RCU Forums - View Single Post - How to build a balsa sheeted foam core wing.
Old 08-26-2006 | 12:15 PM
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robotronski
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From: Hattiesburg, MS
Default RE: How to build a balsa sheeted foam core wing.

I built a kit way back when from the SIG models company called a "Kommnander" It was a sheeted foam core wing. Sig sold (and hopefully still sells for your sake) a glue that was called something like CORE-Bond??? Anyhow, it would not eat the PS foam and was easy to apply. My advice is spend extra time pre-building the skins as an entire sheet the entire chord of the wing. I used a razor plane to shave the edge of each 3"x36" plank square. I then butted individual planks together on top of waxpaper on a flat worksurface. I used wood glue to edge join the sheets until I had a single composite piece big enough to cover, lets say, the top left half of the wing. I would then apply the entire sheet as one application, being careful to roll the piece on from leading edge to trailing edge and not just plop it down (avoid risk of a warp or bubble) ONCE THE GLUE TOUCHES, ITS A KEEPER!!! So line things up, get you a good helper. Also the seams where the individual sheets a butt spliced requires only enough glue to hold them while installing. The real strength of the wing is in the foam/balsa sandwaich. I say this because, you need to use the wood glue sparingly to prevent ugly glue edge lines from peeking thru that gorgeous monokote film you are going to cover the sheeting with. If you use CA, the hardened CA will not sand out and your sheeting will look crudy under the monokote. By the way, I crashed my plane 5 yrs ago from a stupid move at full throttle and the wing only had a ding where it caved in the fuselage. They no longer make that kit, but I did keep that wing as a memento of some sort. Best of luck with the build, you should have a gorgeous wing that can take all sorts of G-loads without any problems whatsover.