Additional Details
The model. First published in balsabuilder Magazine, Volume 1, Issue 2 (Fall 2015), the 4Charlie is a nostalgic 4-channel sport design with a 42″ flat-bottom wing, 300 sq. in. of wing area, and a feathery 17-oz flying weight. The rounded leading-edge entry, tapered flat-plate ailerons set to follow the airfoil camber, and built-in washout combine to give the 4Charlie its signature self-righting character — graceful in the stall, deliberate in the turn, and tidy in the glide. The cockpit hides a clever magnetic battery hatch, and the optional double-sided pilot decal doubles as the hatch handle (and gives the 4Charlie its charm — Charlie himself, pictured in the construction article, was photographed with his own model airplane in 1943, Texarkana, Texas).
How it flies. On a 7.4V 2S pack and the recommended 8×4.7 prop, the 4Charlie will leap off the ground at about ¾ throttle and cruise contentedly at just under half. Model Aviation reviewer Tom Sullivan (October 2016) described his maiden as “about as uneventful as you could hope” — level hands-off at half power after only a few clicks of trim. It’s not overpowered, and that’s the point: rolls and inverted passes ask for a touch of down-elevator to compensate for the flat-bottom airfoil, loops are slightly egg-shaped, and the model is at its absolute best cruising at half-throttle on a calm late-evening pattern. The 4Charlie performs best with the suggested 2S electronics — that setup is what makes it a dream to fly.
Build level and support. Intermediate builder, or a first-time builder with support from an experienced mentor. The plans are well-drawn, the parts fit precisely over the drawings, and tab-and-notch construction keeps assemblies square. The full 10-page construction article is included with the kit and is also available online: View Construction Article. Plan on a few relaxed evenings at the bench to frame the airframe, plus covering and finishing time.
This item is frequently stocked and ready to ship — check the product page for current availability. If shown as Cut to Order, please allow 5–7 business days for production.
KIT INCLUDES
- Precision laser-cut balsa and hardwood parts (13 sheets), hand-sorted balsa, tab-and-notch construction
- Strip wood stock (med-hard balsa, 18″ and 24″ lengths)
- Pre-bent .093 music-wire landing gear
- Laser-cut windscreen
- Pair of 2½″ foam wheels (DUB250SL) and rubber-fit wheel collars
- Micro pushrod kit (Du-Bro 845 Mini E/Z connectors, Du-Bro 849 Micro E/Z links, .032 wire, .070 nylon housing)
- Small hardware pack (neodymium magnets, hatch washers, motor shim washers, windscreen screws, rubber bands)
- Full-size plans
- Comprehensive 10-page construction article
POWER SYSTEM & ELECTRONICS
Recommended (2S — the setup the 4Charlie was designed around):
| Component | Specification | Product Link |
|---|---|---|
| Motor | SA Sport Park BL400, 1400Kv (2212-10), 150W, 47g | Park BL400 (150W | 1400Kv) |
| ESC | 20A brushless, 2–3S compatible, 2A linear BEC. Ships with 3.5 mm bullets and an XT60 battery connector pre-soldered. | SA SPORT 20A Brushless ESC |
| Battery | 1100–1500 mAh 7.4V (2S) LiPo. Our pick: ThunderPower ProLite X 1350 mAh 25C. | ThunderPower ProLite X 1350mAh 2S |
| Propeller | SA SPORT 8×4.5 SF (manufacturer-recommended for this motor on 2S) | SA SPORT 8×4.5 SF |
| Servos (×4) | Sub-micro 9g, HS-55-sized, 16–21 oz-in torque. One each for elevator, rudder, and two aileron servos. | Sport Micro Servo 9g |
| Receiver | 4–6 channel park-flyer receiver, approximately 8 g, compatible with your transmitter | Sourced from your preferred dealer |
| Y-Harness | Required if using a 4-channel receiver to combine the two aileron servos. Skip if using a 5+ channel receiver with each aileron on its own channel. | Servo Wire Y-Harness, 6 inch |
Optional 3S setup. The BL400 motor also accepts a 3-cell LiPo when paired with a smaller propeller — APC 7×4 E per the motor’s documented combinations. It’s a workable alternative for builders who prefer 3S, but the 4Charlie was designed and tuned around 2S, and the 2S setup above is what makes the model so satisfying to fly.
| Optional 3S | Specification | Product Link |
|---|---|---|
| Battery | 1000–1350 mAh 11.1V (3S) LiPo | ThunderPower ProLite X 1350mAh 3S |
| Propeller | SA SPORT 7×3.5 E (Thin Slow Fly) | SA SPORT 07×3.5 Thin Slow Fly |
Required Building Tools & Supplies
The 4Charlie is a film-covered balsa kit, so plan on the standard parkflyer build kit:
- Covering film: 1–2 rolls in contrasting colors. We recommend AeroLITE (2M Roll) or ParkLITE (2M Roll) — both are lightweight iron-on films well suited to smaller model aircraft.
- Covering iron (and a heat gun if you want crisp shrink across compound curves) — as required for any film-covered model.
- Adhesives: CA glue in Thin and Medium viscosities is our default; Thick is occasionally useful. Keep CA accelerator (kicker) and CA debonder on hand. Builders sensitive to CA can substitute aliphatic resin (white/wood glue) without issue.
- Hobby knife & blades: a #11 hobby knife handle, with extra #11 hobby blades (5-pack) or the 100-pack for serious builders.
- Sanding: a dual-grit 120/240 sanding block plus assorted sandpaper sheets (120 and 240 minimum).
- Tape: clear tape (for hinging the ailerons per the construction article) and low-tack masking tape (for general layout work).
- Building board: a flat 12″ × 24″ building board.
Build It!
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