FT SIMPLE SCOUT BUILD

FTScratchBuild

The awesome new FT Simple Scout is here! This video and article will tell you how to build your own.

 We suggest that you follow the build video above when assembling your FT Simple Scout, but here is a condensed step-by-step guide for reference and your benefit.

Servo Preparation

• Center your servos using a servo tester tool - like this one in our store
• Install servo horn with screws provided

Power Pod

• Unpack your motor and speed controller. We recommend a similar setup to our Power Pack B (fixed wing small) available on the FT Store
• Assemble power pod. Cut holes to help route ESC. Clear out cavities
• Make A-folds and reinforce with hot glue. Make sure both sides are nice and square (90-degree angles)
• Install firewall with hot glue (hold 30 seconds). Reinforce with tape
• Put tape on tabs. Open holes with barbecue skewers.
• Assemble motor. (Watch video for details.) Do not put on the propeller just yet as we want to be safe
• Mount motor onto Power-Pod on firewall. Make sure to keep a gap between the screw and the motor wire coils as you don't want to damage your motor!

• Mount ESC on bottom.
• Make sure motor spins counter-clockwise (or your plane won't fly very well!)

Wing

• Open up cavities and remove. Be sure to remove aileron cavities too. 
• Center spar: do a practice fold first to make sure everything looks good. Then make an A fold with hot glue. Glue foam to foam, not paper. Repeat on other side of spar.
• Line up both wing sides and secure with tape. Make sure you press the wings closely together
• Fold open and lay bead of glue within the gap.
• Cut 45-degree bevel on first wing. Repeat on second wing. See video for best practices for angles of the blade.
• Attach spar with hot glue. Make sure you align holes. 
• Contour wings and begin to fold over. Reinforce with hot glue on spar and trailing edge of wing. Watch video for details.
• Create dihedral for wing. Use dihedral gages. Reinforce with hot glue and tape. Again, you can watch the video for details.

Fuselage

• Clear out cavities for folds. This is on your turtle deck formers, fuselage piece, pushrod guides, and triangle. Knock out holes in fuselage main piece
• Glue doublers
• Glue pushrod guides with straws and attach to fuselage
• Glue triangle
• Establish crease line on back edge.
• Make B fold on fuselage with hot glue. Watch video for details on where to put hot glue. Repeat on other side. Make sure you keep everything nice and square by using triangle and by pushing against the build table. 
• Remove wing cutouts

Tail

• Bevel elevator and rudder. 
• Reinforce joins with hot glue to ensure that it lasts a long time. Watch video for details.
• Install tail on to airplane and secure with hot glue. Use table as your friend (as Josh says).
• Reinforce with hot glue. Wipe off excess glue with scrap foam pieces.  

Push rods and Control Horns

• Pass pushrod through pushrod guides in fuselage
• Install control horns on tail surfaces
• Make a 'Z' bend in wire ends
• Glue servos in place (see video for details)
• Install bottom plate of fuselage with hot glue. See video for details of where to put glue and how to fold. Wipe off excess glue. 

Finishing Fuselage and Installing Wings

• Glue front former to top front of fuselage
• Fold and glue both other formers
• Test fit and then glue formers around cockpit
• Glue turtle-deck to formers and roll around fuselage. See video for order of folds and glue
• Trim off excess of turtle-deck card
• Install tail skid
• Install wings
• Cut ailerons (if you want a 4 channel setup)
• Glue in servo
• Cut slot for control horn and glue in place. Use modified 'Z' bend or linkage stopper to attach wire to control horn. 
• Bevel edge of aileron to 45-degrees. 12-degree deflection in both directions is preferable

Landing Gear

• Pop out foam piece
• Bend wire (in accordance to the video guidance and measurements)
• Glue wire into foam piece and fold over 
• Reinforce with tape
• Slide on wheels and secure with hot glue 
• Slide gear into fuselage
• Glue BBQ stick onto tail skid

Electronics

• Find all wires and pop out of the bottom panel of fueslage
• Hook up all wires to receiver ports. Be sure to use a Y harness for both ailerons to fit into the aileron port
• Power on and check controls (make sure you do not have a prop on at this stage). Make adjustments on your radio if needed
• Use throw gauges to find proper travel of control surfaces
• Feed loose wires above wing inside the fuselage
• Take BBQ sticks to secure Power-Pod in place.

Finishing

• Take engine stacks and slide over BBQ sticks. Glue in place
• Attach propeller to your motor and tighten prop nut with pliers
• Stick velcro for battery on bottom of fuselage
• Find the center of gravity with CG marks. If this is your first RC airplane, make it a touch nose heavy as this will ensure you have a good experience

We very much hope you enjoy your own FT Simple Scout!

Before you go, check out our painting guide to create your own awesome distressed weathering effects like this on your new scout.  

Buy your own FT Simple Scout speed build kit here!

Check out the FT Simple Scout plans here:

All-In-One:  https://www.flitetest.com/ScoutAllInOne

Full-Size:  https://www.flitetest.com/ScoutFullSize

Tiled A-Size (7-1/2 x 10):  https://www.flitetest.com/ScoutASize

Tiled B-Size (15 x 20):  https://www.flitetest.com/ScoutBSize

Thank you to Dan Sponholz for making these plans available to everyone!

How will you have fun with your Simple Scout? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!