Building Balsa Wood Model Planes

I started building balsa airplanes in 1986.

Building balsa wood model planes.

After i learned to fly i built airplanes as my main source of income for a couple of years. One type of balsa wood model airplane that is not seen as often is the biplane. This plane sports two wings one on the top and bottom and this design can help to add a touch of diversity to your model plane collection. White wood glue pva aliphatic resins and cyanoacrylate ca glues are commonly used on balsa to balsa joints but where stronger joints are needed such as landing gear plates and engine bulkheads then two part epoxy resin is common.

All balsa airplanes and gliders. Model kit need to pick one of these first. Companies do sell balsa workboards that work very well internet or check your hobby shop but if you want something cheaper to get started you can get away with a ceiling tile sheet like in basement drop ceilings thick pc of corkboard or even piece of thick cardboard box glued down flat to a piece of. Guillow s sells a huge number of all balsa airplanes that can be slipped together without glue.

Balsa wood model airplanes are lightweight simple to construct and inexpensive to gather materials for. The vast majority of modern rc airplanes are factory built to some degree. I would build a plane try to fly it repair minor crash damage and sell it before totally destroying it. Guillow s model builder s forum a great resource to interact with other builders of guillow s model aircraft.

It is no longer mandatory to spend long hours cutting gluing and sanding pieces of balsa wood to create a flying model. This was a great way to learn building techniques. But for many the process of transforming lightweight lumber into a flying machine is their favorite aspect of the rc hobby. If your interest is building wooden ship models please see our selection from dumas and midwest.

Information on what glue to use whilst model building. Also be sure to see our complete line of pinewood derby items by woodland scenics. Lots of building tips for beginners. We invite you to browse our 166 different balsa model airplane kits free flight rubber power electric rc gas powered gliders jets and display models.

Different glues are used when building model airplane kits and the type of glue depends on the joint and the wood type hardness as well as the builder s personal preference. With wingspans from 12 to 72 they cover the first 50 or so years of flight from pioneers like the wright brothers to the planes of world war i world war ii and beyond. Forming installing windshields canopies. Then i would build another plane and start over.

Guillow s display at everything hobby rochester.