I have been trying to teach myself how to use Sketchup recently and decided to try to render a couple of planes that are on my wish list. I am a big fan of the DeHavilland planes and this one seemed a good challenge for my first attempt. I am pretty happy with how it turned out and I actually think this one might fly. I have a few things left to do, specifically the H-Stab needs to be slotted into the Fins and I need to re-draw in the firewall before I continue. I need to do MAC calculations and find a workable CG to decide whether it will be flyable or not but I am pretty sure it will.

My original intentions were to design the plan as a full fuse profile foamie ala Tony65x55's infamous Mono Block Blu-Baby trainer. I may still do that but as a first step it is simply a profile foamie. I think it will look pretty good so it is really a matter of flying it.

I will post more here as I move forward with the plan and the plane.


Rob...

The following threads were very helpful in my effort to design this plane.

Using google Sketchup for modeling... With practical examples
Free 3D! Sketchup Parts!
Gooogle Sketchup Videos
I also want to Thank Mark, AKA Kram242 For all of the input he has had in threads involving designing planes. Is there a Phlatprinter in your future?

October 24, 2008
Well after a ton of trial and error I finally figured out a method to extract a set of plans from my 3D render in Sketchup. I just printed off a set of tiled plans and I...Continue Reading

I have been interested in fight since the Apollo missions. I wanted to be an astronaut when I was a kid. That didn't happen for various reasons. A note for the young guys, chase your dreams with everything you've got while you are still young. Time is not on your side. I have wanted to learn to fly for as long as I can remember but that is also out of my reach, at least for now. I have been interested in R/C flight since the mid '80's when a co-worker got into the sport and had me out to the field to watch a few times.

Odds of my becoming an astronaut at my age are not good although with the way space flight is advancing I will not count out the possibility of getting to see our planet from space, something I would truly love to do. I seriously believe that I will get my chance to get a pilots license when my kids grow up and move out on there own. I am relying on at least one of them getting a real good job so they can support me. I feel that the time for me to take up R/C flight, as it is for most, is now more then ever. This hobby has developed into one that offers more for beginners then seems possible. With the overwhelming availability of ARF and RTF products the market currently has to offer it is very easy to not only get started in the hobby but to be successful at it. That has not necessarily been the case in the old days.

I personally decided not to go the ARF, RTF route. My background lends more towards scratch building and possibly kits. There are a...Continue Reading