Styling a Mugi Coroplast RC Plane
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Introduction: Styling a Mugi Coroplast RC Plane
This instructable will show you how to use colored packing tape to style a coroplast RC plane. Coroplast is a twinwall polypropylene fluted plastic kind of like corrugated cardboard except made of plastic.
This was my first Mugi style attempt and it took me about five hours including the time to photograph, expect a 10 hour commitment over a few days though. I've since added tape to the bottom of the model to make it easier to see in the air. The coroplast I used is translucent so LEDs can be added for night flying. It is possible to find all colors of coroplast but watch out for the thickness, get it too thick and it will be heavier and will require a larger model. I used 2mm coroplast I bought from the Mugi people.
If you are interested in Mugi planes check out mugi.co.uk, they are super helpful and cool to deal with. There is also a strong community of friendly people willing to help out with questions you might have. Search for them on Yahoo groups.
This is my first RC plane and although it is hard to fly it's darn near indestructible. I bit it hard from 300 feet and the Mugi stuck nose down in the dirt. It was ready to fly again as soon as I pulled it out of the ground! My first time out I crashed it so many times my motor shaft bent but the plane was fine. Get lots of extra props, they seem to break easily.
Step 1: Create a Design
Using your favorite graphics program create a design. Make sure the color pallet you use matches the tape colors you are able to find. I ordered my tape online from FastPack and got a roll each of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, black, and white for about 20 bucks. Make sure you are using packing tape as other tapes are thicker and add weight to your plane model. Make sure you are not using duct tape! It is not suitable for coloring a Mugi.
Step 2: Light Your Work Area
Properly light your work area. This means a LOT of light, especially if you are a night owl like me.
Step 3: Supplies
Make sure you have all of the supplies you need to style your plane.
Keep fresh blades around. Also I cannot stress enough the importance of a proper cutting board
Step 4: Cutting Packing Tape
Packing tape can be temperamental stuff.
Rotate board as you cut to match your most comfortable position
Step 5: Peeling Cut Tape
Be gentle when peeling up packing tape, it likes to split
Step 6: Placing Pieces
Use a steady hand and don't be afraid to peel up sections that are not placed on the plane correctly the first time. Be sure to use a dull blade to peel anything off the coroplast so you don't cut the plastic by accident
Step 7: Save Your Cut Template Pieces
We'll use these left over pieces as guides for cutting the patterns for the other wing (if your design is symmetrical)
Step 8: Print Your Templates
Set up your design document to match the size of your model. This Mugi is 80cm (about 32 inches) from wingtip to wingtip. Matching the document size to your model size makes it really easy to crop out sections and print them. The prints should match the size of the model so you can cut on the print lines and have the edges all match up. The model is not flat though so your tape cutouts won't line up exactly. There will be small gaps and overlaps of the tape and that's ok.
Step 9: Cutting and Applying the Tape - Step 01
Template, Tape, Cut, Peel, Apply
Step 10: Cutting and Applying the Tape - Step 02
Template, Tape, Cut, Peel, Apply
Step 11: Cutting and Applying the Tape - Step 03
Template, Tape, Cut, Peel, Apply
Step 12: Cutting and Applying the Tape - Step 04
Template, Tape, Cut, Peel, Apply
Step 13: Cutting and Applying the Tape - Step 05
Template, Tape, Cut, Peel, Apply
Step 14: Cutting and Applying the Tape - Step 06
Template, Tape, Cut, Peel, Apply
Step 15: Cutting and Applying the Tape - Step 07
Template, Tape, Cut, Peel, Apply
Step 16: Cutting and Applying the Tape - Step 08
Template, Tape, Cut, Peel, Apply
Step 17: Cutting and Applying the Tape - Step 09
Template, Tape, Cut, Peel, Apply
Step 18: Cutting and Applying the Tape - Step 10
Template, Tape, Cut, Peel, Apply
Step 19: Cutting and Applying the Tape - Step 11
Template, Tape, Cut, Peel, Apply
Step 20: Cutting and Applying the Tape - Step 12
Template, Tape, Cut, Peel, Apply
Step 21: Cutting and Applying the Tape - Step 13
Template, Tape, Cut, Peel, Apply
Step 22: Cutting and Applying the Tape - Step 14
Template, Tape, Cut, Peel, Apply
Step 23: Cutting and Applying the Tape - Step 15
Template, Tape, Cut, Peel, Apply
Step 24: Cutting and Applying the Tape - Step 16
Template, Tape, Cut, Peel, Apply
Step 25: Cutting and Applying the Tape - Step 17
Template, Tape, Cut, Peel, Apply
Step 26: Cutting and Applying the Tape - Step 18
Template, Tape, Cut, Peel, Apply
Step 27: Cutting and Applying the Tape - Step 19
Template, Tape, Cut, Peel, Apply
Step 28: Cutting the Hatch
Cut the hatch for access to the battery and electronics
Step 29: Coloring the Fins
By now this should be easy
Step 30: First Time Out
This is me launching my Mugi for the first time at Apollo field in the SF Vally, CA. I had a friend on the controls to take it up then pass the transmitter to me so I could learn how it moves in the air. This did not stop me from mashing it into the ground for the entire first day. I love how resilient this plane is, any other material and it would have been dust.
36 Comments
5 years ago
I wanted to ask how can we make airfoil out of coroplast, by the foamboard way or any other, or we have to make only kfm airfoil?
6 years ago
you show just the tape where is the instruction of the plane
6 years ago
please add a video i like it really i want to make it and how it's gonna fly
6 years ago
video!!!!!!!
6 years ago
nice dude but from what you make it
6 years ago on Introduction
epic design, way to go man your a pro!
6 years ago on Introduction
wow! thats so hard to do but imake it
7 years ago
Delta wing part sizes
8 years ago on Introduction
Is using carbon fiber or fiberglass a viable option for building material
12 years ago on Step 30
How This Thing Can To Fly!
12 years ago on Step 30
I build my Delta wing planes out of Deprom. Have you tried that material?
The planes I built out of coroplast turned out heavy.
Nice job on the design!!!!
13 years ago on Step 4
Must of missed something ? Did you stick the packing tape on the other side of your printed paper (cardboard) then cut it out and it then becomes a sticker like a bought one with backing?
13 years ago on Introduction
Where did you get the plane?
13 years ago on Step 30
cool
13 years ago on Step 1
where did you by it it is awsom!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
14 years ago on Introduction
I talked to the person who makes these Mugis. He said that they have been clocked at 109 mph. Wow!
14 years ago on Introduction
nice! how's the plane fly? i have a few airframes to go through with my gear before i could build one, and i don't like delta's or flying wings that much, but it looks like fun. also will it fly with an e-flite park 400 inrunnor or outrunner(i have both) and a loong max 1300 3s?
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
Yeah that should fly great! Check out the Mugi site at www.mugi.co.uk for plans and a lot of info. Also check out the Mugi group on yahoo groups, its a kick ass resource. If you search on youtube there are a bunch of videos of Mugis which should give you a good idea of how they fly
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
awesome! i think i'll stop building for a while(running out of room lol) and fly my PZ p-51 and the slo-v. i have a new plane that i call the combat-cat, but i dunno how it flies. we'll hopefully see on sunday!
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
I'd love to see a coroplast combat plane! I bet it would be deadly. I love this material, it's tough as hell. I think it my be too heavy for small plane builds though. What size is your fighter? Is it foam? Post some pics if you've got 'um. My local flying field is like a combat zone. Last Saturday I saw a warbird hit a flying wing a few hundred feet up - the pieces floated down like confetti for about 5 minutes â nasty!