My “Build of the Month” (BOTM) Series was created to help those who are trying to get started in scratch building their own Radio Controlled (RC) Model Aircraft from plans.

  "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 one of my future BOTM editions. Just send me an email @: Build of the Month.

Build of the Month Series - July 2026 Edition

  I hope you enjoyed last months BOTM Edition on the Andy Clancy Yard Bee. 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 July 2026. While I'm not a foam model builder myself, I did feature a “Foamy” in the February 2024 Edition of my BOTM Series. So I figured it was once again time to venture into this method of scratch building an RC model. In addition, I thought I would add the requirement to pick an aircraft which is currently very busy in real world military action supporting “Epic Fury.” Given these requirements, this month features a Foamy RC model of the MQ-9 Reaper, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) built by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI).

Images Source: Wikipedia MQ-9 Reaper Webpage.

  First, some background on the actual MQ-9 Reaper. The MQ-9 Reaper, developed by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) primarily for the United States Air Force (USAF), is an armed, multi-mission, medium-altitude, long-endurance remotely piloted aircraft that is employed primarily against dynamic execution targets and secondarily as an intelligence collection asset. Given its significant loiter time, wide-range sensors, multi-mode communications suite, and precision weapons, it provides a unique capability to perform strike, coordination, and reconnaissance against high-value, fleeting, and time-sensitive targets. Reapers can also perform the following missions and tasks close air support, combat search and rescue, precision strike, buddy-lase, convoy/raid overwatch, target development, and terminal air guidance. The MQ-9's capabilities make it uniquely qualified to conduct irregular warfare operations in support of combatant commander objectives.

  The Reaper is part of a remotely piloted aircraft system. A fully operational system consists of several sensor/weapon-equipped aircraft, ground control station, Predator Primary Satellite Link, and spare equipment along with operation and maintenance crews for deployed 24-hour missions. The basic crew consists of a rated pilot to control the aircraft and command the mission, and enlisted aircrew member to operate sensors and weapons as well as a mission coordinator, when required. To meet combatant commanders' requirements, the Reaper delivers tailored capabilities using mission kits containing various weapons and sensor payload combinations.

  The MQ-9 baseline system carries the Multi-Spectral Targeting System, which has a robust suite of visual sensors for targeting. The MTS-B integrates an infrared sensor, color/monochrome daylight TV camera, image-intensified TV camera, laser range finder /designator, and laser illuminator. The full-motion video from each of the imaging sensors can be viewed as separate video streams or fused. The unit also incorporates a laser range finder/designator, which precisely designates targets for employment of laser-guided munitions, such as the Guided Bomb Unit-12 Paveway II. The Reaper is also equipped with a synthetic aperture radar to enable future GBU-38 Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM) targeting. The MQ-9 can also employ four laser-guided Air-to-Ground Missile (AGM)-114 Hellfire air-to-ground missiles, which provide highly accurate, low-collateral damage, anti-armor and anti-personnel engagement capabilities. In addition to carrying the AIM-9 Sidewinder, tests are underway to allow for the addition of the AIM-92 Stinger air-to-air missile. GA-ASI conducted captive carry tests of the Sparrowhawk Small Unmanned Aircraft System (sUAS) on the MQ-9, with the Reaper itself acting as a drone mothership. The MQ-9B Sky Guardian will be able to carry up to four Sparrowhawks. An MQ-9 with two 1,000-pound (450 kg) external fuel tanks and 1,000 pounds (450 kg) of munitions has an endurance of 42 hours. The Reaper has an endurance of 14 hours when fully loaded with munitions.

  In its secondary role as an ISR asset, the MQ-9 is part of a system that support strike aircraft and ground commanders by acquiring and tracking dynamic targets or other useful intelligence. It is also capable of supporting a wide range of operations such as coastal and border surveillance, weapons tracking, embargo enforcement, humanitarian/disaster assistance, support of peacekeeping and counter-narcotic operations. Utilizing satellite communication links, the RPA can acquire and pass real-time imagery data to ground users around the clock, and beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS).

• Full Scale MQ-9 Reaper General Characteristics:
• Primary Function: Intelligence collection in support of strike, coordination and reconnaissance missions
• Contractor: General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.
• Crew (remote): Two (pilot and sensor operator)
• Power Plant: Honeywell TPE331-10GD turboprop engine
• Thrust: 900 shaft horsepower maximum
• Wingspan: 66 feet (20.1 meters)
• Length: 36 feet (11 meters)
• Height: 12.5 feet (3.8 meters)
• Weight: 4,900 pounds (2,223 kilograms) empty
• Maximum takeoff weight: 10,500 pounds (4,760 kilograms)
• Fuel Capacity: 4,000 pounds (602 gallons)
• Payload: 3,750 pounds (1,701 kilograms)
• Speed: Cruise speed around 230 miles per hour (200 knots)
• Range: 1,150 miles (1,000 nautical miles)
• Ceiling: Up to 50,000 feet (15,240 meters)
• Armament: Combination of AGM-114 Hellfire missiles, GBU-12 Paveway II, GBU-38 Joint Direct Attack Munitions, GBU-49 Enhanced Paveway II, and GBU-54 Laser Joint Direct Attack Munitions

  The Foamy RC model of the MQ-9 Reaper featured this month and shown below was designed by Julius Perdana and is featured on his website Paper Replica.

Images Source: Paper Replica MQ-9 Reaper Webpage.

  Quoting Julius from his website “This is the first time I have made a glider like model aircraft. I build and make the plans for this MQ-9 Reaper because there are many requests for this UAV drone and it looks cool with all bombs and missiles it can carry. Learning from many previous models on Youtube videos, I decided to make the size of it with 2500mm wingspan, to give lighter wing loading. I enlarged the wing area almost doubled and also made the stabilizers a bit bigger then the scale for maintaining stabilization. Surprisingly it takes off without any issue and fly very stable and floating.”

• MQ-9 Reaper Foamy RC Model Specifications:
• Aircraft Type: Electric Powered Foamy Semi-Scale Military
• Flight Performance Category: General Sport
• Scale: 1/10th approx.
• Wing Span: 2,500 mm / 98.4 inches
• Flying weight : 1,800 grams/ 63.5 oz
• Wing loading :33.7 gram/dm2 - 11 oz/sq.ft.
• Wing cube loading : 4.6
• Wing Area : 53.46 dm2 / 829 sq.in.
• Center of Gravity Location: 80 mm / 3.14 inch from wing LE (leading edge on root chord)
• Required No. of Channels: 5 - Throttle, Rudder/NLG Steering, V-Tail Elevators, and Ailerons
• Landing Gear: Tri-cycle Gear

• Electronics Needed:
• Motor: DXW 3536 1,200kv (or similar 400 watt)
• 50A ESC
• 9x7 3-bladed pusher prop
• Battery: LiPo 3S 2,200mah
• 3 each 9 gram servos (micro servo)
• 1 each standard servo
• 50mm NLG, and 2 each 60mm MLG foam wheels
• Materials Needed:
• 3mm and 5mm Foamboard/ Depron/ Polyfoam
• 3mm and 9mm Plywood
• 0.1mm Mica Plastic
• hot glue, UHU glue, CA glue
• heat shrink laminating film
• Tools Needed:
• X-Acto Knife
• steel straight edge/ruler
• Hot glue gun
• Heat gun
• Covering iron

  The MQ-9 Reaper RC model in this months BOTM Edition can be built from a set of free full size plans that are available @: Paper Replica MQ-9 Reaper Webpage, or the RC-Plans MQ-9 Reaper Webpage.

  As you can see from one of the plan sheets shown above, all the various model parts are clearly labeled indicating the part number, material required, and the number of each needed. The model construction is straight forward, requiring only simple hand tools, inexpensive materials, and all the assembly steps are clearly presented in the build instructions provided by Julius. In addition, he has provided a step by step YouTube build video which can be viewed from his webpage, or you can use this link: DIY Build MQ-9 Reaper UAV Drone. He even included a nice decal sheet to print all the decals needed from your ink jet printer.

  After watching the YouTube flight video MQ-9 Reaper RC Camera View provided by Julius, I would have to say his model seems very easy to fly and it looks very nice in the air with his ordnance models hanging below the wings.

  For those of you who might want to try a 3D printed MQ-9 Reaper RC model, check out one I found on Cults 3D website @: MQ-9 Predator Reaper RC semi-scale. This looks to be a nice model with a Wingspan of 3,353mm/132in; Length of 1,851mm/72.87in; Height of 577.75mm/22.75in.; and required receiver channels of 5-8 depending on your setup for Aileron/Elevator/Rudder/Gear/Flaps.

  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 “Foamy???“ Dust Flying!!

Back to the TOP