Homemade Popsicle Stick Motor Mount

A problem that many people encounter when building pusher planes is not having the proper motor mount? While the most viable and secure method is to buy FliteTest's motor mount, many people, like us, want a quick and simple way to fly using basic RC materials. This is why we're introducing the Homemade Popsicle Stick Motor Mount!

Materials

- Hot Glue

- Ruler

- Tape

- X-Acto knife or other blade

- Several popsicle sticks (depending on the size)

- Motor

- Nuts and bolts that will fit your motor

- Plier 

- Your plane of course!

Before you begin, make sure that your popsicle sticks are straight. Bent popsicle sticks will not only be difficult to use, but will drastically decrease the mount's stability and performance. 

The first step is to determine how many popsicle sticks you'll be needing for the base of the motor mount. Align several up and see how many will completely cover the base of your motor. In our case, it was three. 

Once you've decided on the number of popsicle sticks, take that and double it because we're going to cross-grain them for strength and endurance. 

In order to make gluing the popsicle sticks much easier, take a piece of tape and connect the first layer of popsicle sticks. It doesn't have to be perfect, as long as they're held together.

Now that they're taped together, you can flip the layer over and apply a bead of hot glue into the first crevice.

In order to push the glue deeper into the crevice and to get rid of the excess glue, simply run over the glue with a piece of foam. Once you've finished gluing the first crevice, go ahead and repeat the last two steps for the next two crevices on the first layer, and for all three on the second layer.

Now that both layers are finished, you can glue them together by applying some glue onto the first layer and placing the second layer perpendicular to the first one.

The next step is to cut off the excess wood using a box cutter or X-Acto knife. This can be done by simply going over each side several times and then using your hands to snap them off. Make sure to sand each side after you've done this in order to avoid rough edges and splinters.

Once you've cut out the base of your mount, the next step is to take off the X-Mount from your motor and trace out each of the holes onto the wooden base. These marks will make it much easier to drill out the holes later on.

Now that you've marked the holes, drilling them will be so much easier. Grab a drill and a drill bit that fits your X-Mount and drill out each hole.

The next step is to put the X-Mount back onto your motor and secure the motor onto the wooden base using some nuts and bolts. In our case, we only used two of the holes, but for more strength and stability, we recommend using all four.

Now that your motor is secure, you can begin the process of gluing it onto your plane. Find and mark the area on which you want to place your mount and place a bead of glue along the edge. As you can see, we used a piece of foam for example purposes. In your case, make sure to use your actual plane!

Quickly grab your mount and align the center of it onto the glue. Hold it there for a few seconds and make sure its at a 90 degree angle.

Now that your motor is securely glued onto your plane, it's time to start working on the legs. Grab several popsicle sticks and cut out four sticks. In our case, we used 2-inch legs. You can decide on the length of yours accordingly. 

This should be your final product.

In order to glue the legs onto your mount, apply one bead of glue on the edge of one side, and another on the opposite side right at the tip.

Take the leg and align it so that the side with the bead of glue on the edge is touching the top of the motor mount and the side with the bead of glue at the tip is on the foam near the mount's base. As you do this, ensure that the motor mount is still perpendicular to the plane's edge.

Repeat this process once more on this side of the mount, and twice on the underlying side. 

And you're finished! Here is an example of what it should look like on an actual plane. (We took off the motor in order to make the video)

We hope you've enjoyed this quick and easy How-To on making a Homemade Popsicle Stick Mount. You'll find that this motor mount can easily be used on a variety of different planes and is very cheap and easy to make. If you have any questions or concerns, don't hesitate in commenting or sending us a message, we'd be glad to help. Make sure to check out our Youtube channel and other articles. See you next time!

- TheTurbulenceShow