Foam, balsa, composite or printed?
Every way of building an RC airframe trades weight, strength, cost and time. The physics is the same for all of them, so every LayerWings tool works with any build.
| Build | Typical wing loading | Strength | Cost | Repair |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EPO / EPP foam | 30–55 g/dm² | Soft, bends in crashes | Low | Glue and tape, easy |
| Balsa + film covering | 25–50 g/dm² | Light and stiff, cracks | Medium | Patch and re-cover |
| Built-up, fabric covered | 35–70 g/dm² | Strong, scale look | Medium–high | Re-cover a bay |
| 3D-printed (LW-PLA) | 40–60 g/dm² | Stiff shells, brittle in cold | Low: files + filament | Reprint the part |
| Fiberglass composite | 50–90 g/dm² | Very tough | High, needs moulds | Glass cloth + epoxy |
| Carbon composite | 40–95 g/dm² | Stiffest per gram | Highest | Specialist work |
Typical ranges for sport, FPV and UAV airframes. Gliders run lighter, payload UAVs heavier.
Which one for you?
Foam is the best way to learn: it survives bad landings. Balsa and fabric give the lightest wings for slow, scale and vintage flying. 3D printing lets you build a complex shape at home with no moulds. Fiberglass and carbon are for long-range UAVs, fast planes and gliders where stiffness and payload matter most.
Same tools for every build
The CG, wing loading, flight time and battery tools only need sizes and weights. Enter your numbers whatever your plane is made of. The wing loading tool also tells you whether your weight is normal for your build type.
Keep designing
CG calculator
Balance point, neutral point and static margin for any RC plane, with a 3-view drawing and a battery-position helper.
Open tool →Flight time calculator
Endurance and range from weight, props and battery, with hover and cruise power.
Open tool →Wing loading calculator
Wing loading, stall and landing speed, and whether your weight is normal for your build.
Open tool →Battery pack calculator
Voltage, capacity, energy, weight and safe current for any S and P pack.
Open tool →