Fuselage materials
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[edit] Stick fuse
A "Stick Fuse" is simply a stiff carbon fiber tube or rod which serves to directly connect a plane's wing to its tail. These can be simple cylinders, or spiral-woven tapered tubes. Carbon fiber fishing rods are popular. It is important to pick tubes with large enough interior diameters to house wiring, as those who use small I.D. tubes or rods without holes have to run servos or servo-controlling wire along the outside of the fuselage.
Methods to bind a stick fuse to the wing, to bind it to the tail, and to hold electronics vary. Many competition RC sailplanes use a tapered stick fuse with a nylon or fiberglass "cockpit" bulb to hold electronics and the motor.
[edit] Monolithic foam fuse
Most foam-wing planes also use a foam fuselage, in a solid piece. EPP and EPO may be used, but unlike long wings, EPS is likely suitable as well if there is plenty of material to absorb impacts. Foam is highly crash resistant and can be glued or taped back together following a crash, not to mention hot water foam repair. One of the most popular examples would by the Multiplex Easystar, which mounts a pusher prop on a high wing.
[edit] Built-up foam fuse
Homebuilders do not have the option to extrude their foam into a desirable shape, and so some people build a fuse from foam and glue.
[edit] Nylon bulb fuse
Competition sailplanes require great transmitters in a compact shape, but carbon fiber can mess with the signal, and it's aerodynamically impractical to mount a big external antenna. The ARF/kit solution has been blow-molded nylon (or 'aramid') bulbs that mount on to a carbon fiber stick fuse. In the case of non-competition sailplanes, the technique has been applied to make the uneven surfaces of a full molded fuselage, at a lower cost than fiberglass or composite.
[edit] Pipe fuse
One of the most convenient, strong materials for a fuselage is a common PVC pipe. Unfortunately, these tend to be very heavy.
[edit] Built-up wood fuse
Just as in a wing, a scaffolding of wooden ribs ('formers') is created. It's cross-braced with other formers, and then wrapped in a skin.
[edit] Built-up fiberglass fuse
Just as in a wing but requiring fewer pieces, due to the better geometry, a scaffolding of wooden ribs ('formers') is created. It's cross-braced with other formers, and then wrapped in a skin.
[edit] Built-up carbon fiber fuse
Just as in a wing but requiring many fewer pieces due to the better geometry, a scaffolding of wooden ribs ('formers') is created. It's cross-braced with other formers, and then wrapped in a skin.
