Kevlar

My Feedback: (47)

To possibly save weight, I've thought about using poster board in place of balsa sheeting. Has anyone ever tried this. What are the concerns with this idea. I'd paint with fuel proof paint of course.

On that note, how should I prep my balsa for painting purposes.

Thanks!

kfowler

Interesting idea. Even though you'd paint it I'd still be cocerned with how durable it wouls be. Also, the strength in the air over time. I would think it would be easy to work with. Worth a try.

Deadstik

My Feedback: (8)

Kevlar,

If you want to save weight with a foam wing, honeycomb the core. You would not believe how much weight you can save and still have a very strong wing. I don't believe the poster board would really lend itself to adding a lot of strength to the wing..This hobby is about innovation.. but if I were trying to save weight on foam wings (which I use almost exclusively), then I would honeycomb them. There are several threads here on RCU on that technique.

Good luck

Deadstik [8D]

Ed Smith

Poster Board does not have the strength of balsa sheet. By the time you have added an extra spar for example the overall weight of the wing might not be any lighter. If a balsa leading and trailing edge is used the board will go fuzzy when you sand them flush. When handling the wing it will dent very easily just by being picked up. Check the weight of the board compared with the amount of balsa sheet needed, you may be surprised. The only plus that I can see is price, it is cheap.

Overall there is no advantage.

Ed S

Kevlar

My Feedback: (47)

Thanks for the response guys. After some thought on the way to work this morning, I kind of shot the idea down as well, for basically the same reason's you've mentioned. I'll look into the Honey Comb concept, maybe glass, or just the good old balsa sheeting.

Thanks again!

Flypaper 2

Did a combat wing that way once. Overlaped it at the centre about 6 ins. No spar. Worked fine, just a little on the heavy side.

MinnFlyer

My Feedback: (4)

I did it once too. Big mistake. Poster board is heavier than balsa. The wing weighed a TON!

Ch0pp3r

My Feedback: (3)

Wow, kind of a hairbrained idea... LOL
Take a pack of 8 1/2 X 11 copy paper. It comes I think, about 250 sheets to a pack. Using a 2X4 as a fulcrum you would find that the paper would sag over it, even with no weight applied.
Take a balsa block the same size and thickness and put it on the fulcrum. It could support the weight of a grown man.
Hmmm, now which one is going to be lighter?

Yes, Balsa 'The miricle' Wood is truly the best medium to work with, unless you want to play with various composites. You can reduce the cost of using composites by combining them with balsa. I have done this with great results.

However, paper products are great for writing on. I tried drawing a 3-view on sheet balsa and it was just too light and grainy. LOL

Azcat59

Maybe there is various weights of posterboard, but Wing Mfg. used to sell a Love Machine kit, a 40 size sport plane, and provided a smooth surfaced posterboard. I used it. And painted. It took very little paint. But it was lots heavier than balsa in my opinion.

If you want to save some weight, go to contest grade balsa. Lots of difference between say 6# balsa, and 10-12# balsa.

Clair