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Look around any active RC workshop and the same scene repeats: a fuselage balanced on a foam block, a tailwheel hooked over a coffee can, a warbird leaning on its wingtip against a wall. A proper stand prevents the scratch, the cracked canopy and the broken stabilizer that cost an afternoon to fix. It also makes battery swaps, servo work and CG checks easier, since the plane stays where you put it.
This is a researched buyer's guide. The specifications below come from the makers' own product pages and from two magazine sources (Model Aviation reviews and how-to articles), not from our own testing, and stock was read in October 2026. The first thing to settle is that "stand" covers three different jobs, and the right size depends on the plane.
Three Jobs, Not One
| Job | What it needs | Typical choices |
|---|---|---|
| Bench or work stand | Padded cradles, adjustable fit, a place for tools | Robart, Ernst, RC Plane Stands benchtop, DIY |
| Field stand | Portable, stable on grass, fits in the car | Robart Super Stand, Sullivan holder, DIY PVC |
| Storage or display | Scratch-proof padding, space efficiency | FMS rack, FMS X Stand, floor stands |
Then match the stand to the airplane. Fuselage width, fuselage length and weight are the three numbers that decide whether a cradle fits and holds. Makers publish the first two as ranges and the third as a capacity, so check all three against your plane before buying.
What Makes a Good Stand
Fit. The cradles must clear the fuselage and sit under strong parts of the airframe. Check the maker's width range for the arms. The RC Plane Stands Classic II, for example, lists arms from 1/4 inch to 15 inches wide, and its supports run from 10 inches to 60 inches in length. A plane much narrower or wider than the range will not sit correctly.
Padding that is safe for your finish. Robart says the soft rubber pads on its Super Stand II will not harm or scratch models, and that the stand is unaffected by glow fuel. Ernst describes its Ultra Stand as fuel proof and unaffected by paint or adhesives, with adhesive-backed foam rubber padding, and it sells replacement foam because, as the company puts it, the stand can last a lifetime but the foam may not. Whatever you buy, avoid hard surfaces touching covering.
Stability. A tall plane on a small base is a tip hazard, especially outdoors. Wider legs and wheels with brakes (offered on the RC Plane Stands floor models) help in a workshop, and weights or tie-downs help at the field. Model Aviation's PVC stand article suggests draping a sock of small rocks or lead birdshot over the legs and strapping the airplane down with small bungee cords.
Where the cradles go. A FlyRC build article advises resting the fuselage about 6 inches ahead of the horizontal stabilizer and just ahead of the landing gear, and making the stand tall enough that the propeller and fin clear the surface if the plane sits inverted. For balancing, the CG balancer guide covers the tools that go with a bench stand.
Bench and All-Purpose Stands
Robart Super Stand II
Robart Super Stand II on Amazon
Robart's page calls it a fully adjustable model stand and work station that fits any size airplane from small gliders to giant warbirds and accommodates model boats. It describes the stand as sturdy, lightweight, waterproof and unaffected by glow fuel, with soft rubber pads that will not harm or scratch models, and says it sets up quickly for building, maintenance or transportation. Robart publishes no weight rating, so for a heavy gas model, treat "any size" as a starting point and check how the stand looks under load. It is also sold through Horizon, and both listings showed it in stock.
The simpler Super Stand (#401) has built-in tray areas and is described by Robart as great for field maintenance, as a point-to-point carrier and as a support when building or painting. Robart also notes it is a good holder for its Model Incidence Meter.
Ernst Ultra Stand
Ernst Manufacturing, based in Sandy, Oregon, markets its stands as made in the USA with a lifetime guarantee. The Ultra Stand is lightweight sturdy plastic with removable cradles that push-fit into the base and two tool compartments. Dimensions are 9.5 x 18 x 11.5 inches and the weight is 1.35 lb. It comes in blue/gray, red/gray, green/black, orange/black and hi-viz/gray, and all showed in stock on Ernst's site. The maker says the stand holds a wide variety of models and a full range of sizes but gives no engine-size limit, so check the cradle width against your fuselage.
Ernst MEGA Stand
Ernst calls the MEGA a size up from the Ultra and designs it for large-scale aircraft, tall enough for large vertical stabilizers and easily accommodating swept wings. The maker lists a 26-inch height, 19.5 x 12.875 x 5.875 inch dimensions, a 3.14 lb weight, and a base with two large and two small compartments for transmitters and accessories. Adhesive foam strips and clips are included, and replacement foam is sold separately.
Ernst Ultimate Hobby Stand
Ernst's Ultimate Hobby Stand takes a different approach: a platform that rotates 360 degrees with two height positions, adjustable taper-lock rests with short and long arms, foam grip pads and magnetic parts bins. Ernst positions it for RC models, drones, scale models and crafts, and says smaller aircraft such as planes and drones can be worked on. It is an interesting choice if one stand needs to serve several hobbies.
Floor Stands for Large Models
RC Plane Stands (Classic II, Ultimate II and Epic)
RC Plane Stands floor models on Amazon
RC Plane Stands makes Baltic birch stands in California. Its store was operating in October 2026 with most models available, and its Black Heksa finish was listed under a closeout sale as being discontinued, with the Black Heksa Ultimate II sold out. The unfinished versions were available. The makers' own specifications:
| Model | Fuselage width | Support length | Capacity | Collapsed size | Wheels |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Classic II Floor | 1/4 in to 15 in | 10 in to 60 in | 60 lb | 34 x 24 x 12 in | 4 in casters, brakes |
| Ultimate II Floor | 1 in to 20 in | 10 in to 80 in | 80 lb | 44 x 30 x 12 in | 5 in casters, brakes |
| Epic Floor | 11 in to 25 in | 20 in to 100 in | 200 lb | 72 x 36 x 19 in | 5 in casters, brakes |
The Classic II is the company's best seller and suits, per the maker, medium (10 cc) to large (120 cc) planes. The Epic has removable 36-inch legs and extra small arms for twin turbines and delta wings. Benchtop versions support fuselage widths from 1/4 inch to 15 inches with 24-inch rails that can be upgraded to 30, 36 or 48 inches.
Model Aviation's Jay Smith reviewed the Classic II in August 2022. He lists fuselage width of 4 to 15 inches (down to 1/2 inch with narrow arms reversed), fuselage length of 20 to 84 inches, a 60 lb capacity and a stand weight of 20 lb without wheels, 23 lb with wheels and 27 lb with wheels and a tool tray. His conclusion is that the wood and hardware, "combined with the level of flexibility and adjustments, should make this the only stand you will need for your modeling." His cons: a 9/16-inch socket or wrench is needed and not included, the Velcro strap may need trimming for small fuselages, and the initial investment is higher than many readily available stands.
Field Holders and Cradles
Two Horizon-listed items serve the flight line. The Sullivan Tail Anchor Plane Holder with Drop Arms is described as holding even the largest planes: lift and drop to taxi, 14 inches from the ground to the top of the uprights and up to 9.5 inches between uprights. The Hangar 9 Airplane Cradles for Flight Pack Field Box are unassembled, pre-cut wood parts that fit a wide variety of aircraft and work with the Hangar 9 Flight Pack Field Box. Both were in stock when checked.
Display and Storage
FMS X Display Stand V2
FMS X Display Stand V2 on Amazon
Horizon lists the V2 in silver, gold and rose and all three were in stock. FMS's own page lists gold, red, silver and blue and keeps the specifications in an image, so size and load figures are not repeated here. Check the numbers on the product page for the airplane you own.
FMS RC Plane Rack
When there are four or five planes, a rack solves the space problem. FMS's page lists:
| Spec (per FMS) | Value |
|---|---|
| Arms | 5 sets of foldable support arms, 3 degree angle of attack |
| Wingspan range | 800 mm to 2000 mm |
| Dimensions | 1000 x 575 x 1680 mm |
| Weight | 6.9 kg gross (the description says 6.5 kg) |
| Load rating | About 50 kg |
| Casters | Four, two locking |
| Assembly | About 15 minutes |
| Frame | Aluminum alloy and ABS plastic |
The page shows no stock indicator, so confirm availability before ordering. Treat the 50 kg figure as a maker's rating, and load heavier models toward the bottom arms.
DIY Stands
A homemade stand is a legitimate alternative. Two magazine sources give real build details.
Model Aviation PVC stand. Greg Schutte's "Hangar Rash And Wobble!" (June 2021) uses 1/2-inch white Schedule 40 PVC. One stand needs four 12-inch sections, four 3-inch sections, eight 90-degree elbows and two 12-inch pieces of 5/8-inch slit pipe insulation as padding. He suggests buying one 10-foot pipe and two contractor packs of fittings to make two stands. Clean and bevel the pipe ends, fit the elbows onto the 12-inch pieces, add the 3-inch pieces and tap each joint until it bottoms out. Check that the frame is square and flat before gluing, and glue only after assembly with Super Glue. The author says it is sturdy enough for the ground at the flying site and suggests a sock of rocks over the legs plus bungees for transport.
FlyRC frame. A FlyRC build uses 1/2-inch PVC with 6 caps, 10 tees and 4 elbows, PVC cement and 6 feet of foam pipe insulation. The finished frame is 26 inches long. The builder assembles it dry, marks each joint, then glues, and notes glue may be unnecessary if the frame is sturdy enough.
DIY frames are lighter and cheaper to adapt, but they have no rated capacity, so size the pipe and padding to the plane and do not leave a heavy model on a light frame unattended.
Which Stand for Which Plane?
- Park flyers and trainers on a bench: Robart Super Stand II or Ernst Ultra Stand. Check the cradle width against the fuselage.
- Tall fins or swept wings: Ernst MEGA Stand, whose maker designs it for those shapes.
- A field stand that doubles for transport: Robart Super Stand (#401) or a DIY PVC frame with weights and bungees.
- Large gas models and serious bench work: RC Plane Stands Classic II for 10 cc to 120 cc, the Ultimate II beyond that and the Epic for the largest jets and giant-scale planes. See the giant-scale guide for what those planes are.
- Several planes in a garage: the FMS rack, or a bench stand plus wall storage.
- Building: the build-from-scratch guide and the balsa kits guide show where a stand earns its keep.
- Beginners and warbirds: a stand matters for every first plane, as covered in the beginners guide and the warbirds guide. For battery handling at the bench, the LiPo battery guide lays out safe charging.
FAQ
Q: Can a foam cradle scratch covering?
Soft padded cradles are the safe choice. Robart says its Super Stand II pads will not harm or scratch models, and Ernst supplies adhesive foam rubber padding. Hard surfaces without padding are the risk, so avoid any cradle that touches covering directly.
Q: Can one stand hold any plane?
No. Check fuselage width, length and capacity against the maker's range. A bench stand for park planes is not a floor stand for a 60 lb model, and the published capacities differ widely: 60 lb for the Classic II, 80 lb for the Ultimate II and 200 lb for the Epic.
Q: Is RC Plane Stands closing?
Its store was operating in October 2026. The Black Heksa finish was listed as being discontinued on a closeout page, and the Black Heksa Ultimate II was sold out, while unfinished models were available. Confirm current stock on the company's site.
Q: Should a homemade PVC stand be glued?
Model Aviation's builder glues the joints only after the frame is fully assembled and squared, using Super Glue. FlyRC's builder assembles the frame dry first and says glue may be unnecessary if the frame is sturdy. Either way, test the frame on the bench with the plane on it before trusting it.
