.myshopify.com
http://www.flyingacesclub.com
National Free Flight Society - https://freeflight.org/
Mike Stuart's Flying Scale Models - http://www.ffscale.co.uk/
https://www.freeflightsupplies.co.uk

Flying Aces Club merchandise: https://www.cafepress.com/flyingacesclub
All profits support Flying Aces Club activities.
Center of Gravity merchandise: https://www.cafepress.com/centergravity