The local hobby shop guy was joking about a guy who used to be a local flyer. He built a lot of 1/12 scale and shaped every thing with a belt sander.

He must have had a fine belt on it and a very light touch!

I have been using a Dremel for rough-out, and a 220g sanding block for fine shaping. I had to get a new balsa block for the lower part of the cowling. The block they supplied was cut backwards from the plan, and if I used it the engine would have to mounted upside down.

I use a sanding block with 60 grit . It can remove balsa as fast or faster than the dremal tool. In places where I can use it I like it better than the dremal . For 60 grit It leaves a smooth finish on balsa.

Both the shrike and thrush didn't have any plans with them.

This weekends work, the wing is going to be checkerboard on the bottom, the top will be white with red on the wing tips. I am waiting to cover it until I get the cable extension to put a camera on the wing.

That color scheme will sure make it easy to tell when you're flying inverted!

No pictures in the last couple of days because the covering iron after 35+ years of use died a quiet death. On another note with the red/ white color pattern of the Thrush, I decided to repaint the used LA46 to a high temp red metallic. The old blue color didn't want to come off completely, so with the new red, it looks like a very sexy candy apple red!

Cool!

So, have the new covering iron is in, and working as it should: sneak peak, the cable is for the camera that will be mounted on the wing. To step it up on building and modifying I am going to a new bench... 8' x 3' this is 2 hours of the bench build today: there is going to be some serious work going on now.

Is the new bench a kit? If so where did you get it? I hope you went with LED lighting it's a lot nicer then the old florescent fixtures.

The bench is a kit from 2x4 Basics http://2x4basics.com/ I modified the upper sections by splitting the upper pedestals in half and attaching them to the corners instead of a 16" shelf. Check Amazon for better prices, it was about $40 cheaper than buying it locally at Harbor Freight.

Nice idea I like it!

Update on the workbench...

I like it! Don't know what the chair is for

Love it! All it needs now is a project on it and maybe a cup holder.

Sorry I haven't posted, had surgery and didn't feel good... but here is what has happened lately: and BTW the chair is for the 60" tv on the other wall ~

Hope your surgery went well now you are on the mend!

Good to see you are putting the new bench to work!