About this 3D model

A 3D printable parts kit to upgrade a mid-size profile model aircraft with a wingspan of 1 to 1.5 meters (~39 to 60 inches), built from foamboard, cardboard, or balsa. The kit consists of 4 different robust control horn styles, with large mounting bases to minimize control surface flexing, a motor mount suitable for many 450, 480 and power-10 size motors, with a built-in 1.5 degrees trust offsets, both downward and to the right, and a tailwheel assembly with a 20mm tailwheel designed to be mounted to an ~8mm (5/16”) thick rudder. The kit was originally designed to upgrade a “Hummer” for my club’s 2019 pylon racing season. The upgraded aircraft flies true at much higher speed than stock, without flutter and with positive control on all surfaces, using a power 10 size motor – 1250kv, 3-cell, 600 watts power system, turning an APC 9x9E propeller. The parts should work well with most other foamboard kits, where a decent size motor with adequate offset trust is desired, along with precise positive controls such as 3D aerobatics and/or faster flight. The parts can be easily 3D printed, without any support, on a modern inexpensive 3D Printer. They can be printed with a variety of materials, including PLA, PETG, ABS and many other types of printable materials. PLA works well for most of the parts, except for the motor mount which must be printed with a more heat tolerant material such as ABS or PETG. This is because the motor mount will likely be exposed to high temperatures during flight or immediately afterwards, exceeding ~55 C (~ 130 F). At such temperature, PLA will likely deform, warp or even separate, thus causing loss of control of the model. Further, should the model with the upgraded parts be left in a parked car in the summer, the same thing could happen. Therefore, I strongly recommend using PETG or ABS for all the parts. I have successfully used these upgraded parts since early 2019. They solved many issues I encountered with the flimsy hardware normally included in many foamboard kits.