Baby Baron - FREE Plans

by SP0NZ | May 28, 2015 | (23) Posted in Projects

BABY BARON
Mighty Mini Sized Combat (Yeah Baby!)

DETAILS

This was my first attempt at scaling down a plane. I randomly chose to start by scaling down the Bloody Baron by 60%. When I printed the plans and started cutting the first parts I fully expected that would end up having to make it bigger, especially after building the prototype...it's so TINY! Well, the results were better than I ever imagined. This thing performs a lot like its big bloody brother! To quote the Flite Test crew, it was another "happy accident."

This is a size comparison with a PZ UMX Spitfire

The Baby Baron uses the same power setup as the FT Mighty Minis, and can use the same power pod as the Mini Scout and Mini Speedster. It has nearly unlimited vertical on a 2s setup.  Once you’ve mastered flying this agile little plane on 2s, you can move up to a 3s for a really wild ride.

This isn't a beginner plane and is not meant for indoor flying.  I would highly recommend having a programmable radio to setup your rates and expos.  If you are looking for an intermediate mini size plane that performs some basic aerobatics and can pull a streamer for combat, this is the bird for you.

This plane is also incredibly durable for it's size.  My son and I have both piled them straight into the ground with no damage other than a broken prop.

The 'mini me' of the Bloody Baron

PLANS

Baby Baron 1.1
Baby Baron Graphics 1.1

 

SPECIFICATIONS

WINGSPAN:18 in457 mm
LENGTH:15 1/2 in394 mm
WING AREA:89.5 in25.8 dm2
WEIGHT (AUW):5.3 oz.150 g
WING LOADING:8.53 oz./ft225.9 g/dm2
WCL:10.8 
CHANNELS:3 
CONTROLS:Aileron, Elevator, Throttle 

 

ELECTRONICS

MOTOR:

Emax MT 1804
ESC:Turnigy Plush 12amp
BATTERY:450-800 mah 2S
PROPELLER:6 X 5 SF (GWS EP 6050)
SERVOS:2 X 5g (hekTronix HXT500)


SETTINGS

AILERONS:

40%

EXPO:

50%

ELEVATOR:

40%

EXPO:

50%

 

BUILD LOG

Like my other combat planes, the Baby Baron is a very easy plane to build.  Detailed build instructions, complete with lots of pictures, and a parts list, can be found on the Flite Test forums (link below).
Baby Baron - Build

 

VIDEO

Maiden flight on 2s with combat streamer in tow.

 

SNEAK PEEK

Now that my mini fuselage design is complete, I decided to make the Mini MkIII as well!  More details coming soon...

 The minis!

Swappable and Mini MkIII's

 

- Find this article & others like it at www.FliteTest.com -

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COMMENTS

Bruce1026 on May 30, 2015
Did you use the right angle thrust end on the power pod, or did you mount the firewall on the non thrust angle end?
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SP0NZ on May 30, 2015
Great question. The firewall gets mounted on the angled side to provide some right thrust to counteract the torque of the motor/prop. I will add this to the build instructions too. Thanks.
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codedshadow on July 7, 2016
Does this plane require a down thrust?
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SP0NZ on July 7, 2016
Yes, the down thrust comes from the C-Fold in the front of the fuselage. The mini power pod will be angled down when installed properly.
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codedshadow on July 7, 2016
ok ok thank you so much!
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GVNguyen on August 25, 2016
Thank for the question...
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jrvalentin62 on May 30, 2015
Another home run. Great design. Clear Skies, Calm Winds.
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SP0NZ on May 30, 2015
Thank you.
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Bellows on May 30, 2015
Very Nice!!! Cute little bugger. I was out flying my MK III last night and it is a great flying plane. It is so super stable when it is dialed in. I bet these minis will be easy to transport. I ride a scooter a lot so that would be a big plus.
LooseBruce
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SP0NZ on June 1, 2015
My son made one with a removable wing and vertical stab that he can put in his backpack! It's pretty small and pretty durable at the same time. I'm having a lot of fun with mine.
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Bellows on May 30, 2015
Sponz, that picture of the MK IIIs together is begging for a piggy back launch...
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SP0NZ on June 1, 2015
That would be interesting to try. ;)
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Zeron on May 30, 2015
How much throws on the control surfaces?
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russj48 on May 30, 2015
Zeron, from my experience the starting point for controlls would be 5mm each way for ailerons and elevator. If you add the rudder that is about 10mm. This little plane is really quick so start with that and if you want it to be wild.... crank them up...
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russj48 on May 30, 2015
Nice article SPONZ!
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SP0NZ on June 1, 2015
Thanks.
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Ed B. on May 30, 2015
Dan, this is a wonderful designed, well thought out plane, lots of features you put into it I am putting into my Mini Scout redesign. I would build yours, but a couple things drove me back to my Scout . I love my Mini Scout, I just can't let it go into the trash without building on its strengths, and seeing in the sky again. That, and I am leary of flying less than 24" wing span til I can learn to land my Scout. It's my little buddy and my trainer all in one. When I have conquered it, it has to hang proudly on my wall before I build another mini.
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SP0NZ on June 1, 2015
I like the FT Mini Scout too. The Baby Baron needs a little more speed and is a little more responsive than the scout. Once you get really comfortable with the scout, you should be able to move up to the Baby Baron if you want too.
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wrayman on May 30, 2015
Dan I like the baby Baron this looks like a fun time to fly this one, I think i'll try to make this one it looks small enough to fly in a medium park. That was a good build an a very good video awsome
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SP0NZ on May 31, 2015
You should be able to fly this anywhere you can fly one of the PZ UMX warbirds.
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GVNguyen on August 25, 2016
Would you please give me the Plans for this plane ... Thank you ...
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winglet on June 1, 2015
Well done! Airplane and article.
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SP0NZ on June 1, 2015
Thank you.
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Toolman on June 1, 2015
Sponz, gorgeous model! I am new to this hobby, just finished my first foam board plane this weekend, the Tiny Trainer. I am interested in how you cover your planes. They are beautiful! I have seen the Minwax article in the forums, but yours look like Monocote. Is there a how to article on this in the forums that I missed? Thanks for the great article and plans. Looking forward to getting to that skill level some day!
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SP0NZ on June 1, 2015
I use 2 mil colored packing tape. You can get it from tapebrothers.com, lazertoyz.com, and Hobby King. I usually get mine from tapebrothers.

I plan on writing an article on how I apply the tape and printing and applying the printed paper graphics pretty soon.
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agentorange2000 on August 9, 2015
Thanks for the links. I haven't been able to find colored packing tape at any local retailers. It's a lot cleaner method than spray paint.
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GVNguyen on August 25, 2016
Please give me the link ...Thanks
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knoticalknots on June 1, 2015
Great looking plane, I have built all the minis to date and love them, there my size planes. I didn't see any photos of the underside and I didn't see a cover in the plans for the bottom, is it open and you Velcro the receiver and battery to the bottom? Am I right you said the model is 60%, I tried to print them but they wouldn't , just keep going off the page. great plane how you do more.
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SP0NZ on June 1, 2015
Thanks for the feedback. I have updated the build thread with a photo of the underside of my Baby Baron. The fuselage is open and I attach the Rx and battery with velcro.

The 60% reference was in relation to the full-size Bloody Baron (which should be coming to the Flite Test store soon). The plans for the Baby Baron are already the correct scale. You need to print them out at 100% from Adobe Reader so that they are the correct size to build this mini.

I definitely plan on designing more planes. :)
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GVNguyen on August 25, 2016
SPONZ...
Please give this Mini Ft Bloody Wonder ..Thank you very much ....

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FlyingTrucker on June 11, 2015
Great article. I can't wait to build this one. I am still working on learning to fly and build with the FT Flyer but this is going to be my next build. Can't wait for you article on covering and graphics. Your planes look great.
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derFrickler on August 10, 2015
Very cool little plane you did there.
Do you have a non-tiled version of the plans as well?
Would be cool to print it on a large printer in one piece.
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SP0NZ on August 10, 2015
Page 2 of the plans is the full-size (non-tiled) sheet. So, the full-size and tiled plans are included in one PDF file.
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derFrickler on August 10, 2015
Thanks a lot, must have missed that!
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laury415 on August 11, 2015
Where is the cg? It was on the plan but some how I forgot to transfer it to the foam.
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SP0NZ on August 11, 2015
1-3/8" [35 mm] from the leading edge.
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jefflikesdrones on February 13, 2016
How do you make the edges looks so clean cut?
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jefflikesdrones on February 13, 2016
Do you use laser cutters?
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SP0NZ on June 7, 2016
Nope, just a utility knife and a #11 X-acto knife, plus a little practice and a lot of patience. I buy blades in bulk and always use a sharp blade.
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wanabeRCexpert on November 16, 2016
you say its "mighty mini sized" but could you use the mighty mini power pod?
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SP0NZ on November 16, 2016
@liamnave,
Yes, it does use the Mighty Mini power pod and it is included on the free plans.
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Jackson T on July 10, 2018
Hi Dan, nice design! I am thinking of making one out of balsa and changing the dimensions a bit, but when I try to print the tiled plans, it prints it at about 1/6 scale. I have printed many Flite Test tiled plans (by the way, thanks for them!), and I have never had this problem. Are the plans supposed to be printed in the same sized paper as the Flite Test plans?

Thanks, Jackson
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SP0NZ on July 17, 2018
Hi Jackson. Thanks for checking out the Baby Baron. These plans should print exactly the same as my other designs and the FT plans. Make sure you use the proper settings in Adobe Reader/Acrobat to print them for best results. Try following the steps here:
https://www.flitetest.com/articles/printing-flite-test-plans
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Jackson T on July 21, 2018
I have tried a few more times with this design and other FT designs, and I think I have found the problem. The problem is when it is an All In One plan, which causes the tiled A size (what I use), to come out small because my printer automaticaly scales the larger sized papers ( full size or tile B size) included in the PDF to the tiled A size, and scaling the tiled A size down in proportion with the full size. I have tried different scale settings on my printer, but I can't seem to get it right. Is there any way you could seperate the tiled A size into a PDF of its own like the FT designs? Oh, by the way, I have read you Printing Flite Test Plans article. Thanks for your help!
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wjp8133 on September 23, 2021
Hello! Want to ask if you can share your work?
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sblake2150 on May 13, 2024
Just got done building and flying a Baby Baron with some modifications that some might find interesting. I made two changes - added 5 inches to its wingspan and added 3 inches to its fuselage length. I kept with the wing's original c/g location and shifted the wing's location on the fuselage to have it balance. In this configuration, it is still quite aerobatic but also (I believe) easier to fly.
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Baby Baron - FREE Plans