Balsa Filler
Joint Compound as used to finish drywall makes a great balsa filler. It can be thinned and cleaned up with water, can be dried in a couple of minutes with a heat gun, sands easily, and becomes rock hard after a couple of drops of CA have been applied. It can also be colored with food coloring.
Fiberglass Seam Tape
Fiberglass seam tape also used to finish drywall is available in 3 in. wide rolls. It has a sticky back to keep it in place and can be used to reinforce construction joints, cowls, and other parts.
Home Brewed Model Cleaner
I don't remember where I read this but it was in one of the modeling mags. The formula below makes one gallon of cleaner. It works good just watch out for the fumes from the amonia when you mix it.
- 10 Parts Water (90oz) (11 1/3cups)
- 2 Parts Denatured Alchohol (18oz) (2cups)
- 1 Part Amonia (9oz) (1cup)
- 1/4 Part Dish Detergent (2oz)
CA Filler For Building Joints
If balsa wood joints don't quite match or are out of square just fill the space in the joint with Baking Soda or Micro Balloons and apply thin CA. Of course I'm talking about small gaps not quarter inch spaces. A word of caution here when you apply the CA watch out for fumes and smoke.
Pencil Soldering Iron
A low wattage pencil soldering iron can be used during the covering process. Use it to open holes for wing bolts or slots for landing gear wire. It can also be used to cut covering that has been applied to a balsa surface without cutting into the balsa like a razor blade would. The neat thing is, it seals the covering as it cuts.
Cutting Holes In Fiberglass Parts
If you have a drill press a RotoZip tool bit works great for cutting holes in fiberglass parts. Drill a starter hole in the part chuck the bit up in your drill press and you can cut any shape you want.
Setting up pull pull cables
You can use elastic cord material available at craft stores to simulate pull pull cables when setting them up. It ties off easily, it can be stretched tight, and it's easy to see and follow in the fuse.
Installing Robart Hinge Points
This is a video I downloaded from RC Universe. It explains how to install Robart Hinge Points if you follow it you will have a nice strong clean installation
In Fuse Antenna Tubes
I like to hide the receiver antenna inside the fuse on some of my models. I usually use a piece of outside nyrod for the tube. The problem is that the antenna will slide out of the tube from vibration. I came up with a neat way to stop this from happening. Drill a small hole through the side of the nyrod tube about 1/2" from the end. Place the antenna through this hole and into the tube then use a small piece of fuel tubing to keep it in place. It's easy, neat, and very secure.
All You Ever Wanted to Know About Glue But Where Afraid to Ask
Article taken from Model Airplane News Feb 2004
Trim ChartThis trim chart has been around awhile it's in Adobe Reader format
Round Toothpicks
Round toothpicks are great for pinning firewalls or landing gear plates on medium size models say 40 or 60 size. This really strengthens the glue joint and adds very little weight.
