For visitors to my website, my “Build of the Month” (BOTM) Series was created to help those who are trying to get started in building their own Radio Controlled (RC) Model Aircraft.

  "Aerofred.com" and "Outerzone.co.uk" are two of my favorite web sites to obtain free RC model airplane plans for my new builds. Additionally, they like to post images of Builder's models, and both sites have posted my RC model images and build descriptions under the heading of the associated aircraft model. Other good sources for free plans are: "Hip Pocket Aeronautics Builders' Plan Gallery", "Vintage & Old-Timer RCM Free Plans", "James Hatton Blog Free Plans and Articles", "Hlsat Blog RCModeler Free Plans and Articles", and "Don Dewey Memorial RCM Plans Collection."

  If you are currently not an active builder, and you would like to be, my BOTM Series is a great place to start. If you have an RC model aircraft that you would like to see featured in this section or feel others may find interesting, please let me know and I will make every attempt to find scratch build plans, photos, and maybe even a published build article, which I will then post in a future BOTM edition. Just send me an email @: Build of the Month.

Build of the Month Series - February 2026 Edition

  I hope you enjoyed last months BOTM Edition on the Royal Wing. If you have an RC model that you would like to see featured in this section or feel others may find interesting, please let me know and I will make every attempt to find scratch build plans, images, and maybe even a published build article, which I will then post in a future edition. Just send me an email @: Build of the Month.

  Ok, now lets see what I have for the month of February 2026. Getting back to the basics of building a balsa RC model airplane, not everyone will want to try a scratch build. Another option is to try your hand at a laser-cut kit. This option still allows you to build an RC model that will be unique (unlike a cookie-cutter ARF), but not having to go through all the time and effort of cutting out each individual part as required in a scratch build. Given this requirement, this month features the Sky Ranger 40, a sport RC model airplane kit designed, manufactured, and sold by Old School Model Works (OSMW).

Images Source: OSMW.

  Everyone knows that the RC model airplane market is dominated by ARFs. It is easy for those of us who enjoy building with balsa and plywood to feel neglected, but there are still numerous options put forth by a cottage industry of kit producers. In fact, the latest generation of laser-cut kits is better than ever! A GREAT company in the kit market is Old School Model Works (OSMW). Introduced in May 2018, their Sky Ranger 40 is an all-around low-wing open-cockpit sport RC model airplane based off a 1970's classic. Whether you like gentle cruising, or prefer to tear up the sky, the Sky Ranger 40's wide flight envelope makes it a blast to fly!

  The Sky Ranger 40 is as much fun to build as it is to fly. Using updated design techniques and laser-cut precision, OSMWs designed this kit so most any modeler can successfully assemble it in a short amount of time. The laser cut kit uses OMSW “WEB-LOCK Construction” - There's nothing else like it. You will build the wings straight and true with a minimum amount of fuss. The Sky Ranger 40 includes most of the components that you will need to make a flying model. There is a selection of laser-cut balsa and plywood parts, as well as sheet and strip stock. Included in each OSMW kit is a premium hardware package. They only source their hardware from brand name, USA manufacturers (DuBro, Sonic-Tronics, and others) to guarantee the best quality. The rugged 3/16″ pre-bent main landing gear and wheel collars are included. The 3/16″ diameter wire can absorb quite a bit of abuse for those no-so-good landings. The front hatch is held in place with magnets, which gives you easy access to batteries or fuel. A clear, pre-formed plastic windscreen is also included. The Sky Ranger 40's assembly is guided by a printed construction manual and two sheets of rolled full-size plans. What's more, you can cover and finish your Sky Ranger 40 like you want, rather than being stuck with a “me-too” offering that looks exactly the same as the others at your local field.

• Sky Ranger 40 RC Model Specifications:
• Aircraft Type: Sport Flyer
• Wingspan: 60″
• Wing chord: 10″
• Wing Area: 527 in²
• Wing Location: Low Wing
• Airfoil: Symmetrical
• Wing Platform: Constant Chord
• Airframe Length: 42.8″
• Overall Height: 17.3″
• Horizontal Stabilizer Span: 24″
• Horizontal Stabilizer Chord: 6.3″
• Flight Performance Category: General Sport
• Center of Gravity Location: 2.8″ back from wing leading edge
• Flying Weight: 3.5 - 4.5 lbs. (depending on power system selected)
• Wing Loading: Approx. 17.5 oz/ft²
• No. of Channels: 4 - Aileron, Elevator, Rudder, and Throttle
• Recommended Control Throws: Aileron 1/2″ up/down; Elevator 1/2″ up/down; Rudder 3/4″ left/right

• Additional parts needed to complete and fly the kit:
• Glow Fuel Engines: .40-.45 2-stroke engine or similar, 6 ounce tank, fuel tubing
• Electric Powered: Output of 800 Watts, 80 amp ESC, 4-5S 45C LiPo
• Engine/Motor mount and mounting hardware
• Receiver - 4 channel minimum
• Servos: 4 each 40-70 in./oz. servos (Standard servos - similar to HS-311); 1 additional servo for throttle, if using a glow engine
• Rec. Props: Use the recommended propeller for the selected power system
• “Y” servo harness
• Pushrods (two 5″ for ailerons, two 24″ for elevator & rudder, one 12″ for throttle if glow powered)
• Clevises for the pushrods (8 if electric, 10 if glow)
• 3″ diameter wheels
• 1″ tailwheel
• Covering Material
• Optional pilot figure for the open cockpit

  After reading through the Sky Ranger 40 construction manual, which you can download for free from the OSMW website, I feel this model would be an excellent candidate for someone just learning how to build a model airplane kit. Additionally, you can find all kinds of help from other Sky Ranger 40 builders on the web. Take some time and view an OUTSTANDING 20 part video build series by "Dan in VA" Sky Ranger 40 Build where he provides detailed instructions on his build of an electric powered Sky Ranger 40.

  There also are two GREAT videos from MBMrc on his Sky Ranger 40 Post-build review, and his Sky Ranger 40 Flight Video.

  The following is a quote by Terry Dunn in his review of the Sky Ranger 40 published in the October 2018 issue of Model Aviation.

  “Flying the Sky Ranger 40: The models landing gear has a wide stance and plenty of ground clearance for the 12-inch propeller. Combined with the steerable tail wheel, the Sky Ranger 40 has solid ground handling. I found that gradual application of power helped me to track straight during the takeoff run. I mounted my motor with 3° of right thrust. The Sky Ranger 40 still demands some corrective rudder input, especially when you first start rolling. The model quickly achieves flying speed and takes to the sky with authority. Aileron authority is excellent. Rolls are crisp and tight. I am surprised by how cleanly the Sky Ranger 40 stops rolling as soon as I neutralize the stick. It’s instantaneous. The elevator is quite effective as well. This airplane happily performs big or small loops. Inverted flight requires only a hint of forward pressure. A quick yank back on the stick, coupled with rudder, produces a respectable snap roll. I sometimes yearn for better rudder authority with this model. It's fine for coordinated turns, sideslips, and other common maneuvers, yet rudder-heavy moves such as stall turns, wingovers, and knife-edge flight, are slightly soft for my taste. My model balanced at the suggested location, which I think is perfect. Stalls are very gentle. The airplane starts flying again as soon as back pressure is released. You have to get quite heavy-handed on the controls to coax the airplane into a spin. Again, recovery is immediate.

  I didn't expect this model to be very fast because it has a relatively thick airfoil. Much to my surprise, the Sky Ranger 40 can really boogie when you firewall the throttle! My power system offers great climb performance. I guess that's what happens when your power loading approaches 200 watts per pound. A significant portion of my flights are spent at 1/2 to 3/4 throttle. That's more than adequate for cruising and aerobatics. Full power is reserved for an occasional jolt of adrenaline. Flights lasting 7 minutes or longer are normal with the mixed flying style that I prefer. The Sky Ranger 40 is one of those models that is easy to land, but somewhat challenging to land well. Achieving a gentle, YouTube-worthy arrival demands a little work. Many of my attempts to bring the Sky Ranger 40 in on the main wheels have resulted in bouncy rollouts. I consistently have the best luck when I go with a full-stall, three-point landing.

  Overall, the Sky Ranger 40 is a well-rounded, low-stress sport airplane. It is fun to fly and doesn't hide any unwanted surprises. If you're a fan of “Stik” models, you will feel right at home flying this aircraft.

  The Sky Ranger 40 is a great specimen representing the current state-of-the-art in laser-cut kits. It has a well-designed airframe that fits together nicely. Modelers who have built a kit or two should have no trouble building this airplane and have fun doing it. The completed model is a nimble performer with clean, retro styling.”

  I hope you have enjoyed this months selection, and just maybe, I have spurred some interest in trying your hand at building an RC model airplane.

Until next month - Keep the Balsa Dust Flying!!!

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Build of the Month Series - January 2026 Edition

  Happy New Year and I hope you enjoyed last months BOTM Edition on the Westland P12 Wendover. If you have an RC model that you would like to see featured in this section or feel others may find interesting, please let me know and I will make every attempt to find scratch build plans, images, and maybe even a published build article, which I will then post in a future edition. Just send me an email @: Build of the Month.

  Ok, now lets see what I have for the month of January 2026. During my end-of-year review of my website pages, I noticed that I did not have a BOTM Edition for what could be called a flying wing RC model. Therefore, how about something that can be called a “flying wing” and is similar in design and construction to that used for the AMTN Beechcraft Starship kit I built. Given these requirements, this month features the Royal Wing, a RC model flying wing designed by Azher from Royal Air Frames, and can be found @ Royalairframes.com, and @: Cults 3D.

Images Source: Royalairframes.com.

  I was doing a web search for 3-view drawings of a Blended Wing Body (BWB) design similar to that of the JetZero tanker/transport and just happened to come across a 3D model on Cults 3D from a designer listed as “RoyalAirframes.” I decided to take a look at other designs this company had done and eventually found their company website that has some very interesting and unusual balsa model airplane designs. This is how I found the Royal Wing featured this BOTM Edition.

  Just a few words about the company. Royal Air Frames specializes in providing high-quality, precision-engineered scale short kit designs, DXF files, and aircraft CAD designs. Perfect for aeromodeling enthusiasts, hobbyists, and DIY builders, their extensive collection includes RC airplane plans for scale models, warbirds, giant-scale aircraft, and more. Whether you are looking to create custom airframes for laser cutting or CNC machining, their laser-ready DXF plans are designed for accuracy and ease of use. Download the files and unlock endless possibilities for wooden aircraft models, foam planes, and balsa wood designs. Need something unique? They offer custom design services to bring your creative ideas to life, tailored to your exact needs. From beginner to advanced builders, their comprehensive resources make it easy to turn your RC aircraft project into a reality. Need Old Plans converted to Laser-Cutting Data? If you have vintage or hand-drawn aircraft plans, Royal Air Frames can convert them into high-precision DXF files for laser cutting or CNC machining. Their team is experienced in transforming old designs into modern digital formats, preserving the details and accuracy of the original plans while making them suitable for current manufacturing methods.

  Alright, enough with the free advertising, and lets get back to the Royal Wing model. As quoted from their website: “The Royal Wing is built for modelers who value the heritage of aeromodeling and the satisfaction of flying a well-crafted aircraft. With its 1430mm (56.3″) wingspan, this design delivers light wing loading, stable handling, smooth performance, and flight times of up to 1 hour, making every flight a rewarding experience. Constructed entirely from 3mm Lite plywood, the Royal Wing achieves the ideal balance of lightweight structure and durability. Whether you enjoy sport flying, First Person View (FPV), or simply the joy of building, this airframe offers the timeless experience of model aviation with the reliability of modern design.”

• Royal Wing RC Model Specifications:
• Aircraft Type: Flying Wing/Sport Flyer
• Wingspan: 1430mm / 56.3″
• Wing chord: Varies from 590mm down to 260mm
• Overall Length: 714mm / 28.1″
• Height: 130mm / 5.1″
• Wing Area: 54.64 decimeters² / 847 in² / 5.88 ft²
• Wing Sweep: 30.7 degrees
• Wing Loading: Approx. 11.7 oz/ft²
• Flight Performance Category: General Sport
• Center of Gravity Location: 450mm from wing root leading edge (with 10% static margin)
• Flying Weight: Estimate 1,950 g / 68.8 oz (depending on LiPo size used)
• No. of Channels: 3 - Elevons and throttle (2 servos + 1 ESC)
• Motor: DYS G3536 900kv motor, 1,050g push, 370 W, or any similar motor (this model works with a wide range)
• ESC: Minimum of 50A ESC 2-4S w/5v 3A BEC (depending on motor selection)
• Servos: 12g mini servos (x2)
• Rec. Props: Use the recommended propeller for the selected motor (i.e. 11x6 folding prop)
• Battery: 4S 2,600 - 10,000 mah LiPo

  As you can see from the above specs, using light weight flight components will result in gentle handling characteristics and very long flight durations. One builder of the Royal Wing provided RAF a FPV frame capture showing a flight duration of almost an hour (see below), and a Royal Wing flight video.

• The files included in the Cults 3D Royal Wing download package are:
• 3D CAD (.STEP) – complete 3D model for reference and modification
• DXF & DWG – laser-cut ready files for precise fabrication
• Assembly Layouts – straightforward building process

  I plugged the specs into an online C.G. calculator which established a 450mm behind the nose C.G. position using a 10% static margin. The equipment bay is large enough to accommodate just about any combination of LiPo batteries you would want to use.

  In Conclusion: The Royal Wing is a very nice RC model aircraft, but I do not recommend it for beginners who are just starting out in aeromodeling. While it does not look that hard to scratch build, hand cutting all the CAD parts from 3mm ply could be a frustrating challenge. But, if you already have some experience in RC model aircraft, and maybe even a laser or CNC cutter, this looks like a fun RC model aircraft to build and fly.

  I hope you have enjoyed this months selection, and just maybe, I have spurred some interest in trying your hand at building an RC model airplane.

Until next month - Keep the Balsa Dust Flying!!!

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