F-22 Raptor - Scratch Build

by FliteTest | May 28, 2012 | (52) Posted in How To

 

Easy to build foam scratch build, the F-22 Raptor is a great design for a fun easy to fly RC plane, and it also has great trainer tendencies. 

Watch this RC plane in action in our F-22 Raptor Review Episode here

 

 

TIP for printing the plans: 

To print "tiled" use Adobe Reader X and in the print dialog select "POSTER", select "Cut Marks" and make sure "Tile Scale" is 100%. Then overlap and tape as required (after trimming the top overlapping edge).  

(Thanks youtuber larrybarrick for this suggestion!)

Plans:
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=740049&highlight=simpl+f22


Recommended Electronics

RADIO
Turnigy 4X FHSS 2.4ghz Transmitter and Receiver (Mode 2)
HobbyKing HK6S 2.4Ghz FHSS 6Ch Tx & Rx (Mode 2)

SERVOS
Hextronic 9 Gram Servo
Suppo SP-90 9g Micro Servo
Turnigy TG9e 9g Servos

PROP
APC-style Electric Propeller - 8x4E
GWS EP Propeller (RD-8043 203x109mm) (6pcs/set)

BATTERY
Turnigy 500mAh 2S 20C Lipo Pack
Turnigy 500mAh 3S 20C Lipo Pack

ESC
Dynam 18Amp ESC w/ 3A BEC
TURNIGY Plush 18amp Speed Controller
Hobbyking SS Series 18-20A ESC
Suppo 18A Brushless ESC

Motor
Blue Wonder 2712-12 24g
HEXTRONIK 24GRAM BRUSHLESS OUTRUNNER 1300KV
Turnigy Park300 Brushless Outrunner 1380kv
Suppo 2208/14 1450kv Brushless Motor (Park 370 equiv.)

FOAM BOARD
ADAMS Foam Board

OTHER SUPPLIES
Push Rods: 1.4mm Piano Wire
Linkage Stoppers D1.8mm (10pcs)
Linkage Stopper "Speed Clevis"
Female JST battery pigtail 12cm length (10pcs/bag)

COMMENTS

jdgomezb on May 29, 2012
Hey Brother, thanks for the video, but when talking about scratch build I would really see more of the construction process and less of your face talking. I'm a beginner on the R/C hobby, and want to start doing my own scratch builds, but your video is not helping much.

Congrats for that present for your kid, btw, how old is he? what's the appropriate age to start your kids on the hobby? I mean, you have been in the hobby for many years and I bet you've seen many kids hopping on this ride, so what's your suggestion?

Thanks again.
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Josh Bixler on May 31, 2012
Hello friend.

Thanks so much for the input. I will certainly apply it in the future. Our goal is make building these little gems as easy as possible, and your input helps. Both of my boys are flying the f22. They are 7 and 10 (but they have been flying for almost 2 years. Five is a great time to start if they show interest. It is more bonding than teaching though. Flight sims are what my boys loved the most. It took the fear out of learning, then I followed up with buddy box time!

All the Best!
JB
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rchand on March 22, 2013
In addition to everything that jdgomezb has said, could we also have some more specs on these pages, such as whether motor angles and control surface travel for us beginners, because I still haven't worked out if its needed, and how much is required for a smooth flight. maybe even a 'flitetest - fast tip' on this?

Thanks for all you're doing.
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Jack the Black on June 3, 2014
agreed
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smarts on June 2, 2012
What receiver did
you use?
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noah on October 11, 2013
I think it was an orangeRx R610 6ch
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smarts on June 4, 2012
Okay,
just one more question:
What prop is used?
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Mustang Maniac on June 25, 2012
Hi there. Can anyone recommend a good prop from hobbyking.
Thanks
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charles johnson on April 4, 2013
i use the apc style 8/6 on almost everything i fly
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motomad111 on September 21, 2012
Hi being new to the electric end of the hobby I built the f-22 using the exact same components as speced above and for some reason I'm only getting about 3 minute flying times... Is this normal because i would like to get around 7 to 10 minutes
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EZ Air on April 20, 2013
you have to do a simple calculation (battery mah x 60 )/motor draw
^^ usually in amps ^^
convert amps to mah ex. 9 amps = 9000mah
Example:
battery - 500mah
Time - 60 min
motor draw - 9 amps
(500x60)/9000
500x60=30000
30000/9000=3.33
so your flight time would be 3.33 minutes give or take a couple minutes

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eminz on May 1, 2018
hi sir. İm a beginner. i wanna buy all these materials from Turkey. im warry about duty. Could you propose a electronic website? İ'll buy there.
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motomad111 on August 17, 2012
Hi I'm a newbie to scatch builds and I noticed the plans call for carbon tubes however you didn't install the tubes... does it need them?
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Pe4er on April 25, 2015
i dont think so but its making the whole thing much mor stable
(i am a newbie too)
Pe4er
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Oliverjenkins on September 10, 2012
Me and my dad just spent the whole day building this, and it it was one of the greatest days I've ever had. Great video.
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casperro on January 12, 2013
watch my build video here (no explaning):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOHgvRv2Jfs

and the maiden flight (bad result and know why):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXSyUV4pWoo

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kc2pxp on July 8, 2012
I am new to scratch building. I watched your videos on the Funbat the F-22 and I have built them both. They are both so fon to build and fly. thank you so much for the great videos and resources.
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WolstonFlyer on June 26, 2012
This plane looks great and I am building one out of 6mm depron with this motor with a 7x3.5 prop and 12A ESC.

http://www.giantshark.co.uk/cf2805-2800kv-brushless-outrunner-motor-p-213.html

I am hoping the motor is not too powerful at 2800KV and that it will fly nice and fast :-)

I am also thinking about doing a version with a small EDF unit.
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csarazin on May 29, 2012
Hi guys, Great video... would it be also possible to have a few pictures of the build? This would help out the newbies like me ;-)
Thanks
Carl
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David_Medlock on May 30, 2012
Gomez:

Since you're new you probably haven't been haunting the forums at RC Groups. Try that. Also Ed at Experimental Airlines is very thorough and can give you some good ideas.

Your comment about Josh's face seems innapropriate to me. Perhaps you didn't mean to come off like that. These guys are seriously first rate, and this is the best RC site on the web. They offer heaps of top-quality content for free. That probably has earned them a little respect, don't you think?


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ninjakas on May 29, 2012
Is there a difference between an ESC plush and a normal ESC?
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Number 2 on May 29, 2012
Plush is just the name of Hobby Kings in house brand of electronics.
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animan on June 25, 2012
I have a video build of my own F22 raptor that I decided to build after seeing the Flite Test build video. Check it out on my YouTube channel, Jeffgrave.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lI2teWLQZA
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stonekap on June 26, 2012
You should make this an article! I think people would appreciate it.
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Eric Deagle on July 10, 2012
Time to make a big f22

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jackparz101 on June 18, 2012
Hey i have the parts for the f22 raptor and i was wondering. that when i go to land the plane. if i might break the propeller, because it could stop perpendicular to the plane or facing up in down. or will the propeller always stop the same way you put it on the plane. Also how thick of foam should i get for it.
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animan on June 25, 2012
watch my video (link below) I solve the broken propeller issue.

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p-51 mustang on June 13, 2012
i made one of these plans but wen i let off throttle it does a death spiral to the ground and ine time it hit my little brother in the head lol i used the optima 450 7x5 prop and a skylipo 1800mah 2s 20c batterie and it flies but i am new to airplanes so it crash alot
:) will post pictures soon
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smarts on June 3, 2012
hey,I was wondering what
foam you used.could you
tell me?
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andyleksis on June 4, 2012
It's Depron foam!
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smarts on June 4, 2012
Thank's!!
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MrJeffreyHill on February 24, 2013
What size depron and could you also list a good source for purchasing it?
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Bstar on August 29, 2012
Would an 800mah 3s work with this? The 500mah is back ordered and I'm inpatient haha
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papabearflying on June 10, 2012
I have a question, shouldn´t the motor be slightly angled upwards?
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jelofson on June 10, 2012
Based on mine, I think that might be a good idea. 1 or 2 degrees.
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papabearflying on June 10, 2012
Thanks for the reply :-)
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Jack the Black on April 22, 2014
Do I need to? it didn't look like they did.
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jackparz101 on June 8, 2012
hey i looked on hobby king and i can't find a Red Brick 24A ESC and i also clicked on the link from flitetest.com and they only have red brick 20A ESC and a red brick 30A ESC and other ones but there is no red brick 24A ESC. could i use a red brick 30A ESC or a red brick 20A ESC.
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bagsy31 on June 16, 2012
As the engine is point backwards, do you use a 'pusher' prop or just fit a 'pull' prop the other way round?
I am just building one and noticed the prop did not fill too well on the prop saver when reversed?
Also, assume you wire up the motor to spin in the opposite way?
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Jack the Black on April 19, 2014
I'd like to ask the same thing or "refresh" the question. I found the prop that it looks like the Hobbyking ling is supposed to go to, and it's standard. i'd like to know soon if possible so i can order parts. thanks!
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papabearflying on June 10, 2012
C of G

Where is the C of G on this F-22? and from where is it measured from? In the video there are some figures given but he doesn´t say from from where the measurements are, i.e. from the "Leading edge" or from the "nose"? Can someone please throw some light on this on? Thankyou.
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shaddow12 on June 11, 2012
hi i am lead to beleave its COG is 16" from the nose

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showpost.php?p=8145735&postcount=6

on my plane cog is at this point glides nice but when powered nose dives i had the motor pointing up to the sky 2 degs thinking this was up thrust but waching flitetest video it called down thrust so going to try and move the motor facing the ground 2 deg see what happens :) i fitted my with kf2 wing aswell
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papabearflying on June 11, 2012
Hi Shaddow12! the Kf2 airfoil is always a super idea, if you change the motor angle downwards you will have the same problem in reverse! I had my motor too far pointing down on an RC Powers F-22 and had to pull the stick back the whole time :-( Try moving the CG first, that will surely be an easier way to go?
You have your motor on correctly, just look at a Bixler or Easy Star all of them have the motor pointing upwards, on the Easy Star it´s too far up.
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shaddow12 on June 11, 2012
thanks for that tried playing with cg but the sam as you had to pull stick back all the time i have a plane like the bixler as you say motor is upwards but there nothing around the prop if you know what i mean on them as the f22 has the wing there as i said before i watch http://flitetest.com/articles/Motor_Angle_and_Thrust_Vectoring_Experiments
witch mad me think off changeg to the motor pionting down to the ground plus the prop was should push down on the back of the wing giving lift? i quite new to this self tort 3 months lol
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stonekap on June 11, 2012
We just mounted the motor straight and trimmed the elevons to fly level. The CG was in the middle of the motor mount. That's where Josh's thumb is in the video image above.
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shaddow12 on June 11, 2012
many thanks i will have to try:) so am i right when stick are in the center position the elevators are slightly up?
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stonekap on June 11, 2012
Yes :)

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shaddow12 on June 11, 2012
happpppy days :)))))) i love the plane
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shaddow12 on June 13, 2012
i`ve done as said and had straight thust line and set elevon slighly up and it has sorted out my diving problem many thanks for you help i am just putting some video of it we took on youtube :)

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animan on June 25, 2012
Just built one and tested it. The balance is 1 1/4 inches towards the nose measured from the front propeller cut out. Another way to measure the balance is 16 inches from the front nose back.
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shaddow12 on June 10, 2012
just built my f22 and test flew it today cg was in right place but i had to keep full down elevator to keep it flying level when i landed it both elevator were level to the wing. any body know what might be the mater with it , i have got 2 deg up thrust
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papabearflying on June 10, 2012
Sounds like you´re tail heavy and that he CG isn´t quite right?
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JJFOX on February 10, 2013
I built one of these, flies great, but i want to build one thats 48 inch now and i cant find plans for it anywhere if anybody could give me a link or something or tell me a way to blow up the pdf easily id appreciate it.
Thanks
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rcman32 on March 11, 2013
when you click piano wire it brings up a servo, so where do you get yours?

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Jack the Black on May 1, 2014
Try a place like Gorby's or Kerr's if there is one near you. You might be able to find some on Amazon.com or eBay, but i couldn't find any on either site.
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TehMaxwell on March 17, 2013
Hey,

I am new to the hobby, and would be looking for this to be my second plane. I have never scratch built before although I have a small experience with electronics. I was wondering a few things...

Firstly where do you get the foam from? I would like to use the same foam just for ease and there wont be the worry that it wont work...

Secondly, would a 3 cell 2200mah 25c battery work with this if I used the right esc? As I dont want to put money into more batteries...

Thanks very much and happy flying,

TehMaxwell
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roxes1 on April 5, 2013
I believe the commonly used types of material is dollar tree foam, ADAMS foam board, Depron, and foam from a local home improvement store (stuff used for insulation).

I don't have a ton of experience but I do own a 3 cell 2200 mah lipo as well and know that it is significantly larger and heavier than the ones used here. As such there will be issues with CG (center of gravity) balancing as the placement is already close to the center. Plus with an increase of weight replacing the 500mah lipo the motor (depends on which one you choose to use) may not even have enough thrust to lift it properly. In regards to the esc you'll most likely need one that can support the voltage and cell size and the amp drain caused by the motor.

Hopefully someone more experienced can add more precise input, but from what I know this is what I can come up with.
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ptybill on April 8, 2013
Greetings. Has anyone built the 32 inch version of this. I have just about completed it and now of course I am trying to scale up the power specs to match. Any suggestions would be much appreciated. BTW. This is the first build that I have done where my wife said Wow - is that ever a beautiful plane :-) Can hardly wait to get it in the air.

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EZ Air on April 8, 2013
could a Turnigy L2210-1230 Bell Style Motor (150w) work and what type of ESC would i need or could i keep the same stuff

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EZ Air on April 9, 2013
could you post a wiring guide please
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Jack the Black on June 2, 2014
i've been looking for one too,any suggestions?
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Canaweb on April 19, 2013
I just built one of these - but my transmitter doesn't have a mixer built in.. so - I have a Blue Arrow V-Tail mixer. Here is my question - how can I adjust the deflection for elevators vs ailerons? many V tail plans seem to call for different 'throws' for these two channels? I also noticed that the Blue Arrow doesn't seem to center the same each time, so I'll switch to a HobbyWing mixer. Any Suggestions?
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Jasper on May 27, 2013
Is there any chance you guys will sell the pieces laser cut for a 22" model? Ever? ..
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Jasper on June 1, 2013
I've built mine, bute even tough the control surfaces or perfectly level with the wing and sutff.. it keeps pithing down when i let go of the elevator, and quite fast too.. CG is good to, 1 to 1.25 in in front of the slot.. any r
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Scoodles93 on June 18, 2013
check out my maiden!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRnGgrEBSw4
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Billyyap on June 25, 2013
Hi, just wondering, what kind of prop size & motor am i looking for if i'm to built one of this with a wing span of only 8"?
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mjawan on September 7, 2013
Hi,
will it fly great with just flat wing profile or KF ?
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sheldonc on January 16, 2014
Anyone ever screw on the stock Dynam HawkSky motor? Just finished with the main build and now have to figure which motor to take off tje shelf! I believe the motor is a 2200kv swinging a 5x5. Seemed plenty strong pushing around the hog that was the HawkSky!
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Jack the Black on May 17, 2014
If I use 1.9 9 mm EPP foam, do I need to reinforce it? you guys didn't show it.
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Jack the Black on June 3, 2014
Need to know so i can order.
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Damig on July 28, 2014
Sweet. Thanks again for the video and link to plans. Saw foam cutting with hotwire and templates with Josh and Dave. My first attempt was not too bad with wallpaper knife and sawing motion, wedge for binding and coffee to help me see if I was straight or angle cut. Haha. Doing give me experience, right? Can't paste my photo of the fuselage. Back to drawning board. I appreciate you guys,
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JoePalmer on January 27, 2015
Do the push rods come with the servos?
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johnnyjiujitsu on August 25, 2015
I just built one of these last week. My 1000 kv motor wasn't cutting it. I bought a 2200kv motor and on maiden, my unbalanced prop vibrated a servo loose and I had to make emergency landing. All adjustments have been made now and I can't wait to fly this beast. Thanks for the awesome video. I was able to put this thing together no problem. I felt like it was the perfect face to build ratio. That first comment is silly. Flitetest is the best!!!
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Mc_KaNaN on May 17, 2016
Hi!

I like do this model but I have a dude: what is the name of tape that you use in the elevators?
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F-22 Raptor - Scratch Build