The body of a UAV depends on the kind of aircraft and is optimized for it's usecase. Is it high speed for racing, improved agility for acrobatic freestyle, a heavy lifter for filming , long distance observations, ... . This requirements result in different mechanics and materials and take DIY aspect into account.
You will find also a lot of spare parts or mods / extensions to commercial vehicles, which we don't list up here!
Note
Building a UAV from scratch is a pretty challenging task for a beginner, esp. if you have limited amount of time.
So it might be wise, to try existing solutions or kits before, so you don't get stuck to early and have a handy manual. Later on, you can try different mods or start with custom builds, if you have gained more experience and know how to avoid common pitfalls.
See also: My Raspberry Pi drone: the story so far by Matchstic.
Copters are built using different materials from alu / carbon profiles to CNC cuts to full 3D printed cases and have different configurations for different number of rotors (bi... octo):
- 18650 Micro Foldable - 3D printed mcirodrone that lasts for 18mins
- [Sub 250g autonomous drone] - 3D printed bare minimum frame with Liion and GPS
- JeNo 5.1" - Modern carbon wide X-frame with accessoirs
- Goblin v3 - 3D printed frame, 4S power, 16x16 AIO stack, 2023.
- NanoLongRange - 3D printed frame with mostly a 18650 Liion cell and a all-in-one board for whoops, 2021.
- Discovery Edition - Optimized frame with integrated battery holder, 2022.
- NanoLongRange 2 - With GPS and slightly lighter in 3 variants also for 21700 cells, 2021.
- NLR35 - Lighter and similar to NLR, but 21700 cell, 2022.
- hefty - Full 3d printed heavy quadcopter with custom made motors, 2023
- Ultimate 3D printable Cinewhoop - 2020.
- TinyTina - 3D printed whoop, 2018.
- Heavy Lift Quadcopter Frame - CNC cut by carbon, 2020.
- The CogniFly - Robust frame for research, swarms and indoor with RPI companion computer, 2021.
- TBS Source One - Carbon racing frame in 5 revisions, 2021.
- TBS Source Two - Carbon racing frame, 2019.
- TBS Source Podracer - 3D carbon racing frame, 2020.
- TBS Source V - 5" carbon racing frame, 2021.
- TBS Source X - Carbon racing frame, 2019.
- AESIR II - Modular and customized 3D and carbon frame, 2021.
- Foldable Drone Frame - 3D printed with gimbal option 2017.
- OpenRC Quadcopter - 3D printed with closed case , 2015.
- Hovership MHQ2 - 3D printed foldable, 2014.
- Crossfire 2 - Huge quad 3D printed, 2014.
- Spyda 500 - Huge quad 3D printed, 2013.
Traditional RC airplanes are created using balsa wood and foil covered rips for the wings. Commercial models make often use of foam, that you can also cut by CNC and lasers to create wing profiles. Also fully 3D printed planes are possible, that you glue and strength with carbon roods. There is also a growing community for (commercial) 3D printed models like Craycle Hobby, Eclipson airplanes,3D lab print, Plane Print , OWLplane or rc-jetprint.de using lightweight PLA to save weight.
- Titandynamics Tornado v2 - 3D printed 1m modular doublemotor carrier airplane
- Merlin V2 - 3D printed 2.5m efficient longrange doublemotor carrier airplane
- HAWk Modular RC Wing Airplane v1 - 3D printed LW-PLA 1m++ pusher / puller wing, full BOM + manual docs, 2023.
- V-Tail Aircraft for Long Range FPV & Autonomous Missions - by AeroStuff FPV - Use folded depron panels for body and wings for a V-Tail pusher.
- Highly Modular Design -1 (HMD1) - 3D printed ABS V-tail plane for research, 2022.
- Ranger V2 - Sub 1m pusher trainer plane, 2022.
- Berkik 3 wing - 1.3m depron wing ,2021.
- LukiSegler - Glider, 2021.
- SakhWing - Drak like fixed wing printed with PETG, 2020.
- GemINIce - 2 props dpron airplane, 2016.
- Joywing - Simple race wing, 2019.
- Eclipson Model V - Mostly 3D printed commercial airplane with wheels, 2019.
- Eclipson Model Y - Mostly 3D printed commercial airplane with wheels, 2018.
- Northern Pike - 36" fixed wing 3D printed, 2018.
- Moose - 1m puller plane made of PLA, 2018
- Supernove - Jet like pusher RC plane.
- RC Flying Wing - Sub 1m 3D printed pusher plane 2017.
- GASB Three - Fixed wing 3D printed, 2019.
- GASB Two - Fixed wing jet 3D printed with electric ducted fan (EDF) instead of classic propeller, 2016.
- GASB One - 80cm fixed wing 3D printed, developed in 6 revisions, 2016.
- Red swan - 1950mm printed plane with wing ribs, sucessor of Red Duck modell, 2014.
- Le Fish glider - Open Source aerobatics glider with a lot of remixes, 2005.
Vertical take-off and landing are air vehicles that transform from copter to a gliding wing, making it very easy to start/land but require a more complex mechanic and become a tip heavier than fixed wings.