First, I think Jeff has designed and built a wonderful pattern airplane in the Lightning. I hope to build one this Winter.

As a different way to build these complex shapes out of balsa, a friend of mine does it as follows: First, he makes a full sized foam plug for the fuse, making it out of blue foam. He wets the balsa and places it on the plug, and wraps it tightly with ACE bandages until the wood dries. When dry, he unwraps the bandages, and places the sheeting on the fuse structure and glues it in place, trimming as he goes along. Now this is a very simple description of his process, and his results are amazing. His name is Jim Hiller, and the airplane he builds this way is his design, and is called the Option 160.

The use of the ACE bandage may be another way to build the Lightning, and safe a few roles of masking and electrical tape. Not only does the bandage hold the balsa firmly to the plug, or structure, it also helps drawing out some of the moisture from the wood. I know Jim could do a much better job of describing these techniques, but I hope I may have added a few thoughts.

Larry Fitch<br type="_moz" />