From PDF Plans To Parts 1.5

by Kurt0326 | April 17, 2015 | (13) Posted in How To

I wrote this article to cover a very basic part of scratch building that I think was not covered clearly. Thinking that there is no better way to show one how to do it then making a video. So I made that video showing you the beginner scratch builders out there how I take printed PDF plans from Flite Test, glue them together and transfer on to the foam board. Then I finish with some tips on how I cut the parts out. In the interest of time, I show how to cut one part, picking the horizontal stabilizer for the FT3D. So let's get in to it shall we?

Please rate this 5 stars if it helped you.

I get the plans from Flite Test build articles in PDF format. I then print it off as “actual size”, vertical.

[video='http://youtu.be/aTekPlIS13c']

I don't like to lay out the plans and glue or tape everything all together at the same time. What I like to do is, just find the pieces individually arrange, glue and cut them out.

Then I tape it to the "ugly side" of the foam board.

Then transfer the lines by using a razor blade and cut just through the two layers of paper (plans/foam board paper).

Update: This is where I have changed things. Now instead of cutting through the plans I use a common ball point pen and press down enough to leave an impression in the foam board. There by saving the plans for another day. Some even cover the plans with tape.

Then I cut out the part from the poster board.

Then I move to the details.

So there it is, a finished part ready for building.

Flite Test did make a quick tip on this now: https://youtu.be/wxIeXBna8YI

COMMENTS

lusid666 on April 21, 2015

I lay the plan over my foamboard and mark through with a pin, that way you still have the plans intact if you want to build another one :)
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Norbert42 on April 24, 2015

That's exactly how I do it as well! I tape the plan on the depron board, make tiny holes with a pin at the corners of the parts and highlight them with a marker.
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resp20 on April 21, 2015

I use carbon paper under plans and lay on foamboard and trace lines and then cut out parts. Fast easy and you save your plans for another build! Carbon paper can be bought at Office Max or Office Depot. The young people there might not know what carbon paper is!! Try it, youll never go back.
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nic872 on April 21, 2015

i like to use a big elmers purple glue stick, i just add enough so its some what sticky but there is no purple on the paper it sticks enough to cut easily and peels off nicely, but its somewhat difficult putting the right amount if you add to much it sticks and will peel the paper when you try to remove it.
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GrayHare on April 21, 2015

I glue the plan of each part down on poster board with a Elmers glue stick, Cut it out with scissors and then trace the part with a fine tip pencil. For any internal lines I punch out the outline with a pushpin. Then you can save the poster board cutouts for new planes or any needed parts for repairs.
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udo789 on April 21, 2015

There is no right or wrong way to do this; it’s whatever works for you. Everyone has their favorite method. For me, your method seems to be a bit time consuming because you basically cut everything twice and in the end you don’t have a template for a second build. To sum up the previous comments, the most popular approaches are:
1. The pin method per lusid666
2. The carbon paper/trace method per resp20
3. The cut-through method per nic872. Affix the plans with a light coat of repositionable, non-permanent glue to the foam board, cut out the pattern, and then peel off the plans and discard.
4. The template method per GrayHare. Carefully cut out the plans and use them as reusable templates.
5. The pin & template method, my favorite. Buy a kit and use the pin and template method. This way you save a lot of time, get an accurate reusable template which in the end can be used for a build, and most importantly, support Flite Test for the wonderful things they are doing for this hobby.
Thank you for starting the conversation.
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Tman2003 on April 21, 2015

I could not have said it better myself.
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msh312b on April 22, 2015

I used to go to "Staples" with a flash drive of the plans and have them print it on large paper, then apply clear packaging tape over the lines and then cut them out so that I would have a set of 'laminated' templates... I said used to, now I just got to the local High School and use their laser cutter to cut the whole plane out in the foam. Lasers are cool!
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jaysteel on April 26, 2015

Oooo, I work in school district, I need to find out if either of our highschools have a laser cutter. I did a search and there are a few laser cutting places, but free laser cuts are better :)
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MojoFlyer on May 1, 2015

Thanks for the tip about re-sharpening (honing) the razor blade with a chefs steel. I tried it and it works great. I move the kitchen chef's steel from the kitchen into my workshop. Cheers!
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From PDF Plans To Parts 1.5

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From PDF Plans To Parts 1.5

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From PDF Plans To Parts 1.5

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