RCU Forums - View Single Post - Need some ideas on putting balsa on foam wings.
Old 11-27-2011 | 10:36 AM
  #18  
blvdbuzzard
 
Joined: Jun 2002
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From: high deserts, CA
Default RE: Need some ideas on putting balsa on foam wings.

I have used water based liquid latex to skin wings. it is really close to the sorghum. You can find it at auto upholstery supply. Spread it as thin as you can with a bondo spreader or other plastic scrapper. Let dry, then it sticks like crazy. If you use to much it just adds weight.

I still like the 4 plus hour epoxy and vacuum bagging the best. The next is the slow epoxy and the pieces the foam core was cut out of. I lay the balsa on the bottom, then the core, then the top sheet, then the top cut out. Weigh it down or clap it between thick boards for a day. I bought a cheap weight set from Wall mart just to have the extra weight around.

You can use a small aquarium pump as a vacuum pump. I used some thick plastic sheeting from the depot as the bags. I fold the edge and heat with a seam sealer. You can use a covering iron to melt the two pieces of plastic together. I then just bunch up one end end use a hose clamp on a piece of brass tubing to attach the hose to the bag and pump. It is NOT the easiest way to do, but it does clamp very well.


Buzz.