Building Balsa Wood Model Airplanes

Trace and cut out the pieces of the balsa wood model biplane.

Building balsa wood model airplanes.

Different glues are used when building model airplane kits and the type of glue depends on the joint and the wood type hardness as well as the builder s personal preference. Then i would build another plane and start over. It is no longer mandatory to spend long hours cutting gluing and sanding pieces of balsa wood to create a flying model. Do this by drawing a long thin rectangle for the body of the balsa wood biplane that is 9 inches long and 1 inch wide.

About the balsa wood although these kits have been known to contain some of the heaviest balsa and were designed with too much balsa in places the newer kits are coming with lighter balsa and designed with less balsa. Information on what glue to use whilst model building. New design kits come with laser cut balsa and many of the older designs have been re done with laser cut wood. Lots of building tips for beginners.

A must read if you are new to balsa model building here is dave s list of 15 kits that are quickly built and easily flown. Companies do sell balsa workboards that work very well internet or check your hobby shop but if you want something cheaper to get started you can get away with a ceiling tile sheet like in basement drop ceilings thick pc of corkboard or even piece of thick cardboard box glued down flat to a piece of. If your interest is building wooden ship models please see our selection from dumas constructo and socaline. Also be sure to see our complete line of pinewood derby items by woodland scenics.

Add the back tail to the main body of the plane with a triangle at the top right end of the body. White wood glue pva aliphatic resins and cyanoacrylate ca glues are commonly used on balsa to balsa joints but where stronger joints are needed such as landing gear plates and engine bulkheads then two part epoxy resin is common. I started building balsa airplanes in 1986. General model building tips.

Forming installing windshields canopies. This should be 1 2 inch tall. After i learned to fly i built airplanes as my main source of income for a couple of years. With wingspans from 12 to 72 they cover the first 50 or so years of flight from pioneers like the wright brothers to the planes of world war i world war ii and beyond.

This was a great way to learn building techniques. We invite you to browse our 166 different balsa model airplane kits free flight rubber power electric rc gas powered gliders jets and display models. Work surface needs to be pinnable. But for many the process of transforming lightweight lumber into a flying machine is their favorite aspect of the rc hobby.