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Aeromodeller 1948-05
Aeromodeller 1948-05 (old4570)
Aeromodeller Magazine
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Mold (Molding) in Balsa by Lorne A. Williams
Mold (Molding) in Balsa by Lorne A. Williams

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Mold (Molding) in Balsa by Lorne A. Williams
Description: Molding in Balsa.
This process brings the art of fabrication with Balsa to a new high.
Keywords: Molding in balsa
Date: 02.16.2021 22:47
Hits: 622
Downloads: 346
Rating: 5.00 (2 Vote(s))
File size: 1.8 MB
Added by: stupid

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stupid
Member

Join Date: 03.21.2019
Comments: 17
Foam fuselage form
Tom Arnold:
150 Indoor Free Flight Forum / Indoor Building Tips and Problem Solving / Re: Producing cross sections on: June 01, 2017, 07:22:12 PM

There is, indeed, a way to draw very close cross sections using a couple of photographs
Process #1 is to take the 3 views you have and draft up your plane and use the lofting technique It helps if you have a lot of photos to refer to as the lofting process will just give you smooth curves between 2 points and you may need to use that artists eyeball to tweak a section or two. Use any intermediate formers deduced from the 3 view also to help.

Process #2 is to cut a foam block (might have to glue up a couple of sheets), square it up and, using a bandsaw, cut out the side and top views. From the front view you will see the former at the prop location and the widest point on the fuselage. There is 2 sections that now become fixed. If you have any other sections that you can deduce from panel lines, so much the better and they become fixed sections. Cutting out a female template for each fixed section, mark their locations and start sanding away the edges of the foam block. Use very coarse sandpaper like #80 or #60 grit and it goes very fast. Smooth up the final shaping with #100 grit and you really only need to do one side. Don't worry about the dust as you can eliminate 99% of it by just wiping your work with a wet face cloth occasionally. Refer carefully to photos constantly and use your templates often as you sand away and you will get so close that no one could tell any boo-boos. Now mark the locations of the formers you want and with a very sharp knife (or band saw) slice up your fuselage side at each position. Each piece gives you a nice smooth former and you can transfer that to a sheet of grid paper and go from there. This method is a lot faster than even drafting.

I have done this numerous times and it works like a charm. I also compared my efforts against a 3 view with known formers and my foam formers were extremely close....so much so that no observer (even those sharp-eyed sharks in my club) could tell any difference. My carving and sanding skills are very average so take heart that you and your artist's eye and lots of good photos can build anything you want.
03.03.2021 11:02 Offline stupid
stupid
Member

Join Date: 03.21.2019
Comments: 17
Moulding Balsa Fuselages R. J. Simmonds
Moulding Balsa Fuselages R. J. Simmonds

https://ivcmac.bmfa.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Moulding-Balsa-Fuselages-by-Roger-Simmonds.pdf
04.23.2021 12:35 Offline stupid
stupid
Member

Join Date: 03.21.2019
Comments: 17
fuselage making with foam PART 1
Bern fuselage making with foam PART 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wl16MklzUbU
squish ribs and laminations PART 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bah5t5-Fzg4
12.03.2023 23:54 Offline stupid



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