Foam core wings
 

I build alot , but have always avoided foam core kits, more out if ignorance , than anything else. As my building skills have progressed, a lot of the kits I,m looking at have foam core wings.
My understanding , is you use a foam cutter to cut a blank , add spars, LE,TE and sheet the wing ? I was wondering if there are any downside to foam wings, are they hard to build, durable and are repairs hard to do ?
Do they make precut foam cores or do most kits come just blocks of foam ?

RE: Foam core wings
 

Congrats, you are moving UP to the 1970-1980's :):):)

Seriously the only down side that I experienced was the wings are a bit heavier than balsa wings (a lot depends on the glue you use) and the sheeting has to be applied while the wing is in its cradle or you may end up with a warp and those are difficult to remove after the sheeting has been applied.

Frequently no need for spars as the balsa is VERY strong (I like to use Dave Brown's Southern Sorgum as the contact glue- but they don't handle it anymore). Someone else picked up that line and I can't remember who - help!!!

There are some companies that still cut foam cores for various planes and that is the way to go as cutting 'can' be difficult until you gain some experience.

Glad to see you expanding your building experience....

RE: Foam core wings
 

Hi Robbie, I replaced my first plane's wing (30 years ago) with a foam wing from Wing Mfg. Third plane was a Sig Kougar, foam wing too.Most kits the airfoil are precut. The saddle are there to help in gluing down the balsa, plywood or cardboard skins after gluing these in place. Check out the classic pattern section, most of the builds have foam wings.

Jim

RE: Foam core wings
 

Robbie, most kits with foam wings have pre-cut cores. But if you ever want to scratch build one, I've got a foam cutter

RE: Foam core wings
 

There's nothing wrong with foam core wings, infact they're very durable. Sometimes you can add the balsa or spruce spars and sheet the wing to the leading edge and add the trailing edge sheeting with cap strips and cut out the bays to lighten it up a bit, but it doesn't save a whole lot of weight, but makes the wing look built up rather than fully sheeted.

RE: Foam core wings
 

If you're willing to actually pay attention and do it right, foam wings are both lighter and stronger than any built up wing you'll ever find.<div>
</div><div>It does, however, take real attention to detail, and willingness to do things a very particular way to get there.</div>

RE: Foam core wings
 

If you want to give cutting your own foam wings a try searching on youtube for "foam wing cutting". There is lots of advice online including an 8 minute snip my son posted from a two hour video that a local hobby shop did with me a few years back. The whole video is available for sale on my sons website (there is a link). Take care and have fun!
Bob

RE: Foam core wings
 

I buy a kit then order a set of foam wings and cut 1 &amp; 1/4 inch ribs out of the wing that gives me 2 wings build up another body almost two planes for the price of one.
Ken

RE: Foam core wings
 

This may be some help :D

Published in Airbourne Mag here in OZ

Enjoy

Johnkpap

RE: Foam core wings
 

Thanks for the replies , I may just wait till fall to start a foam core wing kit . Looks like a lot of work and I think I set up another work bench for it. I can see where getting a wing straight and true, may be the hardest part. I was going to build something cool. Like an F-7 or P38 , but may build an easier type of plane for the first one . I will make a post when I find a kit that looks interesting and get your opinions on it ,before I purchase.

RE: Foam core wings
 

Here's a link for southern sorghum:

http://www.eurekaaircraft.com/accessories/sorghum.htm

RE: Foam core wings
 

I can't cut foam to save my life, there are some places you can have it done but I have never tried them myself. Kits with foam cores are something I enjoy though!! I find them a lot easier then a standard framed wing. I have a lot of lead in my shop so I use that as weight but I tried the vacuum system a few years ago and that can be even better as long as nothing slips unseen when it sucks down. Given a choice these days I would like all the kits to have a foam core wing.

RE: Foam core wings
 

I have cut many foam cores over the years, but these days I just get Bob to cut them from flyingfoam.com he is a real good guy and his work is awsome.

Bob