Built one for the kids to fly.

It weighs in at 6 ounces, which is a little heavier than it's balsa counterpart. if you look closely you can see I reinforced it by pushing bamboo skewers through the holes in the Coroplast and that is what I used for the hing pin.
I put the skewer in the stabilizer first and push the corners of the plastic against a counter to make the holes round so the skewer turns freely.
this is a test of glue for the most part. I am trying Shoe Goo adhesive, it's made to stick sneakers back together and I have used it to make my own sanding belts.
you can see the 1/2" basswood that is glued to the fuse and stabilizer if the does not hold I can put screws thought the Coroplast into the basswood.
Haven't flown it yet but it should loop and take a hit.
I have built other Coroplast planes but they were heavy and meant just as trainers and though very stable would not do anything more than a big wing-over.
Just a note I do not think the paint will survive more than a day.

this is painter touch. but testing with raw 25% after four days drying it came off.
not fast but it did come off.

the nose is filled with short pieces of skewer. The screws go between them. the filler pieces are of varying lengths going back over the wing.
one long one goes to the tail. there is a small piece of ply to bring in to 1/4inch.

steel away it not my design and I don't think the people at sterling care anymore.
the more people flying them the better.
the fuselage and tail feathers are correct to the baby the wing is an inch smaller due to the size of coroplast I could find.
the CG ended up right on the bell crank center which maybe a little too far back, but plumbers solder works great in coroplast for balancing.

I build this one for last years RM flyathon. I didn't get as fancy, but I did make it electric.  Flew great level laps, you could put a new guy/kid on the handle and if they kept their handle neutral, it would take off, fly level laps, then land it's self.

I like it Duke
But I need to compare notes.
How did you bond the fuse to the wing?
Before I have incorporated ply and screws but this time I am just using glue .

That hinge is awesome!  I will be using that idea.

I have had really good luck with painter's touch, but 14 day minimum cure time is required (OK, I never tried on plastic, but it is meant for plastic too).  It will discolor and rub off with fuel exposure, but the color will go back after a few hours, and if you blot it instead of rubbing it the color won't come off. (Use windex if it gets too oily, but wait till the next day, then it should take light rubbing again.)

Phil

Got well over 30 flights on the 1/2a today with winds gusting up to 23 mph.
It loops great, very maneuverable.
CG could move forward about a 1/4 inch, the takeoffs were a little touchy.
Only one kid showed up.
but most of the 52 (30+) flights put in before I had to leave were done with the coroplast plane.
It bounce numerous times and NO damage except for 2 props.
the old guys had fun with it.
5 planes not pictured.

cleaned it up today and only a small amount of paint came off. Not bad.
just a little yellow on the rag.
So painters touch Rustolium given 2 weeks to dry will stick to Coroplast and is fairly fuel resistant.
Shoe Goo glue works (given enough surface contact) on Coroplast.
Bamboo skewers make good stiffeners.

Hi guys,

I'm considering the Coroplast build, as it is more me-proof than the balsa. What thickness Coroplast do you use? I have some 2mm = 5/64" thick, but it seems too flimsy even for such a small plane.

Cheers,

Hugo