Hi all,

I have just purchased an EPP sailplane, but it is going to need some shaping (rounding) on the top of the nose block, canopy & wing faring. I have shaped smaller balsa nose blocks & canopy`s before, but being bigger, Ifeel that it may need a bit more accuracy.

Is there a way of marking this out first, or should I be using templates? If anyone can help, then I would be most grateful.

Many thanks,

Ian.

To make templates, you need a good three view of the part. Iwould use light ply or a good grade card board. Lay out the spacing on the top and side views, then transfer the measurements to the front view referencing each location to a centerline on the drawing. Transfer the front view lines tothe light ply using tracing paper. Remember you'll be using the female part of the template, so allow for sawcut. Cut inside the line. Mark the part using the same spacing as the plans. It's not easy, but if you work slow, you'll get a very accurate part.

pmw