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$20Amazon
Two 9g Metal Gear Servos$6Amazon
Two 1.3mm pushrod connectors$2Amazon
Two M3 Screws $0.03Amazon
Two M3 brass inserts$0.08Amazon
3D printed parts$2Thingiverse
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.