I am curious. I realize the different weights and grades of balsa, and what they are used for. I am curious if Lite Ply is similar.

I don't think you can order "contest" ply, but is there such a large gap in weight consistency of lite ply as there is with balsa??

Brian

Contact Bud Nosen. He has lite ply and Birch ply in many thicknesses. I  sure he can tell you the weights,
http://budnosenmodels.com/

Why not just soak some cardboard in water, then you have both the strength and weight of lite ply.

Lite ply is made of layers of ply and balsa, the other ply is called five ply and has five layers of hardwood with the grain on 90 degree angles. It is also called aircraft grade ply and is much stronger than lite ply. Lite ply should NOT be used in landing gear blocks, wing mounts or firewalls.

L.

Not intending too. I am cutting a Goldberg Extra 300 fuse. Just looking for ways to put the fuse on a diet. I believe it can be done, but the fuse sides would still need to be lite ply.

Brian

There are many types of wood labeled as lite, or light, plywood. I use a great deal of Italian Poplar bending plywood in my designs which is the very light colored 3-ply stuff that you generally see advertised as light ply from places like Balsa USA. It does not contain any balsa nor does it vary in weight and density like balsa does. I love the stuff for a number of reasons, the two biggest being that it can be obtained in 4' x 8' sheets and also because it laser cuts very nicely. The larger sheets means no edge gluing or splicing to make large parts as you would have to do with balsa. Judicious use of lightening holes, made simple by laser cutting, can get the weight down close to what you would have with balsa wood and it is still stronger. It also happens to be much cheaper than balsa. I know many folks hate the stuff but I happen to like it and have used it quite successfully in a number of designs. My .02 cents.

I don't recall if it was Chad or someone else that was mentioned lite ply in 4X8 sheets. The name given was something I have never heard of before. When I went to my wood supply outlet they haden't heard of it. I was going to bring a piece of lite ply with me to show them but forgot the piece. This is not a hardware store but a high end wood supply. I'm sure I can find something in big sheets that would be the same as lite ply.
Be nice to have a laser cutter but it's a bit much for the home modeler. Lightening holes are a pain to cut .

I have heard what we use called Italian flexible ply, Italian bendable ply, Apple ply, bendable furniture ply. I guess it has a number of names depending on where and who you talk to. Last time I pick a sheet up from the hardwood dealer, it was $36.00 for a 4X8 sheet of 1/8".

I have not found this product in any of the large retail stores. I have found it in the specialty stores. If they deal in hardwoods and exotic lumber, they should have it.


Buzz.

Bending ply or bender board are common names. Just be sure to get the Italian Poplar as there are other types of bending ply that are not nearly as suited to model use.

Chad has it right, it's Italian poplar bender board. I knew I was on the right track when I found a lazer cut piece in a kit that was marked "Made in Italy". I get 4x8 sheets from a company called MacBeaths Hardwoods. They have locations in Utah, California, and I think Arizona. Runs about $20 per sheet. You might try calling around to high end cabinet makers in your area. Any shop doing radius work in cabinetry will have scraps and know where to get this stuff.