mike109
Posts: 101
Joined: 7/25/2004
From: DubboNew South Wales, AUSTRALIA
Status: offline
|
I guess that you have to sheet it so that the balsa is curved around the frame? To do this it is good if you can put a curve in the balsa before you actually try to fit it. You can make balsa bend better by wetting the outside with water or better with a mixture of cloudy ammonia and water (I think about 10% ammonia but I am sure someone will tell us if I am way out).If you then bend the balsa round some sort of form until it dries it will be far easier to fit to the ariframe. To actually attach it to the frame, I would use medium CA such as Zap green. Put the zap on the frame then fold the balsa round the frame and hold it in place with rubber bands or masking tape until the glue goes off. You can also use wood glue to do this but you need to be more careful about how you hold it in place until the adhesive dries.
If the bottom of the fuse is flat, you would usually sheet with the grain across the frame but when the balsa has to go round a curve, then you usually sheet with the grain running parallel to the axis of the curve.
A small matter also - if you are going to fit push rods or tubes for push rods to run in, it is better and easier to fit them before sheeting the frame. And don't forget to secure the tubes at both ends and also at least once in between the ends inside the fuse.
The easiest mistake to make when building a wing (apart from building two left halves) is to put the two halves together with a twist between them. Be very careful when you are joining the two halves that you do not introduce a twist in the wing. I sometimes use two pieces of MDF (medium density fibreboard) to create a bent building board so that I can get the alignment right. For building the wing, I use a sheet of 3/4 inch MDF which I know is perfectly flat with a sheet of soft fibreboard on top. I then put the wing plan on the board and cover it with Glad Wrap or better still freezer "go-between" plastic sheet or other clear plastic sheet so that I can pin the elements of the wing to the board and glue them in place without gluing them to the plan.
You will find that you need sharp knife blades, a razor saw, some big hobby pins, a small square or two, some small clamps, a small plane and assorted sandpaper glued to blocks of wood. Offcuts from shops that make kitchens are good for sanding blocks. I just glue the paper to the block with thick CA.
CA is good stuff but Great Planes aliphatic (sp?) resin (yellow wood glue) is good stuff too because it is flexible and cheap and in a prang.
Hope this helps a bit.
_____________________________
If it''s not right on the ground - it won''t get better in the air. Club Saito # 597
|
Printable Version
All Forums >> RC Airplanes >> Kit Building >> just bought my first kit build 
just bought my first kit build - 
Have fun while Building it and remember to take a Break once in a while
