Foam Pitcheron Conversion
This page includes instructions for building a cheap and durable RC pitcheron glider that works great as as a slope airplane. You can also easily attach a hook and launch it via a bungee. It can cost less than $60 and can be assembled in less than 2 hours. It requires a few 3D printed parts and only a few other parts and basic tools.
Parts List
| Foam Glider Toy with 86cm (34") wingspan | $20 | Amazon |
| Two 9g Metal Gear Servos | $6 | Amazon |
| Two 1.3mm pushrod connectors | $2 | Amazon |
| Two M3 Screws | $0.03 | Amazon |
| Two M3 brass inserts | $0.08 | Amazon |
| 3D printed parts | $2 | Thingiverse |
| Small battery of your choice | $5 | |
| Receiver of your choice | ||
| Total: | $35 + receiver | |
If you do not have access to a 3D printer, ask around in the Discord Chat. There are several members who would be happy to print some parts.
Instructions
Watch the flight video on YouTube from the designer.
Step 1 3D print the 4 parts. On a Bambu Studio X1C it takes 2 hours and $1.60 worth of plastic.
Step 1 Melt in 3mm/4.7mm thread inserts into holes on L and R Body
Step 1 use thread locker and M3 screw with hex round head to create securing bolts
Step 1 adjust screws and let the thread locker harden
Step 1 use some grease in the grooves to improve friction
Step 1 put in servos and glue the center piece into glider
Step 1 fit servos with a long arm and 1.3mm servo push rod connector
Step 1 dig out place for battery, radio and so on. The battery should be roughly bellow servos.
Step 1 split the wing into two right at the center
Step 1 cut out the bits to accomodate L and R wing holders
Step 1 predrill 8mm hole - doesn't have to be super nice
Step 1 prepare 8mm carbon fibre rod ~200mm and insert/glue it into the wing together with the holder. The rod should stick out of the wing 34mm from the top of the holder
Step 1 put 6mm rod inside to join both wings. I used 400mm/6.5mm rod
Step 1 the wings are removable
For the Adventerous
Here are two alternative 3D printed designs (one, two) for doing the same thing. Are they better? We wont know until someone tries it out.
Another improvement that someone could make would be to add some dihedral at the center of the wings. This would likely require a fresh CAD design with the servos tilted up a few degrees.