10 Tips for Building a Swappable Smash Trainer

(Looking for an equipment list? Specs? See the Review Article)

Building the Smash Drone Swappable is easy and straight forward. Here are a few tips to keep it simple.

1.Cut out all the plans first. This makes the assembly easy and clutter-free. Use a Basswood rod instead of balsa! It adds weight but takes a brutal beating where balsa will break.

 2. Do all four 45 degree bevels on the fuselage first. Be sure the rod is flush with the front and hot glue everything together.

 3. Glue in your powerpod brackets.

Use the rear bracket to set heighth. The top of the bracket should be flush with top of the fuselage sides. This gives maximum prop clearance.

Use the forward bracket to set thrust angle. The firewall should be parallel to the fuselage side trailing edges, giving a 0 degree thrust angle. A slight down thrust angle is okay too. 

4. Bevel the edges of the servo tray and glue it inline with the apex of the fuselage (where the highest point of the wing sits). Trim the edges so you can put a dab of hot glue on the bottom of the servos as well. This makes for a tough-as-nails servo tray install. Also, If done right, you can reach down from the top to access the servos when the powerpod is out.

Important: When routing pushrods to the tail, take care to run them on the side of the balsa rod where it exits the fuselage. This maintains maximum prop clearance.

5. Install your canopy support. Before gluing in the canopy, secure your battery lead extensions.

6. Glue in the canopy with battery door hinge line just ahead of the canopy support. Use a popsicle stick and rubber band (see video) to keep the battery door closed in flight.

7. Install the tail control surfaces with the elevator leading edge perpendicular to the balsa rod and the elevator hinge line just aft of the end of the rod. 

8. Use a speed clevis on each control surface for easy adjustments in the field. For best results, try to get 1.5" of throw side to side or 3/4" throw from center for both rudder and elevator.

9. Install the gearbox - you'll need two halves of whichever gearbox style you choose (Basic or Deluxe).

The basic gearbox is quick and simple. Be sure to glue popsicle sticks a little distance back from each edge. This helps keep the paper from pulling away from the foam in a crash.

The Deluxe gearbox looks sleek and is extremely crash proof. The front and rear wedges of your foam patterns will need to be beveled.

10. Host a build party. Share the excitement. Friends and family make RC building and flying even better!

(Looking for an equipment list? Specs? See the Review Article)