Getting back to R/C!

I am getting impatient with the search for the elusive EasyStar so while I am looking out for that, i thought I might as well get down to building a model myself.

For my first build, i have chosen a 42″ Wingspan BluBaby inspired design as detailed here. I will be making some modifications like adding ailerons and balloon tyres for the landing gear and perhaps making a steerable tailwheel. Also a radically different wing.

About Material: Can standard grade thermocol sheets available in the market provide the required strength for powered flight that is the koshun? I have used thermocol in some some gliders etc in the past and they worked fine. I am thinking it should be ok? I am guessing the motor mounts etc may need some kind of strengthening? For the monoblock fuselage insert, I plan to substitute the foam with a 2″ dense green foam which i found yesterday in Tulsibaug. Somewhat heavy but i think it should be fine as well.

Wing Plan: the standard design plans show a depron sheet bent into shape. Instead i plan to carve a 42″ Wing in 2 pieces out of a 10mm thick sheet of thermocol, and strengthen it with 2mm wire inserts. Will have to figure out a way to get the dihedral as I go along.

With just a 175W electric motor, aiming to keep MTOW below 700gms so might have to avoid coating etc and going with simple stickering/acrylic paint. But all that later!

Motor mounts/RC etc: When I last built models, we used those good old fashioned Diesels (Sharma Diesels remember?) The world has changed since! I have never worked with electrics before ever, so this will be a first for me and i plan to learn as i go along.

Rough Costing:
Motor – Brushless 2212/10T 175W – 2,000.00
Prop -Direct Drive 9×5 – 95.00
Battery – Dynam 2100maH/15C/11.1v – 2,600.00
ESC – Brushless ESC 20A – 750.00
Servos (4 nos) – Futaba 3003 – 1,700.00
Landing Gear – DuBro 2″ Dia Main Wheels- 640.00
DuBro 3/4″ Tailwheel with Bracket – 120.00
Hinges – Nylon hinges, Set of 15 Du-Bro make -190.00
Bulk Items – control rods, fuselage covering, control horns etc- 1,000.00
Total – ~9,095.00

Does this sound right? (Tx sourced separately- Futaba 6EX).

This is a 1 month project at the least and I will be posting updates/queries on this blog.

Critics/Advice: always WELCOME!