re-learning kit building
 

Hi fellow builders:
I'm about to embark on building a "red box' corsair. I've built several kits in the past but slacked off for about 5 years and been buying the ARF offerings.
I'm first building a tail kit which I purchased from another RCU member. (Chad Veigh)
I've already have the "I can't tell the forest from the trees" syndrome. It seems I'm a bit overwhelmed with building again. Will this pass or am I spoiled with ARFs?
Wish me Luck

Tom

OH BTW: Is there a way to get some moisture back into the balsa and ply in the kit?
This thing has been around since the 70's and is as dry as heck!

RE: re-learning kit building
 

Tom, I'd take an evening to take a good look at the plans , especially the part you are about to embark on building. Once you have it in your head, you'll be ok. It will come back to ya. Worse case, you'll have to buy some pieces of balsa to fix a mistake. I have been building for 40 years and still goof up every now & then, we all do. Good luck on your build & welcome back to BUILDING....Gene;)

RE: re-learning kit building
 

its like riding a bike just really look at the plans and insturtions really good until you get back into the swing as for the balsa ? ill be starting a balsa usa Citrabria Aerobatic Pro https://www.balsausa.com/store/produ...?id_product=41 soon like you arf are easyer just did 2 gaint rv-4s new covering last year but love the Citrabria Aerobatic Pro lines ao here i go after 7 years of not building :D good luck,rye

RE: re-learning kit building
 

Tom,
Welcome back to the Light Side,,
I'd just open it all up and let it acclimate to NJ Humidity, it should be fine, you can't really add more moisture than is in the air.

Have fun

p.s.
I'm working on a red box p-40 that is real close to paint and I have a red box p-51B I'll be starting soon

RE: re-learning kit building
 

OK, don't laugh. But I put the open box in the bathroom for a few days and make sure to steam up the room really well during showers. It would probably be even better if you had a humidifier and stuck the open box in a small room for a few days. The wood will only pick up a little moisture and then re-equilibrate when it's back in 'normal' room conditions. But for old kits, I really think it helps a bit. Oh, let the plans sit in the room with the kit, open to the moist air. They shrink too after 30 years!

RE: re-learning kit building
 

Keep all the pieces of spare wood. from your kit..  After a couple kits you'll be amazed how much wood you have.   I will sometimes take it to my band saw and just shape it up real quick into useable pieces.  I have bags of balsa sticks, balsa and ply sheet, hardwood, etc...
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RE: re-learning kit building
 

The wood should be fine. I assume it was not shrink wrapped if that old.

I have 25+ year old balsa in a Kadet Senior I still fly and it is just fine after being stored in unheated garages for years. Just let the wood set out a couple of days.

Tom

RE: re-learning kit building
 

Thanks guys. Last night I went out to the shop and opened the kit, took out the plans and looked them over. Then I marked where some scaleish mods can be made and started to get the old 'building' feel back. No plastic wrap but each wood group had paper wrapping.
I bought this kit about a year ago and it came with some older Robart mechanical retracts.


Tom

RE: re-learning kit building
 

enjoy the build remenber when it starts to get to u walk away for awhile ,let us know how its going along

RE: re-learning kit building
 

Anyone tried the rotary drive system on their Corsair for flaps and ailerons?
There would be no outside control rods or linkages. Looks quite interesting!
http://www.irfmachineworks.com/rds/

Tom