I was wondering if u kit veterans out there could help a newb out...

I was using to low of a "grit" and i accidently over sanded the side of the fin on my Daydream glider kit and im not sure how to completely the problem at hand. one side was a "canyon" in the wood with right angles when u look at it from the bottom. I solved this by gluing balsa pieces into the gaps and sanding that side back to the right dimensions.
_______ _______
l_______l
However...

the other side has more of a bowl shaped "valley" that would be diffiult to get balsa to mate with due to its shape. So, what should i do with this side?

_______ _______
\________/

should i try to get balsa in to there anyway, or should i just level out the rest of the fin to match the same width? Any help with this dillema would be greatly appriciated.

You see, this is what happens when your not 100% focused on what your sanding balsa...shame on me

thanx in advance

turns out my illustration got a little messed up... i hope u folks still get the idea

can glue a skin of new balsa over the rough area then resand after it dries , I would use gater glue or elmers pro bond, read the directions before using,as it dries it also expands filling in the little nooks and cannies,use sparingley because it will expand.
hope this info helps,John

I would glue a piece of balsa into the hole and then fill in any gaps with balsa filler or spakling compound and sand it to shape.

Cut a piece of balsa the size of the top of the "valley" and then sand an angle on that piece so the bottom of the piece matches the bottom of the "valley". Then glue in place and sand smooth/even.

Why not make a new one? Its just a fin. Sounds as if it is solid wood. Should be a piece of cake.
Edwin

I'm voting with Edwin. Just make a new fin. Piece of cake. Easier than fixing the messed-up one and the results will probably be superior.

Ditto... new fin. It's easier than trying to repair. Not that the repair would be too difficult, it's just a matter of "why bother".

Thanks for all of the support guys!

I suppose i could make a new fin but there is no more extra balsa in the kit so id have to go and buy more sticks to make another fin.

Ill try to first fill it in with balsa and glue and if that doesn't work then ill cut away the screwed-up portion of the fin and just rebuild that part instead of starting from scratch (so to speak)

I just have one more question... what is considered "balsa filler"?
Is it just slivers of balsa that are CA'ed into cracks or is it something else entirely?

Thanks for all the great advice youve already given me!

Different people use different things for filler. Personally, I like to use Elmer's brand (The White Glue people) Wood Filler (for light woods). you can get it at your local Wallmart/KMart etc. It's cheap, and it works great.

There is one company that sells a balsa colored filler, comes in a little (little butter tub" like container, and runs about $5. You can get the same thing in the home improvement department, only they call it lightweight spackle. The container is about 3 times larger, and the price is ...... usually less than $5. Great stuff, waterbased, sands nicely, only available in white though. I think mine was from Red Devil. I'd be tempted to glop some of this in the valley, and the bowl, and then use a putty knife to run over the top of it, and level it up to the sides of the fin. Sand it with a finer grade though

Dan Gellner

Hey TeenR/cer, which Newtown do live in? If you're in Cambria County, I'm within 5 miles of you... I'd be glad to help out if you need.

Al Stein,
It is very kind of you to offer your help like that, however, i live in the Bucks County newtown.

Im just curious though... what "Airplane club/field" did u join? I am planning to join a club when i finish the plane and maybe you can suggest one in PA

If I needed to fill in a low area and wanted it to be stronger
than Spackle and yet still sand easy, I prefer Z-poxy finishing
resin and micro balloons.

This combo works great

Roby