Update on the build: couldn’t get 3/8” balsa from local hobby shop (not really stocking anymore as everything has gone to RTF and cars). But I did have plenty of 3/16 laying around so i laminated two sheets with an even smear of Medium CA glue and cut out the Fuse. Also cut out the stab, elev, rudder and fin.




Then early last week I was cruisin’ around looking for another plan to scratch build… maybe a .15, maybe a .35 size warbird. And i was going though the motions in my mind, download plan, open pdf with photoshop, edit and clean up, make second sheet to cut and paste onto balsa, take to FedEx/kinks and have plans printed, cut out paper parts and glue to balsa and begin the meticulous task of cutting out the parts (as neatly as possible).

Then I thought it would be great if the kits were still being made… at least the ribs and unique parts uncommon to just stock balsa/ply, etc. like a short kit… like the parts one could order for a short block engine.

I began playing around with importing each rib into my photoshop program. Did a bit more research and found the correct software for scale vector graphics and began tracing each rib in vector format. Why? Because this is the format that a laser cutter needs to cut out the ribs. I thought I’d hire a freelancer to cut my ribs and unique parts.

Long story short, my new Laser cutter should arrive this week and after assembly I will attempt to cut my first set of ribs.


I tried uploading image of my rib i drew on the CAD program, i decided to measure and draw each rib from scratch rather than tracing to get a more accurate reproduction. Unfortunately there was an error each time i tried to upload.