I saw someone, maybe Ken, who used magnets or little weights instead of pins but I can't find that thread. Any suggestions on alternatives to using pins. I got everything all setup, plans taped, wax paper laid down, and then I realized pins won't easily sink into the board I'm using. I'd need to use a tac hammer to get them stuck and I don't like hammers around my balsa ribs.

I've used magnets when I weld!

www.356metalwork.com

But without "T" pins, I'd be lost.

I haven't used a pin in 35 years. Thats what kicker is for. Just wish they would make a good spray bottle for it like they used to. This new stuff is pure crap

Check these articles, Aiden:

http://www.airfieldmodels.com/inform...oard/index.htm

Pinciles.

I use a ceiling tile over my board; the pins go in easy.

I built my magnetic system by using the Airfield Models article listed above. Once you've used a magnetic system you'll never go back to pushing pins again!!!!

Ken

Yes the cieling tiles upside down so the smooth side is up.. come in 2x4 sheets and can be taped together if needed. On small parts I put pins in the tile and use rubber bands acrsoss the parts to hold and apply pressure. For example its easy to hold leading edges to ribs. With the wing pinned down place a band around the LE and put a pin about 3-4 inches behind it. You can also select various strenght bands or just stretch for the pressure needed.

Ditto. I use weights to hold things down and CA to glue them together.

Hey Ed, I don't use a spray bottle either - It gets kicker all over the place. Instead I dip a wire in the bottle and put a drop of kicker exactly where I need it

This is helpful. Thanks Mike!

Brian

I use 19 gage finishing nails, just nail the parts to the bench surface ( Solid Core Door). I have difficult time with spruce, lite ply and a/c plywood when using pins. Sand down the bench and revarnish every other plane or so.

Can someone explain further how kicker can be used as an alternative to pins? This 4 Star will be onlymysecond kit and I've never used kicker before. What's the method?

Kicker makes CA harden almost instantly. So you can put a drop of CA between a rib and a spar, kick it and go on to the next one. No need to pin it in place.

This is why I like to use a wire to add a drop of kicker instead of a sprayer: If you sprayed the ribs, the kicker goes everywhere - and it has a residual property. So a day or two later, you may be adding sheeting to the same area and the glue hardens before you get the sheeting down.

Also note that you should not use Kicker on THIN CA - the Thin CA can foam up and make a big hard knot.

Ok, I looked past the obvious on that one.

I will use thick CA and kicker combo, the thick CA gives you the working time you need and the kicker sets it when your ready.. Comes in handy a lot on a build........

I use the Airfield Models magnet system as well, building on top of a piece of 16ga. steel plate. Yes it can be pricey getting all the necessary parts, but the advantages make it worthwhile. Well.. not so pricey if building 40-60 size birds, but a bit more if working on 1/3rd scale and up. Sooo much easier to use than pins. Example, if need to make an adjustment to a framed piece, its very nice to be able to lift the piece off the table, make the tweak and set it right back into the 'magnet frame' that surrounds it.

[quote]ORIGINAL: MinnFlyer

Kicker makes CA harden almost instantly. So you can put a drop of CA between a rib and a spar, kick it and go on to the next one. No need to pin it in place.

This is why I like to use a wire to add a drop of kicker instead of a sprayer: If you sprayed the ribs, the kicker goes everywhere - and it has a residual property. So a day or two later, you may be adding sheeting to the same area and the glue hardens before you get the sheeting down.

Also note that you should not use Kicker on THIN CA - the Thin CA can foam up and make a big hard knot

Never had that happen, ever. Try building on glass a little CA holds down the spars and all you have to do is scrape it loose with a razor blade. Ribs are not a problem if you are using thin CA it sets almost immediatly and then you can come back and add a small drop of med CA if you need it. You could use a syringe to apply kicker also.

<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS">i have an old hypodermic that i put the kicker in and get only a drop wherever i need it too. nice knowing a nurse. no i'm not a junkie. well, maybe a CA junkie. i've found that i use about 1/4 of the kicker that i used to use before figuring that one out. i originally got it for making rivets, but that idea never came around to the table. so i put the CA in it and it's been a very long time since i bought a bottle of kicker.</span>