I have been doing a lot of reading before starting to do my first build. It has been difficult as the kit is waiting in the box with all the required tools (I hope) sitting right next to the big box. I want to get all the knowledge I can before I tackle this. The last thing I think that I have to set straight before I start is the use of pins and T-pins. Should I only use them pinned down on the plans at the edges of the pieces I need to keep in place, or occasionally they need to go through the actual wood? When using them only at the sides of the piece, should I angle them, or should I pin them perpendicular to the building surface? What other uses should I give t-pins in the building process?

The other question I have regards an issue that arises from using Titebond instead of CA for gluing. How to clamp the pieces to get a solid flush bond when gluing these types of joints:

your answer to all the pinning questions is yes yes and yes. use them however you need to hold your wood together. use the t pins to hold your parts together try to make sure your wooden parts make good contact with each other sand lightly until you get a good fit, and you can get either the locking plastic clamps or the spring loaded clamps that look like small jumper cable ends from almost any hardware store. I like the locking type clamps because you can adjust the amount of pressure you need to hold things together.

First read your instructions front to back at least once before you start. The purpose of the pins is to hold the wood flat on the board and in line with the plan. check often as you assemble for straightness. pin holes in balsa cause very little weakening to a point.
many other methods of holding parts work well also. I saw in here recently were a level and wieghts are commonly used. such as on top of a spar asembly. I keep a few garage sale levels on my bench for just that purpose. sometimes I build against one such as when starting a wing I'll keep a level against the LE. A stop by your local steel yard or any metal fabricator ...trailer builder etc. can get you a small box of "scraps" good for wieghts and angles. if you tell the guys there what you want them for they may help you pick some helpful pieces. you may have to spend a little time fileing those pieces before they make it to the bench and maybe clean some rust or oil off first as well. but once you have them you'll always have them.

A truely flat work table is key. holow core doors with a 2' x 4' cieling tile is ideal. the tile is easy to pin to. and cover your plans with saran wrap befor pinning and gluing...beats sanding plans off of the plane later[:@] don't ask how I know!

look at some of the build along posts here they have tons of picture and examples

You have to use pins...both on the edges and through the wood...use epoxy on high stress areas..glueing spars together...gear blocks..firewalls..stabs...and pinned hinges...for everything else I use elmers white glue..
a few years back pretty well totaled an airplane...there was some wing damage but it was a trainer and I was done with it etc etc.. anyway layed the wing on the ground so the center was off the ground..had my daughter jump on and right back off of it.. now there was wood cracking but the wing went flat and popped right back up..
so don't worry about strength

Getting pieces of metal to hold things while gluing is a good idea as OzMo said but if you can't get them you could put small amounts of play-sand in ziploc sandwich bags to use as weights.

And always remove the pins before covering. Seriously though, a variety of clamps and weights are very handy. If you run out, take a short nap.

masking tape works well for hold fuselage sides to bulkheads just wrap around and overlap the ends very helpful for rounded fuselages

light wieght clamps from the dollar store are handy too.
Get a bag of #64 rubber bands from an office supply store. you'll need 'em when its done too.

Don't forget the MOST FAMOUS CLAMP OF ALL the "cloths pin"!! I got all I ever wanted off the nieghbors clothes line but now I don't know what to do with all these clean cloths???[sm=idea.gif][sm=devious.gif]

Garage Sale

I'm sure they'll be ecstatic to find clothes that will fit them at garage sale prices

Hogflyer