Plastic to Balsa
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				paul
 - Posts: 108
 - Joined: Thu Aug 23, 2012 5:29 am
 - Location: Cleveland UK
 
Plastic to Balsa
Hi....As you can tell from the topic title I'm a newbie to Balsa. Any hints,tips,advice,do's and dont's  would really be appreciated. I will be attempting to build the Cessna 170 (kit 302). I have got the necessary tools to get started, inc Wax paper, glue, Dope (smells nice) etc. Eager to start. Regards Paul
			
			
									
						
										
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				sawingman
 - Posts: 53
 - Joined: Mon Apr 11, 2011 8:39 am
 - Location: Fullerton, CA, USA
 
Re: Plastic to Balsa
Search for the "Cessna 180 Group Build" (use the search feature in the upper right).  This is a great tutorial for someone new to balsa.  It will take you through a build step-by-step.  Good luck.
			
			
									
						
										
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				Charles_c
 - Posts: 59
 - Joined: Sat Jul 28, 2012 2:05 pm
 - Location: Virginia Beach, Va.
 
Re: Plastic to Balsa
A shift to balsa is always a challenge, after doing plastic scale.  However, you've made a good choice for a first build.  A high wing private plane is a very good choice.  If you have questions or run into problems, just ask.  Anyone here will be glad to help.  Good Luck...
Charles
			
			
									
						
							Charles
Real Airplanes Have Round Engines and Two Wings !
			
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				BillParker
 - Posts: 1031
 - Joined: Sat Jan 19, 2008 1:21 pm
 - Location: Houston, Texas
 - Contact:
 
Re: Plastic to Balsa
2 170's right side of photo...

Just finished em, ask away...
			
			
									
						
							
Just finished em, ask away...
William H. Parker Jr. (Bill Parker)
President, Parker Information Resources
http://www.parkerinfo.com/ap.htm bparker@parkerinfo.com
			
						President, Parker Information Resources
http://www.parkerinfo.com/ap.htm bparker@parkerinfo.com
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				paul
 - Posts: 108
 - Joined: Thu Aug 23, 2012 5:29 am
 - Location: Cleveland UK
 
Re: Plastic to Balsa
Thanks..... Whether, Good Bad or Ugly. I will  post picture
			
			
									
						
										
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				paul
 - Posts: 108
 - Joined: Thu Aug 23, 2012 5:29 am
 - Location: Cleveland UK
 
Re: Plastic to Balsa
Hi all.....Just a quick update to my first build.
Everything was going according to plan, taking great care not to break anything, then forgetting its not plastic.
After building the fuselage, I cut out the nose cone, but to my horror it did not fit true. Not disheartened I then
used the firewall, glued it in place and now looks spot on. I think now she will be front heavy and will not fly.
Tail and stabilizer tissused, watered, taut and attached as with 1/3 rear fuselage. Looking a treat.
Cant fathom out how to upload pic's. (help)
Paul
			
			
									
						
										
						Everything was going according to plan, taking great care not to break anything, then forgetting its not plastic.
After building the fuselage, I cut out the nose cone, but to my horror it did not fit true. Not disheartened I then
used the firewall, glued it in place and now looks spot on. I think now she will be front heavy and will not fly.
Tail and stabilizer tissused, watered, taut and attached as with 1/3 rear fuselage. Looking a treat.
Cant fathom out how to upload pic's. (help)
Paul
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				Mitch
 - Posts: 1350
 - Joined: Mon Aug 22, 2011 9:16 pm
 - Location: Kent, WA
 
Re: Plastic to Balsa
Using the firewall should not be a problem.  All these models need balast in the nose anyway. 
As for pictures... I take them from my camera and load them in the computer, just follow the prompts. Then I use Photobucket and load the pictures in there... again follow the prompts. Then I view the album and there are 4 listings under the picture. On the bottom one, click on that and it says "copied" then go back to the forum and click to "paste"
I hope that helps... there is a thread here somewhere with detailed instructions... I just had my daughter show me!
Mitch
			
			
									
						
										
						As for pictures... I take them from my camera and load them in the computer, just follow the prompts. Then I use Photobucket and load the pictures in there... again follow the prompts. Then I view the album and there are 4 listings under the picture. On the bottom one, click on that and it says "copied" then go back to the forum and click to "paste"
I hope that helps... there is a thread here somewhere with detailed instructions... I just had my daughter show me!
Mitch
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				paul
 - Posts: 108
 - Joined: Thu Aug 23, 2012 5:29 am
 - Location: Cleveland UK
 
Re: Plastic to Balsa
Testing upload of Photo's.......sorry

Thanks mitch it worked
Just noticed I haven't cut notches into the formers. Oh dear, off they come and start again
			
			
									
						
										
						
Thanks mitch it worked
Just noticed I haven't cut notches into the formers. Oh dear, off they come and start again
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				Charles_c
 - Posts: 59
 - Joined: Sat Jul 28, 2012 2:05 pm
 - Location: Virginia Beach, Va.
 
Re: Plastic to Balsa
Lookin' good !!  I like Bill Parker's idea of gluing small scraps of balsa to one side of the fuselage former, before they're attached to the keel.
Charles
			
			
									
						
							Charles
Real Airplanes Have Round Engines and Two Wings !