Cardboard Cruiser Card Stock Airplane

Project Overview & Supplies

This guide provides instructions for building a Cardboard Cruiser Card Stock Airplane, featuring a fun "old timey" design that flies well, inspired by planes like the Ford Trimotor. The creator's prototype with landing gears was too heavy, but this second version is satisfactory, though the windscreen placement could be improved.

Supplies Needed:

• 12" x 12" corrugated scrapbook cardboard (e.g., Kaisercraft sheets)
• Non-corrugated cardboard sheet, approx. 6" x 6" (from food or beverage packaging)
• Manila file folder, or medium card stock (80 lb / 215 gsm)
• Scrap of white card stock or thick paper, approx. 1" x 2"
• Wine cork
• Liquid white glue and glue stick
• Hobby knife
• Ruler
• Scissors

Airplane Dimensions

A diagram shows the side profile of the Cardboard Cruiser airplane with key dimensions: overall length approx. 17 cm, tail height approx. 3.5 cm, wingspan approx. 25.5 cm, wing chord approx. 4 cm, tail fin height approx. 3 cm, tail length approx. 2.5 cm, and cockpit width approx. 2.3 cm.

Step 1: Fuselage

Draw the fuselage plans onto your material. Cut the main fuselage piece from corrugated cardboard, noting that measurements align with corrugation valleys (5 on sides, 6 on top). Shape the top into an arch using a rounded object and ruler. Cut the fuselage brace from non-corrugated cardboard, bend its angles with a ruler, and form its top into an arch. Apply liquid glue to join the brace to the fuselage.

(Visuals show hands cutting, shaping, and gluing cardboard pieces for the fuselage.)

Step 2: Wing

Draw or trace the wing and braces onto manila folder or card stock, then cut carefully. Use a ruler to crease the leading edge. Bend the material back, apply glue stick, and press layers firmly. Placing under a heavy book for 10 minutes is recommended. To create undercamber, slide edges over a table edge, pressing with fingers until the curve holds. Make triangular relief cuts on the center line. Glue bracing strips to the top and bottom of the wing (longer strip on the bottom, 8mm from leading edge). Crease the center line and raise wing tips about 5 degrees.

(Visuals show hands creasing, bending, cutting, and gluing cardboard for the wing structure.)

Step 3: Mount the Wing

Cut a rectangle from non-corrugated cardboard, crease it, and glue it to the fuselage bottom at the nose. Fold the short panel over the front and back. Create a wing saddle by cutting 1 cm wide strips of non-corrugated cardboard: a 4 cm base strip and pieces measuring 1.5 cm, 0.8 cm, 0.6 cm, and 0.4 cm. Glue the saddle 2 cm back from the nose tip. Once dry, attach the wing with ample liquid glue, ensuring it's perpendicular to the fuselage.

(Visuals show cutting wing saddle pieces, gluing them to the fuselage, and attaching the wing.)

Step 4: Tail

Draw horizontal and vertical stabilizers on the manila folder. Slide the horizontal stabilizer between the fuselage sides at the aft end, applying glue and ensuring it's perpendicular. The elevator should protrude from the tail. Hold until set, scraping excess glue. Cut two 2 cm x 1 cm tabs from the file folder, clip corners, and crease them. Attach tabs to the vertical stabilizer with glue, then attach the stabilizer to the tail, holding until bonded.

(Visuals show drawing/cutting tail components, attaching the horizontal stabilizer, and preparing/attaching the vertical stabilizer.)

Step 5: Nose

CAUTION: This step may cause injury.

Trim a wine cork to 3 cm length with a sharp kitchen knife. Trim its bottom and sides for a snug fit inside the fuselage and secure with liquid glue. Optionally, wrap the cork with brown paper or darken its tip. Create an engine cowling from a manila folder strip, attaching it to overhang the cork slightly. Make a propeller spinner from the same material or a substitute, attaching it to the cork's center. Use corrugated cardboard to cover the cork's lip and blend the nose with the wing.

(Visuals show trimming the cork, fitting it, and attaching cowling/spinner pieces.)

Step 6: Windscreen

Use cardboard scraps and thick white paper to create the cockpit and windscreen. The author notes the windscreen was placed too far forward. For variations, a smaller windscreen with passenger windows can create a passenger plane look, while a bubble canopy over the wing would resemble a fighter.

(Visuals show the final assembly of the windscreen and cockpit.)

Step 7: Flights

Conduct test flights indoors or outdoors in calm air. Make very small adjustments to the rudder, elevators, and wing camber. Adjust the center of gravity if needed. If tail-heavy, add temporary nose weight; if flight improves, add permanent weight. If flight worsens, remove weight and refine elevator position.

Common flight issues: wind, light nose, asymmetries (e.g., twisted wing). Check the glider from all angles and make gentle, incremental adjustments to correct defects.

The creator hopes the airplane flies well and thanks the reader.

(Visuals show the completed airplane in flight and a final view.)

Download Plans

Download the detailed plans for the Cardboard Cruiser Airplane: Cardboard Cruiser Plans PDF