Top Tips for Building the FT Edge

The FT Edge is out in the wild. If you're going to be building one, here are some additional tips to help you get your bird in the air!

Although it may look a little intimidating, like all of our Flite Test kits, the FT Edge goes together without the need for special building boards, complex tools or a dedicated workshop. Having said that, there are a few extra things that will help take your Edge build to the next level. 

Get yourself an Edge!

Build Video

Before jumping into these tips, if you haven't seen the video yet, here's the instructional tutorial for the FT Edge. You'll see from the fuselage section of the build that this RC airplane has been designed from the inside out to give you a completely solid airframe structure. 

Tip 1. Have a great hot glue gun

There are not many reasons why you shouldn't own a great hot glue gun - they're so essential for building foam planes! There is one main quality one must have: the glue must stay liquid long enough to do large sections in one go, such as when it comes to wings. Not all glue guns have been designed to do this as some prioritize making the glue dry as quickly as possible. If you're looking for an upgrade, check out the glue guns that we use with our special Flite Test blend hot glue sticks designed for foam board. 

Get a glue gun here

Tip 2. Keep scraps of foam handy!

These little scrap pieces of foam board are super valuable when it comes to getting a good finish on your Flite Test aircraft. They can be used to smear out hot glue to get a stronger bond or simply to remove excess that has spilled out of a seam or joint. Try lining them up on your build table when you next need to do a section so that you're always prepared before gluing. 

Tip 3.  Test fit your pieces

To make sure that you're not permanently fixing your components in the wrong places, try test fitting your pieces before you add glue. This way, you can hold your fuselage, wing or formers in place to see if they look right first. If you get into this habit, often you'll be able to catch a mistake before it happens. 

Tip 4. Keep swapping to spare knife blades

This is more of a general tip for scratch builders but, when beveling especially, you'll need to make sure that your knife blade is sharp. If you see or feel your blade catching on the foam as it cuts, swap it out. It'll be a much better experience if it cuts like butter. 

Get some craft supplies here

Tip 5. Sand your parts

To get a truly great finish on your Edge, you might want to sand your airframe. You can round the squarer lines of your fuselage and smooth the corners of your wings. Sanding can also help when it comes to decorating your model, which brings us to the next point.

Sandpaper supplies on the FT Store

Tip 6. Paint your Edge!

As well as making your aircraft look amazing, painting your aircraft can help to take the spotlight of any areas you might have got slightly wrong. If you've got too much glue coming out of a seam line, no one will notice! Your plane will dazzle with style and cover up the imperfections. Also, you can always paint the plane later to cover up any dents or scratches that may appear after ten or twenty flights.

We can't wait to see your finished FT Edge's ripping up the sky! Post a picture of yours on the Flite Test Fans Facebook Group. 

Article by James Whomsley

Editor of FliteTest.com

James@whomsley.net

www.youtube.com/projectairaviation

Instagram @jameswhomsley