The new idea consists of a PVC tube frame with cement cardboard cylinders cut in half, and surrouded with bubble wrap. This blog will give step by step instructions on how to construct the transporter. Enjoy.
1. Buy all the necessary supplies
- (2) 10 foot 1.5 inch diameter PVC piping
- (5) 1.5 inch diameter PVC caps
- (1) 1.5 inch diameter PVC 4 way attachment
- (1) 1.5 inch diameter PVC T attachment
- (1) Roll of bubble wrap (I used large bubbles, 12 inch wide sheets)
- (1) Bottle of spray contact cement (spray-able glue is just as good)
- (1) Roll of Velcro straps
- (10) 1 to 1.5 inch long screws
- (10) Washers to fit your screws
- (2) 4ft x 10in cardboard cement forms
- (1) 4ft x 8in cardboard cement forms
- A large, flat surface to work on.
2. Cut the PVC pipe to size. From left to right. Left Wing = 32", Right Wing = 32", Front Fuselage = 22", Back Fuselage = 18", Left Tail = 14", Right Tail = 14", also pictured are the 4-way and T attachments
3. Attach end caps to all the pipe, EXCEPT FOR THE BACK FUSELAGE!!! Use PVC cleaner and PVC cement to properly attach each cap.
4. Now with the end caps on the other pipes, take the back fuselage pipe, which DOES NOT have an end cap on it, and attach the T and 4 way attachments to it (using the cleaner and cement). Make sure the T and 4 way attachment are straight, to do this I placed it on a flat surface and pushed down on the pipe.
5. Now attach using the cleaner and cement for the PVC, the front fuselage to the top section of the 4 way attachment.
6. After attaching both the back and front fuselage pipe, now using the cleaner and PVC cement, attach the right wing pipe to the 4 way attachment
7. Now attach the left wing pipe the same way you did the right wing pipe. You should notice that the frame is slowly taking the shape of the plane.
8. With the fuselage and wing pipes attached, its now to take care of the tail piping. Clean and cement the right tail PVC to the T attachment
9. Do the same thing to the left tail PVC, it should now look like your plane. NOTE: I purposely over measured the wing and front fuselage piping so that the piping would hit the side of car or truck instead of the plane's fragile parts.
10. Now with the PVC frame all set, its time to cut the cardboard cement forms. You want to cut each one in half long ways, as shown. The way I got a straight line is I taped a straight line within the form before cutting. Came out surprisingly straight.
11. Do the other side of the form so you end up with two halves. Repeat step 10 and this step until all three forms are cut in half and now have 6 half cylinder forms.
12. Now cut each half cylinder to its proper size. NOTE: I later found out that the fuselage cylinder (first one from the left), was a waste...ended up NOT using it in the end. From Left to Right. Fuselage = 48", Right Wing = 33.5", Left Wing = 33.5", Right Tail = 15", and Left Tail = 15".
13. Now its time to attach the cylinders to their proper spot. The first cylinder that went on was the left wing, no reason. I pushed the cylinder up to the lip caused by the 4 way attachment. I then pre-drilled the hole and screwed in the screw, WITH the washer. I then went to the end, where the cap was, made sure the cylinder was straight, and pre-drilled the hole and screwed in the screw with the washer. Then for extra safety I put another screw with washer in the middle (eye balled it)
14. Do the same as step 13 just this time for the right wing. The cylinder will go pass the cap, did that just for more protection for the plane. Also put the plane in it to see how it fit, pretty well if I say so myself.
15. With the wing cylinders finished, do the same for the left and right tail. Notice that I only used two screws and washers this time...didn't think it needed more than that.
16. If you did everything right it should look like this.
17. Now with the frame and cylinders constructed, its time for the bubble wrap and spray glue. Put a painter sheet down onto the floor and under the transporter, or you will have very sticky floors.
18. Before spraying read the directions on the can. For the type I bought you had to spay the two surfaces, wait 15 to 30 seconds and then apply. NOTE: I sprayed the bubble wrap with the BUBBLES UP. After spraying and waiting apply the sheets to the cylinders. NOTE: The tail cylinder only had one sheet of bubble wrap while the wing cylinders will have two. Did this for extra protection.
19. With the first sheets on, spray the surface of the wing cylinders and the second sheet and apply it, just like step 18.
20. Let the glue dry, once dry put the plane inside the transporter. Then take the Velcro straps and sucure the plane in place with it. You can screw the straps to the PVC so you know its completely attached to the frame.
21. Put it in the car and go fly!
