Help with keels
 

Hey guys I'm having problems making four keels out of 1/8x3/8" ply. Two of them curve to the side and the other 2 curve up and i can't find any info on how to shape the sticks accordingly.

Thanks in advance

RE: Help with keels
 

Keels? As in, for boats? Can you elaborate a little more Manney?

RE: Help with keels
 

Naa on a C 130. Its base for the fuselage is a rectangular box. Extending from that box at each corner from the longerons are what the plans call keels. The top two keels extending out towards the nose of the plane are curved inward to follow the shape of the aircraft. The bottom two are curved up. I hope that explains it.

RE: Help with keels
 

Soak them in water before bending them, then pin/clamp in position until dry. Then glue in place.

If the grain on the wood is wrong for bending (or the wood is very hard) you may need to "kerf" the inside of the bend. Kerfing is a series of cuts in the wood. The cuts should go about 1/2 way through the wood and be spaced about 1/16" apart. The spacing will be determined by how tight the bend is. The wider the bend, the wider the spacing. In any case, I would not exceed 1/8" for spacing. Try soaking them first.

Another option you may want to consider is to use several pieces of balsa/basswood laminated together. Fit and glue the first one, then fit, glue AND CLAMP any subsequent pieces to achieve the width/thickness desired. This works quite well if the bend radius is very tight or compound curves are involved.

RE: Help with keels
 

Manney, try posting your questions in the "Scratch Building" forum. The guys there could probably give you much more detailed answers. In fact, some of them may have already built the plane you are working on. Here's a link:

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/Scra...mid_174/tt.htm

RE: Help with keels
 

Thanks for the info Campy.

Will do MinnFlyer. New to forums, wasn't sure if I should post there or beginner. I'll direct all my other building questions there thanks.