I remembered you had mentioned the saw before but couldn't remember what it was called. I don't scratch build enough anymore to merit cutting my own wood. I asked about the cuts in your wood because a model airplane book I have talks about different ways to cut a balsa log and each cut has an effect about the strength and flexabily of the wood sheet and where it should be used. I was very disappointed with the last box of wood I ordered from Lone Star Balsa. It was heavy and cut so that the sheets were brittle and would not wrap around the leading edge of a wing.

I cut my ribs about like what you describe. Except I glue the pattern to one rib blank with contact cement and stack up to about 9 blanks under it and use T pins to hold them together.

I do like a little better performance than a glider. I gotta have an engine. I just don't have to go real fast. Sometimes I will make many flights in a row and never do a roll, loop or fly inverted. I like to trim my plane and set the transmitter down on the tailgate and watch my plane fly big circles around the field. Then I will get on a touch and go kick. Over and over with take offs and landings.