Shop Talk - The Long Road To Developing The L-1011 Airliner
Meet Terrance, the Creator Behind RC CAD
In this in depth interview on RC Air Experience, hosts Jonathan and and Anthony sits down with Terrance Luckett, the founder behind the RC CAD L-1011 project. He shares his unexpected journey of turning his passion for aviation into a full-fledged business as a response to the pandemic.
After his previous work was impacted, Terrance found himself with time on his hands and a burning desire to create. Always fascinated by aviation and model building, he taught himself Fusion 360 to design an RC airplane kit based on his favorite aircraft, the Lockheed L-1011 TriStar. The TriStar's unique design and features captivated Terrance, and he decided to share his progress on Instagram. The overwhelming positive feedback propelled him to develop a complete kit from what he started as a personal project.
Terrance opens up about the challenges he encountered along the way, from sourcing materials to learning how to utilizing 3D printing for certain components. He also discusses his future plans to incorporate CNC machining for critical parts like landing gear.
The conversation delves into Terrance’s decision to shift away from platforms like TikTok, where he felt his content wasn't reaching the right audience. and focusing his efforts on YouTube, Instagram, and website.
Anthony wraps up the interview by expressing his admiration for Terrance’s work and extends an invitation for a future episode to check in on his progress.
If you're passionate about aviation, model building, or simply inspired by stories of turning hobbies into successful ventures, this interview is a must-watch! Don't forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell for more exciting content from RC Air Experience.
Early Career and Inspiration
Terrance's passion for aviation began at a young age, and he always dreamed of having some sort of role in aviation or aerospace.
Coming from a professional background in software product development and software engineering which includes big projects like billing systems for hospital systems, touch screen kiosks used by millions of people every year, Terrance is no stranger to product development. Not covered in the Podcast, one of his more notable achievements is his critical roll in getting a medical device FDA approved.
During the pandemic, Terrance found himself with a lot of free time on his hands. He decided to dabble in CAD to learn how to design an airplane that he could build. He had watched countless videos of other people building RC airplanes, and he was amazed by the skill and creativity involved.
Due to the pandemic, the opportunity arose for him to begin building a plane not just for himself but for others as well. When interest in his work started to grow on instagram and youtube, he knew he was on to something. So he changed course and started adjusting his CAD designs into something that could be manufactured instead of
The L-1011 TriStar
Terrance's favorite airplane is the Lockheed L-1011 TriStar. He experience with the plane was serendipitous after having missed a flight and was rebooked onto a flight serviced by the L-1011. He was immediately captivated by its unique design. The L-1011 TriStar is a three-engine wide-body airliner that was produced by Lockheed Martin from 1970 to 1984. It was the first wide-body airliner to be produced in the United States by Lockheed Martin, and it was known for its spacious interior and advanced technology.
Terrance decided to design his own RC airplane kit based on the L-1011 TriStar. He spent months researching the plane and designing the kit.
Challenges and Overcoming Them
Terrance faced a number of challenges while developing the kit. One of the biggest challenges was sourcing materials. Due to supply chain issues, Terrance had to switch from Baltic Birch to Poplar wood for the main frame of the airplane, this has since changed, but this lesson in volatile supply chains taught a valuable lesson: Always have a back up plan or alternative!
He is also no stranger to criticism for his design and material choices whether it’s the type of wood or using 3D printed parts for some of the components. However, Terrance believes that 3D printing is a valuable tool for RC airplane builders, and he is committed to using it in his kits.
Another challenge that Terrance faced was monumental task of documenting the build process and how all of the parts go together. He insists that it’s critical to create a comprehensive set of instructions that would make it easy for anyone to build his kit.
Social media is also a large challenge. He spent hours filming and editing videos and producing quality photos for social media to help bring fans of aviation, manufacturing, engineering, and makers along for the journey. Producing content for social media is easily a job onto itself, but somehow he manages to all these jobs single handed.
Terrance is proud of the RC airplane kit that he is creating. He believes that it is the most accurate and detailed L-1011 TriStar RC airplane kit available. He is also committed to providing excellent customer support.
The Future of RC CAD
Terrance has big plans for the future of RC CAD. He is planning to offer high quality semi custom RC airplane parts and accessories in addition to other RC kits, which he cheekily dodged revealing in the interview.
Terrance is passionate about airplanes and model building, and he is excited to share his passion with others. He believes that RC airplanes are a great way to learn about aviation and engineering. He also knows that RC airplanes can be a lot of fun to build and fly.
If you are interested in RC airplanes, check the YouTube channel, RC CAD. You can also visit his website.
