Making an airplane of balsa and have already named it  F.F.2.E(Free.Flight.to.Electronic)

Will post pics of the F.F.2.E and what ever details possible  as i build along .it is difficult for me to build and make videos or take pic while building im not good at it also being a very lite build have to becareful parts break easily,but will try my best,as many have asked me.

The F.F.2.E plane specs will be
Wing span- 25"
Fuse -21.5"   
Weight up to - 16grams
Electronics- salvaged from the RTF mini vapor ,horizon hobby
Material - will post as I build along with pictures

My last plane
https://www.rcindia.org/electric-planes/micro-slow-flyer-the-balsa-tortise/?topicseen

Had broken so this build will be similar, with a few changes in the plan.

This is the F.F.2.E plan.
Sorry to be untidy but this is the best I can draw so bare with me and go with the flow

Started with the fuse
Fuselage is 21.5"
Detachable into 2 parts 12" and 9.5"
1mm sheet of balsa was taken. Sheet Cut into 2cm x 21.5".this was then sanded down like a thin paper,when held under light could actually see light through made it as thin as possible.
It was then made wet under the tap with normal water and wrapped around a balsa dowel around 4mm dia balsa dowel,u can use anything to get the shape.once carefully rolled around the dowel I tied it with sewing thread and left it to dry.

Link to video of the fuse added in post #3 below

https://youtube.com/shorts/N7iGlq-3Gn8?si=sgG48fiseA-CHBDY

Quote from: romanxdsouza on September 05, 2025, 03:05:23 PMStarted with the fuse
Fuselage is 21.5"
Detachable into 2 parts 12" and 9.5"
1mm sheet of balsa was taken. Sheet Cut into 2cm x 21.5".this was then sanded down like a thin paper,when held under light could actually see light through made it as thin as possible.
It was then made wet under the tap with normal water and wrapped around a balsa dowel around 4mm dia balsa dowel,u can use anything to get the shape.once carefully rolled around the dowel I tied it with sewing thread and left it to dry.

Link to video of the fuse added in post #3 below

After this is done https://youtube.com/shorts/N7iGlq-3Gn8?si=sgG48fiseA-CHBDY
 it takes a roll shape , then i glued it.used minimum glue as possible.can glue it while the thread is on it too will be easier .
Use this process to glue with a pin
https://youtube.com/shorts/rIIiKngV3fU?si=4w3E_vqtkOO9YvaO
See post #9
once all gluing is done cut it into 2 parts.to make a Detachable hollow fuse.12inch and 9.5inch

The fuse can be made in 1piece,but since I want to keep it safe in a box I made it in 2 parts.

The 12inch fuse will have the wing post sit on it and the 9.5inch will have the tail.and rudder(detchable) on it.in the
12inch piece i put a piece of 1inch long x 4mm dia balsa  inside it , 1/2inch out side the tube 1/2 inch inside the tube ,then tied the inside piece  with thread and then glued it ,once dried removed the thread .this is done to make a Detachable joint between both pieces.

Next was time to join both parts of the fuse the 12inch and 9.5inch togethere.
So the 9.5inch fuse  was put over the dowel of the 12inch fuse.tied both with thread and then  glued.was very careful here as the 9.5inch fuse should not get glued to the 12inch fuse..I think pics would explain better

Detachable fuse is now ready.

Anyone has questions so far about the fuse.please ask now while its fresh in my mind.

Ohhh about gluing.took a used tablet cover pour some drops of superglue(fevikwik) into it and used a pin to carry glue to the balsa joints.be as lite as possible we need a good AUW.u can use any method u like  key is to use less glue as possible.

Moving to the ribs for the wing and the elevator,took a sheet of 1mm balsa and sliced 1.5mm long strips of it(1mmx1.5mm).then cut them to 7inch long.(apologise cant take video and build together,hope pics help)
So these pieces  will be used for the wing and elevator.cut a few extra as some may break in the process.
we need under cambered  wings so we need curved ribs of  2cm(drawing in pic below)  ,to get a curve on these ribs soak the 7inch pieces well under running water .arrange them well & tie them with thread and stick to a vessel with cello tape nice and firm and tight.(pics may help understand)
Then filled water in the vessel and  made the water hot.now and then keep pressing the ribs to take shape.once the water boils put of the gas and leave it to cool and wait till the ribs Dry well.
Instead of vessel you can use your own imagination and try something else .i prefer it this way.Then remove the ribs once dried.
Note:don't have to be accurate on the ribs as long as they are curved all we need is good curve ribs so 2cm or less is ok.

Ribs are ready.
Now I need a break...chaiiiii

Wing post for wings LE & TE
To attach the wing to the LE and TE of the wing posts And the left wing to right wing(as the wings are detachable) .I used ear buds.

EAR BUD
I Cut the ear buds 6mm x 2pcs(for posts) which will attach the full wing to the post

EAR BUD
And i cut  1cm x 2pcs Ear bud (which will be used later for joining the left and ringht wings ,as they are detachable) POST #13

BALSA
Then cut balsa sticks 2mm x2mm and  10cm long ,2pieces for LE & TE  these are the posts(pics attached)

BALSA
Also cut 2mm x 2mm and  2cm long balsa stick for attaching the left and right wing later.(you can skip this if you plan to make a 1piece full wing mine is Detachable left and right wing)

I Then took the 10cm balsa stick and sliced it with a sharp blade one side just enough to fit the 6mm Ear bud(pic attached).this fit should not be to tight no to loose.these are the wing posts te and le.

The other 2cm balsa stick do the same till it fits the 1cm ear buds  well. So 1cm of the stick should fit in the ear bud(this will be used later to join wings)pic in POST #13

Below pics are of the wing post for the wings LE and TE

Below pics are for joining the left and right wing I will need them later

Below is a drawing of what I have in mind for the fuse.will have to finalise it as per CG required.according will move things around.not an artist so you have to try and understand   

Anyone reading this thread and is intrested in slowflyer and micro airplane have a peep here at these two links

https://www.rcindia.org/electric-planes/successfully-flown-micro-airplane-thread-only/msg154372/#msg154372

https://www.rcindia.org/electric-planes/show-off-your-scratch-built-slow-pace-slow-flying-airplane-only-(with-rules)here/msg152509/#msg152509

Following the plans I drew on  post #14 for the wing posts.
LE WING Post is attached to fuse,use a pin to gently pierce a hole through the fuse up and down,and push the 10cm fuse(make sure its straight and in the center of the fuse up and down and a tight fit and then glue and cut the extra potion of the post below the fuse.using the measurments as per the plan (POST #14)
Post details in pics below tired tying ..any questions leave a comment.thats it for today

I THEN FINISHED OF THE FROUNT OF THE FUSE(12INCH)I PUT THE TE WING POST AND ALSO PUT ELECTRONICS ON IT.

The TE post was put the same way like the LE wing post(post#16) since i know the wing cord as per my plan is 6.5inch.so from the LE post  i left 6.5inch space and put the TE wing post same(TE wing post can also be put later after wings done so you get a good fit.  but since I've built before I directly put the LE wing post) the frount fuse was ready then went ahead and put electronics on it.started by puting the motor to the fuse then the brick(rx)

PROP & MOTOR:(from the mini vapor  horizon hobby rtf airplane) the fuse frount where I planed to put the motor bent a bit so added a 2mm x2mm balsa stick under the gear box  and sanded it down a bit.gave the motor very little down angle to the motor around 2mm and 2mm to the right. (You could say slight angle downwards and rightward at 1-2 degrees each.)the gear box was tied with thread ,then angles degrees were adjusted and then put glue on the thread. Once the motor is done i added the brick.

BRICK(RX): (from the mini vapor  horizon hobby rtf airplane) place the brick in the center of the fuse tied it with thread and put glue on the thread.will be using only the right linear servo for rudder.as this will be a 2channel airplane with NO ELEVATOR.(this saves weight too)

Below pics of the TE post

Motor and brick pics

Some more pics to make things clear.
my 12ich frount part of the fuse is ready

Frount view and back view of the 12inch fuse.both wing post in line with eachother And straight

The plan of the rudder is ready

RUDDER
I drew the plan and stuck cello tape on the plan at the spots where i will be putting glue on the balsa joints ,so that the balsa doent stick to the paper.(pic attached circled in orange)
You can even laminated the plan would be easier than putting cello tape.

NOTE: I used 2mm x 2mm balsa here and not 1mm as drawn in plan.(later I will  slice of the balsa where ever possible to reduce weight )

to get these bends on the rudder  frame. I need to mark were I will be bending the balsa with a pen and then gently bend the balsa to take shape of the rudder.i used  the cheap blades (not the sharp side). be gentle do not break the bend as we want to use minum broken joint and glue so the plane is lite and strong.once bending the balsa is done use paper tape to secure it in place on the plan .then I just put glue at the bend with a pin.(remember key is to reduce as much as weight posible)

Im Trying to make a video while making the rudder.  the same process will be used to make the wings.its hard to make videos while building i need a camera man...

There we go a small clip of how to bend the balsa to take shape .

This is the rudder https://youtube.com/shorts/8mVDbCJG0wo?si=R9Vcj2ni_gpx19ag

Here is a video clip of how I use glue.
The bent parts are all glued

https://youtube.com/shorts/rIIiKngV3fU?si=4w3E_vqtkOO9YvaO
This process I used in post # 4 as well and all placed where glue needed .

Rudder removed from the plan.be gentle while removing the paper tape off

https://youtube.com/shorts/eeZDav-v7mg?si=SbEhHxYf0c67onxd