[446]

laminations a good way to make strong light stuff. cut cardboard the shape you want; 1 layer fine for 1/4", 2 layers for thicker. tape edges with packing tape to keep glue from sticking. pin to table over wax paper with a scrap block on top to hold better. spray strips with windex and then brush thinned yellow glue on 1/16" strips and sandwich up. 3-4 strips for tail outlines, 6 for fuse outlines. bend gradually around frames, pinning outlines every 1/2" or so. here is a pic.

another handy tip is wipe your razor saw with wax paper before using.

 

[PaulSwany]

Hey Ron... that is too cool.. I missed it in your build thread... I did the top of the mojo fuse that way... I didn't think of doing any of the other outlines that way...

I love this forum!!

 

[tpstorey]

I did the same thing to the canopy area of my OMP edge 540. All those little sticks (pre foam fuse version) with the extreme angles didn't look strong or fun to do.

 

[446]

good idea! have built several, and it is easier to just glue and bend it to shape. and a lot stronger! am building a sig 1/4 cub for a guy, it's laminated wingtips aren't even water soaked! just bend them, c.a., bend another on, c.a.! worked really well. just glad it's not my plane as it won't hover

 

[steener]

How do you bend balsa (im assuming) in that tight of a radius without it breaking? Is that what the windex does or am I way off?

Also what does the waxed paper do for the razor blade?

 

[PaulSwany]

If you have a tight radius to bend... You should wet the balsa... You can use wood glue if you really have to soak it....

 

[Scat-r-d]

steener,
The ammonia in the windex helps soften the wood and make it much more plyable, more so than water alone.
I lay up 3 or 4 layers of 1/16 to make 1/4" wide strips around my forms.
Spray the wood, let is soak in for a few, and gently bend it around. If it doesn't want to go all the way to the form just pin in place and let it dry, then repeat. You can make really tight radiuses with this, just take a bit of time.
Once all the strips are in the shape I want, I remove them and brush on titebond wood glue thinned about 50% with water then put them back on the form and pin until dry. You will have a very strong very light structure!

 

[446]

Also what does the waxed paper do for the razor blade?

makes my dull ass saw cut smooth! works for 5-6 cuts, then i wipe it again!