RCU Forums - balsa help!!!

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HI
I have a list of wood parts from ziroli's plans. The problem is that it is in inches and the only wood I can find in my country is cut using the metric unit. 1/2" corresponds to 12,7mm but I could find just 12mm or 13mm , so 1/8" is 3,17mm or 3/16" is 4,76mm ect.... I'm afraid that "aproximately" meausured pieces wont fit the plan...so..... HELP!!!!!!!!!

Thank you
David :confused:

get your wood from either Lone Star Balsa or Balsa USA.
Or sand it to fit the needed dimensions.

good luck.

http://www.balsausa.com/

http://www.lonestar-models.com/

thanks for your reply, but i think it would cost me a little too much in shipment.

I think I'll try the sanding first :)

Is it really that critical?

If you use metric dimensioned pieces instead of english, will it really matter? You'll be cutting all the pieces out from the plans anyway, so the only difference will be in the thickness, which you can easily adjust when you cut them to fit.

Think about it this way: If your plans call for 1/8" wing ribs, and you use the 3mm balsa, you only be .085mm ( 1/8" = 3.17mm so .17mm/2= .085mm on each side) shy on each side of center! That's less than the thickness of the pencil point that drew the line in the first place!

The only real difference is that you'll have to be precise in measuring the actual model as it is building and not rely so much on cutting parts directly from the plans. Ribs and Formers will be exactly as shown, spar slots in the ribs will be slightly smaller or slightly larger, depending on which material you have available.

It'll save you alot of tedious sanding and it can be hard to keep the pieces perfectly square as you sand and check sand and check sand and check, well, you get the idea...

Ed

No, I guess it's not so critical...but I'm very "anal" about these things and even an approximate 1/10mm would really bother me ... just kidding :D ...... what you're saying sounds clear and right to me , sometimes, or rather most of the time the easiest solutions are the better ones, !!!thank you for reminding me that!