Transcript Building from Plans

Building Model Planes from Plans
and Materials
By Bill Kuhl
Buying kits is convenient and saves time. If you
don’t mind the extra work and time, building
model airplanes from materials can save money.
Many of the building supplies you can buy locally,
the rubber strip and the propellers will probably
have to be ordered. For this presentation I am
using the Denny Dart II as an example, a drawing
with dimensions is given.
Denny Dart II Flying Indoors
Denny Dart II Flying Outdoors
A Few Hints for the Building Process
•Have the materials ready and available. Try to minimize
waste.
•Students need to know that steps must be done in sequence
and adequate drying time for the glue is needed.
•Planes must be kept light.
•Pieces must fit together well before gluing.
The Denny Dart II can be built from just two sizes of balsa; 1/16”
and 1/8” when the balsa is cut from sheet wood using a “balsa
stripper”.
Balsa stripper can be adjusted to the desired width of strip.
Adjust the blade so it does not cut all the way through to the
surface below the wood. Hold tight to balsa edge and push
away from yourself.
After making one pass through the wood, flip it over and cut from
the other side. This stripper sells for under $10
http://masterairscrew.com/balsastripper.aspx
1/8” wide x 1/16” thick strips cut from the 1/16” balsa sheet.
Motor sticks are created by cutting 3/8” wide strips from 1/8” balsa
sheet and cutting angle with a straight edge and a razor blade.
Covering Material
Tissue found for gift wrapping.
This gift-wrap tissue was the same weight as the tissue I
had ordered for model airplane use. Tissue can vary in
weight considerably.
This 6” square piece of “Japanese Tissue” was the same weight as
one of the samples of gift-wrap tissue.
This sample of plan page covering was twice as heavy as
the tissue covering.
Another sample of gift-wrap tissue only slightly heavier.
Propellers
Midwest 6” diameter propeller.
Sig 5 ½” diameter propeller. The biggest expense for your
model plane will be the propeller, buying in quantity brings
down the price.
Push pins are used to hold balsa strips in place while the
glue is drying, normally found where office supplies are
sold.
Waxed paper is used for covering plans and can be purchased
at grocery stores.
Ceiling tile makes an ideal building board to push pins through but three
layers of corrugated of cardboard can work provided it is perfectly flat.
Denny Dart II pinned to
building board, plans are
covered with waxed paper.
Single-edge razor blades can be found at building
supplies and hardware stores.
I cut and tie the lengths of rubber to
save time and waste later.
Rubber strip can be purchased in
many quantities, I purchase one
pound boxes from FAI Model
Supply.
Glue
My preference for students is to use the
yellow carpenters glue because it is
economical and gives off no annoying
odor. Easy to find in building supply or
hardware stores. Place a blob of the
glue on the waxed paper and apply with
a toothpick.
Duco is a brand of glue found
in some hardware stores, it
dries quickly but does give off
an odor.
Darcy Whyte uses the “Tacky Glue” for his building sessions for his Squirrel
model plane. I plan to experiment more with this glue.
Glue stick is used to attach covering material to balsa wood
structure. It can be found where school or office supplies are
sold.
The mass launch is a fun activity for groups, last plane down Wins!
Have Fun!!!!