Ron C

My Feedback: (35)

Have just started scratch building large scale airplanes, and love it , but i need info on how to plank large fuselages with compound curves. thanks guys Ron

R8893

My Feedback: (20)

Ron,
I do some things that work for me. First I cut my strips from sheet balsa on my table saw. This wastes some wood but I get straight edges and more importantly wood that is the same density and hardness. This is so that when it is time to sand, adjacent strips sand evenly. I cut different width of strips depending on the radius of curvature of the fuselage. Also for sandability I will use Ambroid glue for the edge joints and CA or aliphatic glue for attachment to the formers. To bevel the edges to account for the curvature I use a spokeshave and sanding block and estimate the angle based on experience. As the fuselage comes to a point you need to taper the strips. I usually put a straight strips along the longerons and top/bottom keels to start and then start tapering EVERY strip in proportion to the fuselage diameter change. Now KEY POINT: using the sanding block the taper is blended into a smooth curve--do not cut a sharp corner transition from a straight portion of the strip to the tapered part. Now attach the strip and bend, force, or adjust it to the preceeding strip so there is no gap. If you pay attention you can taper the strips to progress evenly around the model and only have a challenging fit for the last piece in each quarter of the fuselage. You should plank alternately top/bottom, side to side, to avoid twisting the fuselage.
I actually enjoy strip planking and once I discovered the KEY POINT the results were very rewarding.
Chuck

ROOSTERLEW

To hold planking to compound curves where you cant clamp or pin, those small bungee cords make nice "form" clamps on wetted wood.
Not tight enough to pull a warp though!

JIMARRINGTON

Hey Ron. Does this mean you have started back on the Mosquito again? We have a club meeting next week. I'll try again to remeber to bring that ship model planking book to the meeting. Principles are the same as planking a ship model hull as it is for the hull of an airplane. If weather is nice, I might try to fly Sunday. If I can get out there, I'll try to bring the book then.

Jim

John Sohm

My Feedback: (9)

The best suggestion I can offer to you is to pick up the Dave Platt Building and Fiberglassing videos and watch how he does his planking. It works. Also explains when to be very particular and when not to. The Double Trouble series is also good as he shows planking around the nacelles of the Heinkel HE-219 he builds. Very informative stuff for us scale lovers.

RAMFlyer

My Feedback: (65)

Ron--Here are a couple of sites I have found useful when planking:

http://www.modelairplanenews.com/how...rip_plank1.asp

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=395721

Bill