Our first kit is here! The Project Air Gnat is now available from the Project Air store, here on this site. Here's how to build it.
🚨 Order here! 🚨
👇 Learn how to make this plane with James here 👇
*Video coming soon*
After around 9 years on YouTube, we're finally starting to produce actual model kits we can ship all around the world to get you into DIY aerospace engineering.
This is a HUGE moment for the channel!
We're producing these kits in collaboration with the Vintage Model Company, who are doing all of our manufacturing and distributing of the kits. I used to work with them before going full-time working on my many YouTube projects, so this is really the perfect collaboration to expand Project Air from just being a YouTube channel and into actual model aircraft manufacturing.
The first kit is a very simple, high performance rubber band powered airplane, perfect as an introduction to how airplanes work, or as a fun kit to experiment with and get the longest flight time possible for more experienced flyers.
If you'd like to build this plane without purchasing the laser cut kit from the store, you still can by downloading the free plans here. You'll just need to provide your own materials.
The best way to build this model plane is to follow me along with a step-by-step video guide, showing you all the tips and tricks to make the best job of your model all the way to the first test flights.
🚨 Order here! 🚨
Wind it up and let it go!
Here's a Step-By-Step guide to building the kit
You get 3x Gnats in the box so you can experiment, change things, and build with friends. Who can get the longest flight time?
Step 1 - Fuselage
Add the plastic nose block to the fuselage stick. IMPORTANT! do not use glue as this part needs to be removable.
Slide the prop shaft through the nose block hole.
Slide the prop on with the notch on the front and then fold the shaft at 90 degrees using a pair of pliers.
It should look like this. It's important to get the prop the right way around with the notch on the outside. It will create some thrust backwards, but it will be less efficient. The prop shaft will not engage if the prop is backwards.
Step 2 - Wing
Carefully pop out all of the balsa parts from the precision laser-cut sheet. Don't loose any.
Add tape to the wing tips.
Prop the main wing panel up 15mm and bend the wing tips down, gluing them in place.
Glue the balsa reinforcer to the wing mount pylon part.
Sand if necessary to get to a nice 90 degrees.
Draw mid-point marks at the leading and trailing edges of the wing.
Add glue to the pylon, across the balsa reinforcer
Glue the balsa reinforcer to the centre of this mark, taking into account the fuselage width.
Mark the height of the fuselage on the pylon.
Glue the hardwood mount to the wing pylon with the bottom edge at these marks (sand the ends to help later with sliding o rings over this part to hold the wing on).
Step 3 - Tail
Mark the rear of the fuselage at the midpoint of its hight.
Now mark the width of the horizontal stabiliser on the fuselage rear.
Mark a diagonal line between these two previous marks.
Sand or cut away the fuselage at this line. Glue the Horizontal stabiliser on at this angle.
Glue the vertical stabiliser to the side of the fuselage.
Step 4 - Adding Rubber
Use the included 'T' pin in the kit as a tool to form a pilot hole 20mm from the horizontal stabiliser leading edge. Make sure this is at around 45 degrees towards the rear. Make sure the hole does not come out of the top.
Now cut a small 20mm length of piano wire (included in the kit) and push it into the new pilot hole you just made in the fuselage.
Now add some glue to keep the pin in place.
Now take the 1/8 rubber included in the kit and cut a 440mm length.
Tie in a loop with two overhand knots.
Remove the nose block and slide over 2x o rings included in the kit.
Now install the wing, placing it on top of the fuselage. Secure with the o rings over the hardwood mount.
The wing can be easily adjusted forward and back by sliding the o rings off and repositioning the wing. This can be used to help trim the plane for flight, adjusting the centre of lift and centre of gravity (CL and CG).
Hook the rubber band motor over the rear wire anchor and the prop shaft. Wind the plane up a little and test the motor! 30-40 winds here should do.
Step 5 - Test Flight
Start slow and wind the plane up to around 50 winds. Observe how well the plane is trimmed.
Launch towards the horizon, with a slight pitch up. Give it quite a smooth, hard throw to accelerate it to flying speed instantly.
The rubber motor will take around 200-250 winds before snapping. There is plenty of rubber in the kit so make sure to experiment and find the limit!
🚨 Order here! 🚨