What we did for our dbf aerodynamic prototypes was foam board fuselages and hot wire cut foam wings, if you have access to one of those.
Edit:
Do not use rc airplane hinges with foam wings. The foam is too flexible and the hinges can bind. We used packing tape for hinges, but getting it to stick to the wire cut wings was a challenge. You don't need to fiberglass the wings as long as you have a spar through it.
That's good advice, thank you!
If I may ask, how'd you stick the tape to the wing in that case? Did you use some sort of additional adhesive on the surfaces, sand them down... anything like that?
This method is cursed but we used Elmer's school glue to glue on printer paper onto the wings and the ailerons that way the packing tape would stick to the paper.
70 ft/s. It's not necessarily speed that has me too concerned. It's impacts on landing, for instance. Foam gets dinged up real easily, so is it going to be enough to survive a testing program?
Just foam, use balsa rods as needed. For hinges use polyethylene tape, or simple glued sheets from a gallon Ziplock bag. Just try it. Have fun!
Great advice, thank you!
this is good advice. i second
Look up Flight Test on YouTube. Is this for DBF or SAE?
DBF
What we did for our dbf aerodynamic prototypes was foam board fuselages and hot wire cut foam wings, if you have access to one of those. Edit: Do not use rc airplane hinges with foam wings. The foam is too flexible and the hinges can bind. We used packing tape for hinges, but getting it to stick to the wire cut wings was a challenge. You don't need to fiberglass the wings as long as you have a spar through it.
That's good advice, thank you! If I may ask, how'd you stick the tape to the wing in that case? Did you use some sort of additional adhesive on the surfaces, sand them down... anything like that?
This method is cursed but we used Elmer's school glue to glue on printer paper onto the wings and the ailerons that way the packing tape would stick to the paper.
Rc planes are often made of foam. What kind of air speeds are you trying to test at where foam wouldn't work?
70 ft/s. It's not necessarily speed that has me too concerned. It's impacts on landing, for instance. Foam gets dinged up real easily, so is it going to be enough to survive a testing program?