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The Troll is a 3D plane that has been around for a few years. First flown in 2004, it is deserving of yet another look. By today’s standards with the rapid advancements in electric RC, the Troll is an old man. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Designed by J. C. Spillmann, the Troll has proven to be a very capable 3D flier.  It’s name “Troll” is derived from one of the maneuvers it excels at, the torque roll, or T-roll.

Constructed of Depron foam, the Troll differs from other “flat foamies” in it’s design by having a full fuselage. This gives a lot of strength yet keeps the airframe light. Either 3mm, 6mm or even a combination of the two can be used in it’s construction.  Depending on the equipment used the Troll can be kept very light for indoor flying. If flown outdoors, heavier gear can be installed. This gives the builder/pilot a lot of leeway as far as using whatever equipment is on hand and still end up with a respectable airframe.

To the best of my knowledge, the Troll has never been released as a kit so it’s up to the individual to construct their own. The plans are available from http://www.amjd.ch/ with construction notes to assist. As far as models go there is nothing difficult about building a Troll. The structure is plenty strong with reinforcements in the right places. The fuselage is a basic box structure with 1/16 balsa to reinforce the cabanes. Spars can be used in the wings but a good alternative is to use 6mm for the wings with Spectrex IV braided fishing line for flying and landing wires. This has shown to be very light and strong for any maneuver.

As straight forward as the construction is the real treat is in the flying. Slow flight, harriers, rolling 360s, hovering, you name it the Troll is a excellent all around plane.  You will find that the Troll is one of those planes that you always want to have around for flying at any time, ready at a moments notice. If your looking for your next project, take a look at the Troll.

Download plan —> Link to Troll PDF.