How to Make a R/C Mini F35S, Mr.K's Hangar Style, Instructable Edition.

MrK F35S is 1:21 ratio to the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II.

This is one of my best design so far so I decided to share it with the community so that everyone can enjoy this fun little plane.

After extensive testing, this is actually version 5.1, I have mastered this design where you can build this airplane just with 2 sheets of dollar foamboard or Flite Test waterproof foamboard. I will put the links for all the material below.

This airplane is great for a beginner and a blast for an expert. The MrK F35S is what we call in the hobby, a "60 under 60" because with a 4S setup, one can push this plane up to 60 mph and the plane cost less than $60 to build. What an exciting time to live.

However, I need to let you know, to control this aircraft you would also need a radio system. A radio control system included a transmitter and a receiver.

Part List:

• 2 * Dollartree Foamboards
• 2 * 9 gram Servo Motors
• 1 * 2200KV brushless power system
• 1 * Radio system

Step 1: A Little Bit About the F-35 Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II

The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is a family of single-seat, single-engined, all-weather stealth multirole fighters. The United Kingdom, Italy, Australia, Canada, Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Turkey are part of the active development program. That is the reason the F-35 is also called the Joint Strike Fighter.

The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, the fifth generation fighter represents the state of the art technology of the US of the century. List of the F-35 ability that publishes to the public:

1. The F-35A conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL).
2. The F-35B short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL).
3. The F-35C carrier-based catapult-assisted take-off but arrested recovery (CATOBAR).

Step 2: Draw the Upper and Lower Section of the Body

Traditional plane have a fuselage and wings, where the F35 has a flying body, where part of the fuselage is part of the wing and providing extra lift. This is one of the reasons why this design is great for a beginner because of its low stall speed.

If you choose to apply some stickers then I would suggest that you do it before all the folds. This will ensure the sticker from both side line up with each other. (Optional)

Make sure you keep all the pieces after you cut them out because we will need all of them.

Step 3: Prepare for the Kp Airfoils Fold

1. Cut out the fold sections.
2. Cut out the slot for the carbon rod.
3. Glue the carbon rod in place.
4. Tape over the carbon rod for additional strength (Optional)
5. Add some sticker to differentiate the wing orientation during flight. (Optional)

Builder notes:

Step 4: Fold the Kp Airfoil

1. Dry fit the fold sections with the main body.
2. Use Ducktape to hold the sections in place. I recommend using Ductape for this step since it plays a main role on the wing structure integrity.
3. Pebble the body and the fold section. I go deeper on how to pebble your wing in my last article. You can click here to learn more about it.
4. Dry fold the pieces before glue everything down. This is an important step so please don't skip it.

Builder notes:

As you can see in the second picture, the fold section and the body come together in a weird way, however, when you fold it over it will lay on top of the plane perfectly. If you have the sections switch, when you fold it over, it will form offset with the body, so please dry fold so you can double check that you have the pieces tape down correctly.

If you accidentally switch the fold section, DO NOT try to pull off the Ducktape, this could damage the parts. Simply cut the tape down in the middle and switch the sections to the correct order.

Step 5: The Popsicle Slot Making Technique (PSMT)

If you choose to apply some stickers then I would suggest that you do it before all the folds. This will ensure the sticker from both side line up with each other. (Optional)

Before taping the inside of the lower body, we need to install the popsicles. These 2 popsicles play a big role to keep the front and the back of the plane rigid since a big area will be cut out for the propeller.

The Popsicle Slot Making Technique (PSMT):

1. Draw out the slot for the popsicles, marking haft inch from the slot and draw the rest of the popsicles as the third pictures.
2. Use a sharp knife, tracing the popsicles drawing from the last step.
3. Slowly pull off the paper on the top to expose the foam under
4. Use a spare popsicle to press down slowly and evenly on the exposed foam. Continuing doing so until you can fit a popsicle comfort in the slot just like the fourth picture.

Builder notes:

In my personal experience, if you use hot glue for this step then, it is always better to make the slots a little bit deeper for the glue to sit in. This will give the inside of the lower body smoother and the air flow inside will account less resistance. As can see on the picture number five, the ultimate goal is to have the popsicle become part of the foam. If you got that then congratulation, you just execute a perfect PSMT.

Step 6: Lower Body

Now you can wrap the lower body section with the packing tape, this will provide us the internal strength for what to come next.

1. Cut out the 2 slots and pull off the papers as shown in the sixth pictures.
2. Use a big, flat heavy object like a metal ruler on the slot to keep one side down.
3. Slowly lift the other side up from the middle section to create the crease.
4. Doing the same thing to the other side.
5. Test fit the lower body with the upper body. If everything follows the plan, the wings form a perfect rectangle section for the lower body.
6. During the dry fit, you want to make sure that the lower body stay center perspective to the wing, if not move it to the correct position
7. After making sure everything straight and true, apply a good amount of glue on the

Step 7: LED Light Installation

Measure the LED strip

Perform the PSMT to make the LED slot.

Testing the LED strip before glue it down and tape over it.

Run the wire neatly toward the cockpit.

Step 8: Cockpit and All 3 Sections

Building the cockpit is a fairly straightforward process.

Draw the cockpit blueprint.

Perform a B fold and making sure everything true and straight. If you are not familiar with B fold, I will put a link in the builder note below.

Cut out the middle section of the upper section, make sure the LED wire visual as all time.

Dry fit the cockpit with the main body of the plane. The slot should help guide the cockpit to center with the main body.

After the dry fit, the cockpit, apply glue only on the bottom of the cockpit and glue the cockpit to the main body.

Step 9: Servo Motors Installation, Power System and Motor Mount

Servo Installation:

1. Mark the location where you are going to install the servo.
2. Cut out the area then dry fix the servo motor.
3. Run the servo wires along and into the fuselage.

Power System: This depends on how you want to fly this bad boy. If you want to fly fast, then go with the 2300KV brushless power system with a 30amp ESC you can fly a 1300mAh 4S. If you want to make this your beginner plane, I will go with the genetic 2200kv brushless motor setup. with this setup, you can fly a 1300 to 1800 mAh Lipo 3S. Both of this power system using a tri-blade propeller 5x3.

Motor Mount: This depends on what type of brushless motor that you choose.

1. 3D printed motor mount from www.thingiverse.com
2. Using a piece of cheap wood ruler from Home Depot.
3. Build structure around the motor mount 2X2X1. This should fit perfectly in the fuselage.
4. Dry fit the motor mount and make sure all wire route appropriately.

Step 10: Engine Bay

Engine Separation:

1. Cut out the engine bay separation 3X2
2. Cut out a small section for battery wire.
3. Dry fix the part before glue down then glues the separation.

Engine Ventilation:

1. Cut out the engine ventilation panel 4x2
2. Cut out the area for the air vent, you can 3D print the STL file that I include or you can be creative :D.
3. Dry fit the ventilation panel, then tape both sides to make a hinge.
4. Now cut out the side triangle wall to complete the engine bay.
5. Make sure dry fit before glue the engine side walls to the engine separation. Make sure the engine ventilation panel fit nicely between the engine walls.

Step 11: Elevator + Aileron = Elevon

A traditional plane has 3 different control surface help it navigate through the air. Rudder for yaw, aileron for roll and elevator for pitch. However, I want to keep the build cost down and keep the build simple, so I go with elevon, where one control surface doing 2 jobs, roll and pitch. I don't explain much here if you want to know more about the dynamic and everything about basic r/c check out my last article MrK_F16

1. Trace out the elevon sections, be creative, you can print out some sticker to make the plane more you :P.
2. Cut out the elevon sections.
3. Perform the Popsicle Slot Making Technique. Make sure the popsicle sits flush to prevent dirty airflow on the control surface. Tape over the popsicle (optional).
4. Hot glue spread thinly over control surfaces will help keep the paper from pulling away and make a perfect hinge for the control surface.
5. Mark where the popsicle would be, make sure the elevon control surface can move freely when place in this location.
6. Dry fit the elevon before applying glue to the popsicles and glue down the elevon (smaller section). Please look at the picture if you are not clear.
7. Measure and cut out the appropriate length of the control rod, make sure the control rod reaches the servo motor. I have more detail on how to make a Z bend in my last post MrK_F16.

Step 12: Vertical Stabilizer

Remember the triangle I ask you to save from the beginning? We need it now, or you can just make a 70-degree angle triangle for this step.

1. Decorate the tail, I highly recommend you mark the tail so that it easy to spot in the sky.
2. Cut an angle to the save triangle pieces, to make a square triangle.
3. Dry fit the vertical stabilizer with the right triangle.
4. Glue down the verticle stabilizer, be careful to glue the square triangle to the plane.

Step 13: Cockpit

1. Sketch out the cockpit on a scrap piece of foam. 4X2
2. Perform a B fold, make sure dry fold it before applying glue to make sure everything nice and square.
3. Dry fit it with the plane. make sure it fits nicely, then use tape to make the hinge for the cockpit.

You are done, now you can take on the blue sky. Prepare for your first flight is very important and it will ultimately determine how long your plane will perform and last.

Step 14: Maiden Flight

1. Preflight check:

• Battery charged,
• Controls full free and correct
• Full throttle check.

2. Take off:

• Spotter to call following flight plan for the pilot to adjust trims as requested by the test pilot.
• Mid-power left-hand circuit
• Low-level full speed fly-by for recording.
• Single slowish aileron rolls in both directions and then snap rolls.
• Landing - Slow circuit and land on grass

Step 15: Landing Skit (optional)

Step 16: Some Idea on How to Make It Yours