Homemade Micro RC Airplane

Using a $1.99 rubber-band powered P-51 Mustang I bought from Harbor Freight Tools along with the guts from an Air Hogs Aero Ace I created a 2-channel micro flyer.
Above you can see the charging mechanism cut and installed into the fuselage. Below you will see the same with the li-po battery. I used hot glue to secure them.

Using a Xacto blade I cut slits in the styrafoam to lock/protect the wires and to avoid them dangling, which could catch something on landing.

I started this project with a Combo package (see below) I bought on clearance from Target for $17.00. I intended to create a flying wing micro flyer, which I expect would be a rather quick plane.
I scrapped this idea because I do not know enough about CG (center of gravity) for flying wings; therefore I will research this further and use another Aero Ace to build this plane.

First, remove the top wing on the Aero Ace and then using your thumb and index finger slowly thumb it apart from the nose back. It is glued together with rubber cement. That goo will be left on the parts and engines -- just re-stick it. It will stay. Or you can use a small amount of hot glue.

Be very careful when removing the guts, especially the antennae (which goes through the rudder)! Take your time and pull gently!!

The video at the top of this posts explains "how to" as well.

Backyard micro flight

After we've been flying successfully for a while, we all get the itch to fly more often! Without dispute, in the rc community (at least online) the most inexpensive "scratch" is the AirHogs Aero Ace, which can be purchased for between $25-$29 at Target, Toys-R-Us, and K-Mart (watch for coupons for 10%). What makes these little planes better than the rest is it has differianted speed control; others only have speed #1, speed #2, and speed #3 buttons. Don't buy any other version -- trust me, I did and I was disappointed. The Aero Ace comes as a bi-plane and a jet.

Available at aeroacemods.com are all sorts of upgrades, including wheels (it will ROG -- roll off ground) and night lights. I often use the night lights to fly in my backyard:I usually can climb about 40-50 feet high on a no-wind evening and have a seven minute flight with "throttle maintenance."

In the picture above I added floats to my Aero Ace. You need styrafoam, hobby knife, fine grit sandpaper, balsa, and waterproof glue -- and a hot glue gun to mount the floats. The secret is to make the floats as small as possible in every way, but length. Floats should be 70-75% the length of the plane. CG (Center of Gravity) is tricky, but a visit to the forums at rcuniverse.com or rcgroups.com will be very helpful. Keep playing with it until it flies stable. My plane is a bit rocky and nose heavy, but some adjustments should result in better flight.