A GREAT DEAL of interest has
developed in indoor electric-powered
aerobatics. After the 2008 Electric
Tournament of Champions, I decided
it was time to design a model that
looked different from the
conventional “F3P” airplane. (F3P is
the FAI class for RC “Indoor
Aerobatic Power Model Aircraft.”)
I looked at various airplanes
from World War II and decided
to produce a model based on the
legendary Mitsubishi J2M
Raiden. The full-scale fighter
was designed with input from
Jiro Horikoshi, who had
created the popular A6M
Zero-Sen.
I made quite a few
changes from my prototype
model to the final product.
The prototype had a wing
platform that was similar to
the original Raiden’s. But
after extensive flight-testing, I
changed the wing design for
better “aerobatic”
performance, to increase the
J2M’s roll rate.
Enough introduction; let’s get
started.
CONSTRUCTION
Before you begin, make a copy of
the plans to use as a template for
January 2010 23
by John Glezellis
T h i s c o u l d b e a 2 0 1 0
f l a t - f o a m a e r o b a t i c s
season winner!
January 2010 23
J2M
Raiden
John introduced his J2M Raiden
at the 2009 WRAM Show in
White Plains NY. Audiences
were thrilled with its ability to
maneuver in a 20-foot-square
space. Michael Ramsey photo.
The J2M can be flown
indoors or out. Dual
aileron servos offer the
pilot the option to
program elevator-toflap
coupling for tighter
pitch maneuvers.
Ramsey photo.
01sig1.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 11/20/09 1:03 PM Page 23cutting all the components from 3mm Depron foam.
Make your cuts using a ruler and a sharp #11 X-Acto
blade.
Make sure you build the airframe on a flat
surface. I advise you to employ waxed paper so
you don’t glue the foam components to your
building surface. And use foam-safe CA glue,
such as Odorless CA from Zap.
Once you have cut all the components and
gathered the necessary materials, it is time to
decide whether or not to lighten the airframe
by “milling” unnecessary Depron from it. If
you plan to fly your Raiden outdoors only, I
do not recommend lightening the airframe at
all. However, if you plan to fly it indoors
only, you can save a fair amount of weight.
With the control surfaces cut free from
the wing, stabilizer, etc., glue the 1mm x
3mm carbon flat-plate spar into position in
the slot sliced into the wing. Once the
aileron surface has been cut from the wing, it
24 MODEL AVIATION
Make sure the wing and horizontal fuselage components are on a flat building surface
before adding these carbon supports. The crisscross joint is important.
Type: RC electric indoor profile
Skill level: Beginner builder/novice pilot
Wingspan: 38.5 inches
Wing area: Approximately 315 square
inches
Length: 44 inches
Weight without battery: 5.0 ounces
Weight with three-cell, 350 mAh
battery: 6.2 ounces
Motor: 75-100 watts,
10-amp ESC
Power: Two- or threecell,
300 mAh
Li-Poly battery
Radio: Four
to six channels
with four microservos
Construction:
3mm Depron with carbonfiber
reinforcement
Setting up for an approach. This model has lots of fuselage side area; this is
the main reason why minimal rudder is needed in knife-edge flight.
You can hinge the ailerons, elevator, and rudder with a ruler and
a sharp X-Acto blade. Bevel the bottom of the control surface so
that the model can be top-hinged.
The st ab il ize r w as p u r p os e f u ll y loc a ted abov e t h e
thrustli ne. No tic e the r udder control h o rn, how the
pushrod is installed, and the hinge bevel angle.
01sig1.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 11/20/09 1:09 PM Page 24January 2010 25
Carbon rod supports the wing; three carbon rods come together
and are wrapped with Kevlar thread. This ensures that the area
will not break loose in flight.
Fly the Raiden without air brakes first, and add them afterward so that the model’s
change in flight performance can be noticed. Air brakes are highly recommended for
indoor flying.
Photos by the author except as noted
The J2M hovers into a slight head wind.
This model can fly in extraordinarily tight
spaces and is extremely maneuverable.
The power-to-weight ratio is 2:1.
Materials Needed
• 3mm Depron sheets
• Kevlar thread (or similar)
• Carbon-fiber .040-inch-diameter rod
• Carbon-fiber .080-inch-diameter rod
• Carbon-fiber 1mm x 3mm flat plate
• One package Du-Bro Electric Flyer
Hinge Tape (item 916)
• One package Du-Bro Nylon Heavy Duty
Hinges (item 257)
• Two Du-Bro Micro Razor Control
Horns (item 936)
• Two Du-Bro Mini E/Z Connectors (item
845)
• One Du-Bro Micro E/Z Link (item 849)
• One Du-Bro Micro Push Rod System
(item 847)
• One set E-flite Landing Skids
(EFL1181)
Equipment Used
• JR 12X transmitter
• Spektrum AR6100 receiver
• Four JR 185 servos
• E-flite Park 300 Brushless Outrunner
Motor
• E-flite 10-Amp Pro Brushless ESC
• Thunder Power 350 mAh, three-cell
battery
• GWS 8 x 3.8 propeller and/or Graupner
8.5 x 4 propeller
The author has milled the left side of the fuselage. Doing so saves considerable weight
and is highly recommended if you will fly the model indoors. It is time-consuming but
is well worth it.
01sig1.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 11/20/09 1:14 PM Page 2526 MODEL AVIATION
The front and rear horizontal fuselage pieces are ready
to be glued to the wing. Take time when cutting
the foam components, to ensure the utmost accuracy.
SFGs are used on both the wing and the horizontal stabilizer. Carbon-fiber crossbracing
on the tail was added later, to keep the fin straight.
is time to hinge the ailerons.
I top-hinge my aerobatic foam models
that are built from 3mm Depron. To do so,
either sand the bottom of the aileron LE or
use a ruler and a sharp #11 X-Acto blade.
When you are satisfied with the bevel, place
the aileron in position and apply hinge tape
over the control surface. When hinging the
elevator and rudder, please follow the same
steps.
Lay the wing, horizontal fuselage
cruciform front, and rear sections upsidedown
on the building surface. Bond all of
those components together with odorless
foam-safe CA. Glue the front horizontal
piece to the wing LE and the rear horizontal
fuselage piece to the TE of the wing.
The Raiden is built so that all
components interlock with one another.
With the wing and horizontal cruciform
assembly still upside-down, position the
lower vertical fuselage piece in place and
make sure that it is aligned. Tack-glue this
piece in place using foam-safe CA and a 90°
triangle to ensure that it is square with the
horizontal assembly.
Install the carbon-fiber bracing and
landing gear struts. When gluing in the
carbon braces, constantly check the model to
make sure that the fuselage sides are
perpendicular with one another and that the
lower vertical fuselage piece stays straight.
Add the wing side force generators (SFGs)
before adding the wing’s carbon bracing.
Plans show the locations of the carbon
bracing and which rods are installed where.
I recommend cutting the carbon rod with a
Dremel tool and sanding a sharp point at
each end of the rod to ease installation. Once
all of the supports are in place and the
fuselage is square, adhere all supports in
place with thin foam-safe CA.
Cut four round pieces of Depron foam
that have a diameter of 5/8 inch, and glue
them in position. (Their locations are
The control horns used are a modified version of the standard
Du-Bro variety. The aileron carbon-rod linkage is glued to the
.032 wire, wrapped with Kevlar thread, and completed by
sliding heat-shrink tubing over the entire assembly.
J2M Raiden Control-Surface Setup
Control Surface Low Rate Deflection/Exponential Value High Rate Deflection/Exponential Value
Aileron 21/2 inches/50% 31/4 inches/65%
Elevator 13/4 inches/50% 3 inches/65%
Rudder 3 inches/40% 41/2 inches/55%
01sig1.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 11/20/09 1:15 PM Page 26January 2010 27
Full-Size Plans Available—see page 183
01sig1.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 11/20/09 1:16 PM Page 27
Edition:
Page Numbers: 23,24,25,26,27
Edition:
Page Numbers: 23,24,25,26,27
A GREAT DEAL of interest has
developed in indoor electric-powered
aerobatics. After the 2008 Electric
Tournament of Champions, I decided
it was time to design a model that
looked different from the
conventional “F3P” airplane. (F3P is
the FAI class for RC “Indoor
Aerobatic Power Model Aircraft.”)
I looked at various airplanes
from World War II and decided
to produce a model based on the
legendary Mitsubishi J2M
Raiden. The full-scale fighter
was designed with input from
Jiro Horikoshi, who had
created the popular A6M
Zero-Sen.
I made quite a few
changes from my prototype
model to the final product.
The prototype had a wing
platform that was similar to
the original Raiden’s. But
after extensive flight-testing, I
changed the wing design for
better “aerobatic”
performance, to increase the
J2M’s roll rate.
Enough introduction; let’s get
started.
CONSTRUCTION
Before you begin, make a copy of
the plans to use as a template for
January 2010 23
by John Glezellis
T h i s c o u l d b e a 2 0 1 0
f l a t - f o a m a e r o b a t i c s
season winner!
January 2010 23
J2M
Raiden
John introduced his J2M Raiden
at the 2009 WRAM Show in
White Plains NY. Audiences
were thrilled with its ability to
maneuver in a 20-foot-square
space. Michael Ramsey photo.
The J2M can be flown
indoors or out. Dual
aileron servos offer the
pilot the option to
program elevator-toflap
coupling for tighter
pitch maneuvers.
Ramsey photo.
01sig1.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 11/20/09 1:03 PM Page 23cutting all the components from 3mm Depron foam.
Make your cuts using a ruler and a sharp #11 X-Acto
blade.
Make sure you build the airframe on a flat
surface. I advise you to employ waxed paper so
you don’t glue the foam components to your
building surface. And use foam-safe CA glue,
such as Odorless CA from Zap.
Once you have cut all the components and
gathered the necessary materials, it is time to
decide whether or not to lighten the airframe
by “milling” unnecessary Depron from it. If
you plan to fly your Raiden outdoors only, I
do not recommend lightening the airframe at
all. However, if you plan to fly it indoors
only, you can save a fair amount of weight.
With the control surfaces cut free from
the wing, stabilizer, etc., glue the 1mm x
3mm carbon flat-plate spar into position in
the slot sliced into the wing. Once the
aileron surface has been cut from the wing, it
24 MODEL AVIATION
Make sure the wing and horizontal fuselage components are on a flat building surface
before adding these carbon supports. The crisscross joint is important.
Type: RC electric indoor profile
Skill level: Beginner builder/novice pilot
Wingspan: 38.5 inches
Wing area: Approximately 315 square
inches
Length: 44 inches
Weight without battery: 5.0 ounces
Weight with three-cell, 350 mAh
battery: 6.2 ounces
Motor: 75-100 watts,
10-amp ESC
Power: Two- or threecell,
300 mAh
Li-Poly battery
Radio: Four
to six channels
with four microservos
Construction:
3mm Depron with carbonfiber
reinforcement
Setting up for an approach. This model has lots of fuselage side area; this is
the main reason why minimal rudder is needed in knife-edge flight.
You can hinge the ailerons, elevator, and rudder with a ruler and
a sharp X-Acto blade. Bevel the bottom of the control surface so
that the model can be top-hinged.
The st ab il ize r w as p u r p os e f u ll y loc a ted abov e t h e
thrustli ne. No tic e the r udder control h o rn, how the
pushrod is installed, and the hinge bevel angle.
01sig1.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 11/20/09 1:09 PM Page 24January 2010 25
Carbon rod supports the wing; three carbon rods come together
and are wrapped with Kevlar thread. This ensures that the area
will not break loose in flight.
Fly the Raiden without air brakes first, and add them afterward so that the model’s
change in flight performance can be noticed. Air brakes are highly recommended for
indoor flying.
Photos by the author except as noted
The J2M hovers into a slight head wind.
This model can fly in extraordinarily tight
spaces and is extremely maneuverable.
The power-to-weight ratio is 2:1.
Materials Needed
• 3mm Depron sheets
• Kevlar thread (or similar)
• Carbon-fiber .040-inch-diameter rod
• Carbon-fiber .080-inch-diameter rod
• Carbon-fiber 1mm x 3mm flat plate
• One package Du-Bro Electric Flyer
Hinge Tape (item 916)
• One package Du-Bro Nylon Heavy Duty
Hinges (item 257)
• Two Du-Bro Micro Razor Control
Horns (item 936)
• Two Du-Bro Mini E/Z Connectors (item
845)
• One Du-Bro Micro E/Z Link (item 849)
• One Du-Bro Micro Push Rod System
(item 847)
• One set E-flite Landing Skids
(EFL1181)
Equipment Used
• JR 12X transmitter
• Spektrum AR6100 receiver
• Four JR 185 servos
• E-flite Park 300 Brushless Outrunner
Motor
• E-flite 10-Amp Pro Brushless ESC
• Thunder Power 350 mAh, three-cell
battery
• GWS 8 x 3.8 propeller and/or Graupner
8.5 x 4 propeller
The author has milled the left side of the fuselage. Doing so saves considerable weight
and is highly recommended if you will fly the model indoors. It is time-consuming but
is well worth it.
01sig1.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 11/20/09 1:14 PM Page 2526 MODEL AVIATION
The front and rear horizontal fuselage pieces are ready
to be glued to the wing. Take time when cutting
the foam components, to ensure the utmost accuracy.
SFGs are used on both the wing and the horizontal stabilizer. Carbon-fiber crossbracing
on the tail was added later, to keep the fin straight.
is time to hinge the ailerons.
I top-hinge my aerobatic foam models
that are built from 3mm Depron. To do so,
either sand the bottom of the aileron LE or
use a ruler and a sharp #11 X-Acto blade.
When you are satisfied with the bevel, place
the aileron in position and apply hinge tape
over the control surface. When hinging the
elevator and rudder, please follow the same
steps.
Lay the wing, horizontal fuselage
cruciform front, and rear sections upsidedown
on the building surface. Bond all of
those components together with odorless
foam-safe CA. Glue the front horizontal
piece to the wing LE and the rear horizontal
fuselage piece to the TE of the wing.
The Raiden is built so that all
components interlock with one another.
With the wing and horizontal cruciform
assembly still upside-down, position the
lower vertical fuselage piece in place and
make sure that it is aligned. Tack-glue this
piece in place using foam-safe CA and a 90°
triangle to ensure that it is square with the
horizontal assembly.
Install the carbon-fiber bracing and
landing gear struts. When gluing in the
carbon braces, constantly check the model to
make sure that the fuselage sides are
perpendicular with one another and that the
lower vertical fuselage piece stays straight.
Add the wing side force generators (SFGs)
before adding the wing’s carbon bracing.
Plans show the locations of the carbon
bracing and which rods are installed where.
I recommend cutting the carbon rod with a
Dremel tool and sanding a sharp point at
each end of the rod to ease installation. Once
all of the supports are in place and the
fuselage is square, adhere all supports in
place with thin foam-safe CA.
Cut four round pieces of Depron foam
that have a diameter of 5/8 inch, and glue
them in position. (Their locations are
The control horns used are a modified version of the standard
Du-Bro variety. The aileron carbon-rod linkage is glued to the
.032 wire, wrapped with Kevlar thread, and completed by
sliding heat-shrink tubing over the entire assembly.
J2M Raiden Control-Surface Setup
Control Surface Low Rate Deflection/Exponential Value High Rate Deflection/Exponential Value
Aileron 21/2 inches/50% 31/4 inches/65%
Elevator 13/4 inches/50% 3 inches/65%
Rudder 3 inches/40% 41/2 inches/55%
01sig1.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 11/20/09 1:15 PM Page 26January 2010 27
Full-Size Plans Available—see page 183
01sig1.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 11/20/09 1:16 PM Page 27
Edition:
Page Numbers: 23,24,25,26,27
A GREAT DEAL of interest has
developed in indoor electric-powered
aerobatics. After the 2008 Electric
Tournament of Champions, I decided
it was time to design a model that
looked different from the
conventional “F3P” airplane. (F3P is
the FAI class for RC “Indoor
Aerobatic Power Model Aircraft.”)
I looked at various airplanes
from World War II and decided
to produce a model based on the
legendary Mitsubishi J2M
Raiden. The full-scale fighter
was designed with input from
Jiro Horikoshi, who had
created the popular A6M
Zero-Sen.
I made quite a few
changes from my prototype
model to the final product.
The prototype had a wing
platform that was similar to
the original Raiden’s. But
after extensive flight-testing, I
changed the wing design for
better “aerobatic”
performance, to increase the
J2M’s roll rate.
Enough introduction; let’s get
started.
CONSTRUCTION
Before you begin, make a copy of
the plans to use as a template for
January 2010 23
by John Glezellis
T h i s c o u l d b e a 2 0 1 0
f l a t - f o a m a e r o b a t i c s
season winner!
January 2010 23
J2M
Raiden
John introduced his J2M Raiden
at the 2009 WRAM Show in
White Plains NY. Audiences
were thrilled with its ability to
maneuver in a 20-foot-square
space. Michael Ramsey photo.
The J2M can be flown
indoors or out. Dual
aileron servos offer the
pilot the option to
program elevator-toflap
coupling for tighter
pitch maneuvers.
Ramsey photo.
01sig1.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 11/20/09 1:03 PM Page 23cutting all the components from 3mm Depron foam.
Make your cuts using a ruler and a sharp #11 X-Acto
blade.
Make sure you build the airframe on a flat
surface. I advise you to employ waxed paper so
you don’t glue the foam components to your
building surface. And use foam-safe CA glue,
such as Odorless CA from Zap.
Once you have cut all the components and
gathered the necessary materials, it is time to
decide whether or not to lighten the airframe
by “milling” unnecessary Depron from it. If
you plan to fly your Raiden outdoors only, I
do not recommend lightening the airframe at
all. However, if you plan to fly it indoors
only, you can save a fair amount of weight.
With the control surfaces cut free from
the wing, stabilizer, etc., glue the 1mm x
3mm carbon flat-plate spar into position in
the slot sliced into the wing. Once the
aileron surface has been cut from the wing, it
24 MODEL AVIATION
Make sure the wing and horizontal fuselage components are on a flat building surface
before adding these carbon supports. The crisscross joint is important.
Type: RC electric indoor profile
Skill level: Beginner builder/novice pilot
Wingspan: 38.5 inches
Wing area: Approximately 315 square
inches
Length: 44 inches
Weight without battery: 5.0 ounces
Weight with three-cell, 350 mAh
battery: 6.2 ounces
Motor: 75-100 watts,
10-amp ESC
Power: Two- or threecell,
300 mAh
Li-Poly battery
Radio: Four
to six channels
with four microservos
Construction:
3mm Depron with carbonfiber
reinforcement
Setting up for an approach. This model has lots of fuselage side area; this is
the main reason why minimal rudder is needed in knife-edge flight.
You can hinge the ailerons, elevator, and rudder with a ruler and
a sharp X-Acto blade. Bevel the bottom of the control surface so
that the model can be top-hinged.
The st ab il ize r w as p u r p os e f u ll y loc a ted abov e t h e
thrustli ne. No tic e the r udder control h o rn, how the
pushrod is installed, and the hinge bevel angle.
01sig1.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 11/20/09 1:09 PM Page 24January 2010 25
Carbon rod supports the wing; three carbon rods come together
and are wrapped with Kevlar thread. This ensures that the area
will not break loose in flight.
Fly the Raiden without air brakes first, and add them afterward so that the model’s
change in flight performance can be noticed. Air brakes are highly recommended for
indoor flying.
Photos by the author except as noted
The J2M hovers into a slight head wind.
This model can fly in extraordinarily tight
spaces and is extremely maneuverable.
The power-to-weight ratio is 2:1.
Materials Needed
• 3mm Depron sheets
• Kevlar thread (or similar)
• Carbon-fiber .040-inch-diameter rod
• Carbon-fiber .080-inch-diameter rod
• Carbon-fiber 1mm x 3mm flat plate
• One package Du-Bro Electric Flyer
Hinge Tape (item 916)
• One package Du-Bro Nylon Heavy Duty
Hinges (item 257)
• Two Du-Bro Micro Razor Control
Horns (item 936)
• Two Du-Bro Mini E/Z Connectors (item
845)
• One Du-Bro Micro E/Z Link (item 849)
• One Du-Bro Micro Push Rod System
(item 847)
• One set E-flite Landing Skids
(EFL1181)
Equipment Used
• JR 12X transmitter
• Spektrum AR6100 receiver
• Four JR 185 servos
• E-flite Park 300 Brushless Outrunner
Motor
• E-flite 10-Amp Pro Brushless ESC
• Thunder Power 350 mAh, three-cell
battery
• GWS 8 x 3.8 propeller and/or Graupner
8.5 x 4 propeller
The author has milled the left side of the fuselage. Doing so saves considerable weight
and is highly recommended if you will fly the model indoors. It is time-consuming but
is well worth it.
01sig1.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 11/20/09 1:14 PM Page 2526 MODEL AVIATION
The front and rear horizontal fuselage pieces are ready
to be glued to the wing. Take time when cutting
the foam components, to ensure the utmost accuracy.
SFGs are used on both the wing and the horizontal stabilizer. Carbon-fiber crossbracing
on the tail was added later, to keep the fin straight.
is time to hinge the ailerons.
I top-hinge my aerobatic foam models
that are built from 3mm Depron. To do so,
either sand the bottom of the aileron LE or
use a ruler and a sharp #11 X-Acto blade.
When you are satisfied with the bevel, place
the aileron in position and apply hinge tape
over the control surface. When hinging the
elevator and rudder, please follow the same
steps.
Lay the wing, horizontal fuselage
cruciform front, and rear sections upsidedown
on the building surface. Bond all of
those components together with odorless
foam-safe CA. Glue the front horizontal
piece to the wing LE and the rear horizontal
fuselage piece to the TE of the wing.
The Raiden is built so that all
components interlock with one another.
With the wing and horizontal cruciform
assembly still upside-down, position the
lower vertical fuselage piece in place and
make sure that it is aligned. Tack-glue this
piece in place using foam-safe CA and a 90°
triangle to ensure that it is square with the
horizontal assembly.
Install the carbon-fiber bracing and
landing gear struts. When gluing in the
carbon braces, constantly check the model to
make sure that the fuselage sides are
perpendicular with one another and that the
lower vertical fuselage piece stays straight.
Add the wing side force generators (SFGs)
before adding the wing’s carbon bracing.
Plans show the locations of the carbon
bracing and which rods are installed where.
I recommend cutting the carbon rod with a
Dremel tool and sanding a sharp point at
each end of the rod to ease installation. Once
all of the supports are in place and the
fuselage is square, adhere all supports in
place with thin foam-safe CA.
Cut four round pieces of Depron foam
that have a diameter of 5/8 inch, and glue
them in position. (Their locations are
The control horns used are a modified version of the standard
Du-Bro variety. The aileron carbon-rod linkage is glued to the
.032 wire, wrapped with Kevlar thread, and completed by
sliding heat-shrink tubing over the entire assembly.
J2M Raiden Control-Surface Setup
Control Surface Low Rate Deflection/Exponential Value High Rate Deflection/Exponential Value
Aileron 21/2 inches/50% 31/4 inches/65%
Elevator 13/4 inches/50% 3 inches/65%
Rudder 3 inches/40% 41/2 inches/55%
01sig1.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 11/20/09 1:15 PM Page 26January 2010 27
Full-Size Plans Available—see page 183
01sig1.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 11/20/09 1:16 PM Page 27
Edition:
Page Numbers: 23,24,25,26,27
A GREAT DEAL of interest has
developed in indoor electric-powered
aerobatics. After the 2008 Electric
Tournament of Champions, I decided
it was time to design a model that
looked different from the
conventional “F3P” airplane. (F3P is
the FAI class for RC “Indoor
Aerobatic Power Model Aircraft.”)
I looked at various airplanes
from World War II and decided
to produce a model based on the
legendary Mitsubishi J2M
Raiden. The full-scale fighter
was designed with input from
Jiro Horikoshi, who had
created the popular A6M
Zero-Sen.
I made quite a few
changes from my prototype
model to the final product.
The prototype had a wing
platform that was similar to
the original Raiden’s. But
after extensive flight-testing, I
changed the wing design for
better “aerobatic”
performance, to increase the
J2M’s roll rate.
Enough introduction; let’s get
started.
CONSTRUCTION
Before you begin, make a copy of
the plans to use as a template for
January 2010 23
by John Glezellis
T h i s c o u l d b e a 2 0 1 0
f l a t - f o a m a e r o b a t i c s
season winner!
January 2010 23
J2M
Raiden
John introduced his J2M Raiden
at the 2009 WRAM Show in
White Plains NY. Audiences
were thrilled with its ability to
maneuver in a 20-foot-square
space. Michael Ramsey photo.
The J2M can be flown
indoors or out. Dual
aileron servos offer the
pilot the option to
program elevator-toflap
coupling for tighter
pitch maneuvers.
Ramsey photo.
01sig1.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 11/20/09 1:03 PM Page 23cutting all the components from 3mm Depron foam.
Make your cuts using a ruler and a sharp #11 X-Acto
blade.
Make sure you build the airframe on a flat
surface. I advise you to employ waxed paper so
you don’t glue the foam components to your
building surface. And use foam-safe CA glue,
such as Odorless CA from Zap.
Once you have cut all the components and
gathered the necessary materials, it is time to
decide whether or not to lighten the airframe
by “milling” unnecessary Depron from it. If
you plan to fly your Raiden outdoors only, I
do not recommend lightening the airframe at
all. However, if you plan to fly it indoors
only, you can save a fair amount of weight.
With the control surfaces cut free from
the wing, stabilizer, etc., glue the 1mm x
3mm carbon flat-plate spar into position in
the slot sliced into the wing. Once the
aileron surface has been cut from the wing, it
24 MODEL AVIATION
Make sure the wing and horizontal fuselage components are on a flat building surface
before adding these carbon supports. The crisscross joint is important.
Type: RC electric indoor profile
Skill level: Beginner builder/novice pilot
Wingspan: 38.5 inches
Wing area: Approximately 315 square
inches
Length: 44 inches
Weight without battery: 5.0 ounces
Weight with three-cell, 350 mAh
battery: 6.2 ounces
Motor: 75-100 watts,
10-amp ESC
Power: Two- or threecell,
300 mAh
Li-Poly battery
Radio: Four
to six channels
with four microservos
Construction:
3mm Depron with carbonfiber
reinforcement
Setting up for an approach. This model has lots of fuselage side area; this is
the main reason why minimal rudder is needed in knife-edge flight.
You can hinge the ailerons, elevator, and rudder with a ruler and
a sharp X-Acto blade. Bevel the bottom of the control surface so
that the model can be top-hinged.
The st ab il ize r w as p u r p os e f u ll y loc a ted abov e t h e
thrustli ne. No tic e the r udder control h o rn, how the
pushrod is installed, and the hinge bevel angle.
01sig1.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 11/20/09 1:09 PM Page 24January 2010 25
Carbon rod supports the wing; three carbon rods come together
and are wrapped with Kevlar thread. This ensures that the area
will not break loose in flight.
Fly the Raiden without air brakes first, and add them afterward so that the model’s
change in flight performance can be noticed. Air brakes are highly recommended for
indoor flying.
Photos by the author except as noted
The J2M hovers into a slight head wind.
This model can fly in extraordinarily tight
spaces and is extremely maneuverable.
The power-to-weight ratio is 2:1.
Materials Needed
• 3mm Depron sheets
• Kevlar thread (or similar)
• Carbon-fiber .040-inch-diameter rod
• Carbon-fiber .080-inch-diameter rod
• Carbon-fiber 1mm x 3mm flat plate
• One package Du-Bro Electric Flyer
Hinge Tape (item 916)
• One package Du-Bro Nylon Heavy Duty
Hinges (item 257)
• Two Du-Bro Micro Razor Control
Horns (item 936)
• Two Du-Bro Mini E/Z Connectors (item
845)
• One Du-Bro Micro E/Z Link (item 849)
• One Du-Bro Micro Push Rod System
(item 847)
• One set E-flite Landing Skids
(EFL1181)
Equipment Used
• JR 12X transmitter
• Spektrum AR6100 receiver
• Four JR 185 servos
• E-flite Park 300 Brushless Outrunner
Motor
• E-flite 10-Amp Pro Brushless ESC
• Thunder Power 350 mAh, three-cell
battery
• GWS 8 x 3.8 propeller and/or Graupner
8.5 x 4 propeller
The author has milled the left side of the fuselage. Doing so saves considerable weight
and is highly recommended if you will fly the model indoors. It is time-consuming but
is well worth it.
01sig1.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 11/20/09 1:14 PM Page 2526 MODEL AVIATION
The front and rear horizontal fuselage pieces are ready
to be glued to the wing. Take time when cutting
the foam components, to ensure the utmost accuracy.
SFGs are used on both the wing and the horizontal stabilizer. Carbon-fiber crossbracing
on the tail was added later, to keep the fin straight.
is time to hinge the ailerons.
I top-hinge my aerobatic foam models
that are built from 3mm Depron. To do so,
either sand the bottom of the aileron LE or
use a ruler and a sharp #11 X-Acto blade.
When you are satisfied with the bevel, place
the aileron in position and apply hinge tape
over the control surface. When hinging the
elevator and rudder, please follow the same
steps.
Lay the wing, horizontal fuselage
cruciform front, and rear sections upsidedown
on the building surface. Bond all of
those components together with odorless
foam-safe CA. Glue the front horizontal
piece to the wing LE and the rear horizontal
fuselage piece to the TE of the wing.
The Raiden is built so that all
components interlock with one another.
With the wing and horizontal cruciform
assembly still upside-down, position the
lower vertical fuselage piece in place and
make sure that it is aligned. Tack-glue this
piece in place using foam-safe CA and a 90°
triangle to ensure that it is square with the
horizontal assembly.
Install the carbon-fiber bracing and
landing gear struts. When gluing in the
carbon braces, constantly check the model to
make sure that the fuselage sides are
perpendicular with one another and that the
lower vertical fuselage piece stays straight.
Add the wing side force generators (SFGs)
before adding the wing’s carbon bracing.
Plans show the locations of the carbon
bracing and which rods are installed where.
I recommend cutting the carbon rod with a
Dremel tool and sanding a sharp point at
each end of the rod to ease installation. Once
all of the supports are in place and the
fuselage is square, adhere all supports in
place with thin foam-safe CA.
Cut four round pieces of Depron foam
that have a diameter of 5/8 inch, and glue
them in position. (Their locations are
The control horns used are a modified version of the standard
Du-Bro variety. The aileron carbon-rod linkage is glued to the
.032 wire, wrapped with Kevlar thread, and completed by
sliding heat-shrink tubing over the entire assembly.
J2M Raiden Control-Surface Setup
Control Surface Low Rate Deflection/Exponential Value High Rate Deflection/Exponential Value
Aileron 21/2 inches/50% 31/4 inches/65%
Elevator 13/4 inches/50% 3 inches/65%
Rudder 3 inches/40% 41/2 inches/55%
01sig1.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 11/20/09 1:15 PM Page 26January 2010 27
Full-Size Plans Available—see page 183
01sig1.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 11/20/09 1:16 PM Page 27
Edition:
Page Numbers: 23,24,25,26,27
A GREAT DEAL of interest has
developed in indoor electric-powered
aerobatics. After the 2008 Electric
Tournament of Champions, I decided
it was time to design a model that
looked different from the
conventional “F3P” airplane. (F3P is
the FAI class for RC “Indoor
Aerobatic Power Model Aircraft.”)
I looked at various airplanes
from World War II and decided
to produce a model based on the
legendary Mitsubishi J2M
Raiden. The full-scale fighter
was designed with input from
Jiro Horikoshi, who had
created the popular A6M
Zero-Sen.
I made quite a few
changes from my prototype
model to the final product.
The prototype had a wing
platform that was similar to
the original Raiden’s. But
after extensive flight-testing, I
changed the wing design for
better “aerobatic”
performance, to increase the
J2M’s roll rate.
Enough introduction; let’s get
started.
CONSTRUCTION
Before you begin, make a copy of
the plans to use as a template for
January 2010 23
by John Glezellis
T h i s c o u l d b e a 2 0 1 0
f l a t - f o a m a e r o b a t i c s
season winner!
January 2010 23
J2M
Raiden
John introduced his J2M Raiden
at the 2009 WRAM Show in
White Plains NY. Audiences
were thrilled with its ability to
maneuver in a 20-foot-square
space. Michael Ramsey photo.
The J2M can be flown
indoors or out. Dual
aileron servos offer the
pilot the option to
program elevator-toflap
coupling for tighter
pitch maneuvers.
Ramsey photo.
01sig1.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 11/20/09 1:03 PM Page 23cutting all the components from 3mm Depron foam.
Make your cuts using a ruler and a sharp #11 X-Acto
blade.
Make sure you build the airframe on a flat
surface. I advise you to employ waxed paper so
you don’t glue the foam components to your
building surface. And use foam-safe CA glue,
such as Odorless CA from Zap.
Once you have cut all the components and
gathered the necessary materials, it is time to
decide whether or not to lighten the airframe
by “milling” unnecessary Depron from it. If
you plan to fly your Raiden outdoors only, I
do not recommend lightening the airframe at
all. However, if you plan to fly it indoors
only, you can save a fair amount of weight.
With the control surfaces cut free from
the wing, stabilizer, etc., glue the 1mm x
3mm carbon flat-plate spar into position in
the slot sliced into the wing. Once the
aileron surface has been cut from the wing, it
24 MODEL AVIATION
Make sure the wing and horizontal fuselage components are on a flat building surface
before adding these carbon supports. The crisscross joint is important.
Type: RC electric indoor profile
Skill level: Beginner builder/novice pilot
Wingspan: 38.5 inches
Wing area: Approximately 315 square
inches
Length: 44 inches
Weight without battery: 5.0 ounces
Weight with three-cell, 350 mAh
battery: 6.2 ounces
Motor: 75-100 watts,
10-amp ESC
Power: Two- or threecell,
300 mAh
Li-Poly battery
Radio: Four
to six channels
with four microservos
Construction:
3mm Depron with carbonfiber
reinforcement
Setting up for an approach. This model has lots of fuselage side area; this is
the main reason why minimal rudder is needed in knife-edge flight.
You can hinge the ailerons, elevator, and rudder with a ruler and
a sharp X-Acto blade. Bevel the bottom of the control surface so
that the model can be top-hinged.
The st ab il ize r w as p u r p os e f u ll y loc a ted abov e t h e
thrustli ne. No tic e the r udder control h o rn, how the
pushrod is installed, and the hinge bevel angle.
01sig1.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 11/20/09 1:09 PM Page 24January 2010 25
Carbon rod supports the wing; three carbon rods come together
and are wrapped with Kevlar thread. This ensures that the area
will not break loose in flight.
Fly the Raiden without air brakes first, and add them afterward so that the model’s
change in flight performance can be noticed. Air brakes are highly recommended for
indoor flying.
Photos by the author except as noted
The J2M hovers into a slight head wind.
This model can fly in extraordinarily tight
spaces and is extremely maneuverable.
The power-to-weight ratio is 2:1.
Materials Needed
• 3mm Depron sheets
• Kevlar thread (or similar)
• Carbon-fiber .040-inch-diameter rod
• Carbon-fiber .080-inch-diameter rod
• Carbon-fiber 1mm x 3mm flat plate
• One package Du-Bro Electric Flyer
Hinge Tape (item 916)
• One package Du-Bro Nylon Heavy Duty
Hinges (item 257)
• Two Du-Bro Micro Razor Control
Horns (item 936)
• Two Du-Bro Mini E/Z Connectors (item
845)
• One Du-Bro Micro E/Z Link (item 849)
• One Du-Bro Micro Push Rod System
(item 847)
• One set E-flite Landing Skids
(EFL1181)
Equipment Used
• JR 12X transmitter
• Spektrum AR6100 receiver
• Four JR 185 servos
• E-flite Park 300 Brushless Outrunner
Motor
• E-flite 10-Amp Pro Brushless ESC
• Thunder Power 350 mAh, three-cell
battery
• GWS 8 x 3.8 propeller and/or Graupner
8.5 x 4 propeller
The author has milled the left side of the fuselage. Doing so saves considerable weight
and is highly recommended if you will fly the model indoors. It is time-consuming but
is well worth it.
01sig1.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 11/20/09 1:14 PM Page 2526 MODEL AVIATION
The front and rear horizontal fuselage pieces are ready
to be glued to the wing. Take time when cutting
the foam components, to ensure the utmost accuracy.
SFGs are used on both the wing and the horizontal stabilizer. Carbon-fiber crossbracing
on the tail was added later, to keep the fin straight.
is time to hinge the ailerons.
I top-hinge my aerobatic foam models
that are built from 3mm Depron. To do so,
either sand the bottom of the aileron LE or
use a ruler and a sharp #11 X-Acto blade.
When you are satisfied with the bevel, place
the aileron in position and apply hinge tape
over the control surface. When hinging the
elevator and rudder, please follow the same
steps.
Lay the wing, horizontal fuselage
cruciform front, and rear sections upsidedown
on the building surface. Bond all of
those components together with odorless
foam-safe CA. Glue the front horizontal
piece to the wing LE and the rear horizontal
fuselage piece to the TE of the wing.
The Raiden is built so that all
components interlock with one another.
With the wing and horizontal cruciform
assembly still upside-down, position the
lower vertical fuselage piece in place and
make sure that it is aligned. Tack-glue this
piece in place using foam-safe CA and a 90°
triangle to ensure that it is square with the
horizontal assembly.
Install the carbon-fiber bracing and
landing gear struts. When gluing in the
carbon braces, constantly check the model to
make sure that the fuselage sides are
perpendicular with one another and that the
lower vertical fuselage piece stays straight.
Add the wing side force generators (SFGs)
before adding the wing’s carbon bracing.
Plans show the locations of the carbon
bracing and which rods are installed where.
I recommend cutting the carbon rod with a
Dremel tool and sanding a sharp point at
each end of the rod to ease installation. Once
all of the supports are in place and the
fuselage is square, adhere all supports in
place with thin foam-safe CA.
Cut four round pieces of Depron foam
that have a diameter of 5/8 inch, and glue
them in position. (Their locations are
The control horns used are a modified version of the standard
Du-Bro variety. The aileron carbon-rod linkage is glued to the
.032 wire, wrapped with Kevlar thread, and completed by
sliding heat-shrink tubing over the entire assembly.
J2M Raiden Control-Surface Setup
Control Surface Low Rate Deflection/Exponential Value High Rate Deflection/Exponential Value
Aileron 21/2 inches/50% 31/4 inches/65%
Elevator 13/4 inches/50% 3 inches/65%
Rudder 3 inches/40% 41/2 inches/55%
01sig1.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 11/20/09 1:15 PM Page 26January 2010 27
Full-Size Plans Available—see page 183
01sig1.QXD_00MSTRPG.QXD 11/20/09 1:16 PM Page 27
