In my younger years, I was deeply interested in model building, an interest I carried forward when I was much younger by constructing radio controlled planes. My main challenge was that I needed a lot of time to build a plane, compared to the relatively short duration it was airborne before a crash. Eventually, I reached a ratio of around 4 or 5 to 1. This meant that I could pilot the plane successfully for about 5 hours more than I had spent building it. Not all of this improvement resulted from enhanced flying skills; I also learned to build the planes far more rapidly over time. Observing the possibilities today, I can see how much times have changed—so much so that it tempts me to take up the hobby again. Well, almost.
The advent of hobby class 3D printers has put a whole new tool into the hands of RC Modelers and Drone Builders that has some serious advantages over the old days of buying a balsa wood kit at the hobby shop. You've got an unprecedented ability to create one off models or to add 3D printed parts to an existing model to make it a better or more unique scale model. The details that go into making a scale model really beautiful were always scarce in those balsa kits. The best modelers had to fabricate all sorts of parts to add those details to their planes. A 3D Printer is an ideal tool for doing that. In addition to scale details, there's a wealth of other parts that go into the plane-servo trays used to bolt your servos and RC electronics down, linkages to transmit power from a servo to a control surface or engine throttle, and so on.
Here's a scrapbook showing some of the many amazing things talented modellers have accomplished for their RC Aircraft and Drone projects using 3D Printing:
An R/C Trainer by the same University of Virginia team that did the 100 MPH drone below...
Old School flyer was made entirely with a 3DDoodler 3D Printing pen!
OpenSwift is an open source R/C Flying wing that combines 3D printing with conventional construction to produce a lighter model...
5 Foot Wingspan P-38 is a Monster...
There's no end of parts like this 3D printed prop spinner needed to build a Scale R/C Plane...
The detail on this 3D printed pilot is better than anything I ever saw come out of an R/C Kit. It was 3D printed by Shapeways on their high quality industrial 3D printers-just a reminder that you don't even need to own a 3D printer to benefit...
A complete 100 MPH 3D Printed drone from the University of Virginia...
Want super-strong and light carbon fiber for your project? No problem. Use the 3D Printer to create the molds. Be sure to check out our CNCCookbook series on carbon fiber molding while you're at it...
For the ultimate R/C project, how about 3D printing a real miniature turbojet engine? Visit MMSOnline for a great video about this GE project. Unfortunately, you'll need Tony Stark's Workshop Budget to be able to print one...
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