Building from Plans: Pt 2 - Images to Balsa - Balsa Model Aeroplanes

[@chipforster4332]

I've been scratch building for over 50 years and I personally think a lot of guys today would probably enjoy the hobby more if they gave it a try. Granted there are a lot of young guys out there that lack the basic man skills needed that we learned from our fathers but they too can do anything if they try hard enough. The satisfaction of seeing the finished product and that maiden flight is an adrenaline rush like no other. Another thing is if you have a mishap and damage your plane you can fix it to fly again. Crash a foamy and you have a garbage can full of foam. I love the detail of the foamys, the fact they are light are very cool but I have found that they show hanger rash very early on. Again these are just my personal feelings but if just one more guy decides to scratch build then this comment is worth it. Us scratch builders are a dying breed and we need to turn that around for the sake of the hobby.

[@Smokeyr67]

Chip, I think you’ll find that a lot of young people have superior “man skills” than you. Those skills may not include building what are essentially toys (big boys toys, but toys none the less). To be brutally honest, I’m sick and tired of we old farts denigrating younger people, they may not be sniffing C23 glue or Dope, they probably have healthier hobbies like building houses.

[@chipforster4332]

@@Smokeyr67 the youth I come in contact with at work only care about their cell phones, couldn't change a tire or carry my lunch box. Lol.

[@Smokeyr67]

@@chipforster4332 In their spare time they’re designing in CAD, printing on 3D printers or CNC machines, they may even be able to build a box big enough for your overestimated Ego! The world is different, when I was a lad we could stand in the engine bay of our car to change the plugs, points and belts, these days you need to lift the engine to get at the oil filter. Still, a modern car is more powerful, fuel efficient, reliable and much much safer than the old I beam chassis boats we used to drive

[@chipforster4332]

@@Smokeyr67 I think you missed the point of my message. I was just trying to motivate people to scratch build to keep this dying hobby alive. That's all. I don't think this is the forum for trying to bash me for my opinion. You can do that in private. Yes cad is great, I use it all the time designing my planes and I too could have my vw engine out and on the ground in 30 minutes when I was 13. No disagreement there and thank God they don't build them like they used too lol.

[@shorthairedhippie]

I’ve been building from plans for over 30 years. Good to see others do this as well. But I never cut my plans, if I can help it, because Ilike to keep them intact in case or when I crash and need to re build. So I use a product called see temp. It’s a clear lightweight plastic material that is used to make templates. Just trace the rib or part onto the template, cut it out, then transfer to the balsa or plywood.

[@MarkRobinson555]

Thanks fr the comment, and information. I say in the first video of the series that I always get two plans printed, as they are fairly cheap, one to go on the wall to look at and measure and the other to be sacraficial. But what you suggest is a great idea.

[@scottobrien3637]

I’m really enjoying this series, thanks for making it!

[@MarkRobinson555]

Thank you very much, really appreciate your comment

[@geoffreydowen5793]

I had thought about tracing paper, and it seems I'm on the right path thanks Mark another gem 💎 respect from Suffolk.

[@MarkRobinson555]

Thanks very much for the comment, pleased you found the video useful.

[@David-lb4te]

Good presentation Mark. Nice to see someone building from plans again, as so many of us did in our youth. Wood grain selection of the balsa stock material, is also worthy of note. Fine grain (harder) is better for higher stress areas, and courser grain for low stress areas (wing ribs an example). Looking forward to the next.

[@MarkRobinson555]

Hi David, thanks for the comment, pleased you liked the video. With regards to balsa selection, have you seen the 1st video in this series, as I do talk about balsa selection, weights, grain and its uses etc.

[@johnw5154]

Good video. Nice watch. Very informative.

[@MarkRobinson555]

Thanks for the comment, really pleased you liked the video

[@electricflyer81]

Thank you, Mark for your "Building from Plans" set of videos. I haven't tried to build except from kits. The kit experience does aid in this next step of scratch building. I am now more confidant to try a plans build.

[@MarkRobinson555]

Thanks for the comment, really pleased you found the videos helpful

[@terryblackman6217]

Good morning Mark. Nicely presented. I also find a set of circle templates and French curves very handy. Looking forward to seeing you on the next. Terry

[@MarkRobinson555]

Hi Terry, thanks for the comment and great suggestion, totally agree. Have a great day

[@Tom-wl9sx]

Hi Mark! Always some nice tips to pick up from you 👌

[@MarkRobinson555]

Thanks Tom, really appreciate the comment

[@MarkCroucherRC4fun]

Once again very useful I like the idea of using the masking tape.

[@MarkRobinson555]

Thanks Mark, really appreciate the comment

[@wrxs1781]

Good video Mark, not sure this concept is for me, but you have many expertise.

[@MarkRobinson555]

Thanks for the comment, really pleased you liked the video.

[@nashtm]

Great stuff, looking forward to the rest of the series!

[@MarkRobinson555]

Thanks very much for the kind comment, really appreciated

[@NormanLedoyen]

good techniques Mark

[@MarkRobinson555]

thanks, really appreciated Norm

[@geoffreydowen5793]

GeoHi Mark, I'm back for a refresh. I have just started making up my formers for an "Outlaw" 760 mm long. took longer than expcted, nereves, I think! but as I had a stroke in 2020 guess Im lucky I can do this. great to have these to refer to. so . thank you again Geoff Suffolk.

[@MarkRobinson555]

Welcome back! Thanks for the comment, pleased you ae finding the videos helpful

[@markford7682]

Really useful tips and information, sometimes I use prit stick to glue the plan to wood only if you can remove it as soon as you’ve cut it out, it tends to stay on the paper rather than the wood 👍

[@MarkRobinson555]

That's a good idea! Thanks for the comment, really pleased you liked the video

[@daviddavis7710]

I use carbon paper to transfer the plan image to the balsa.

[@victorbarker9497]

How can I buy one of your plans for a plane with over head single wings or the one you show on your tube

[@MarkRobinson555]

There are a couple of links in the video description which will take you to some free plan sites, which are very good, this is what I use. Hope that helps 😀

[@mr1bienvenu1]

Ever think about buying a laser cnc cutting machine?

[@MarkRobinson555]

No, never, not really my thing, I love working by hand with balsa, the prep is one of my favourite bits 😀

[@victorbarker3489]

how can i get /buy plane plans

[@MarkRobinson555]

There are a couple of links in the video description which will take you to some free plan sites, which are very good

[@garymurphy5133]

Read that when cutting parts from plans that you do not cut all parts upto the black line,some need the black line removed to take allowance for the others! Thats the know-how or skill part. Do you find that at all?

[@MarkRobinson555]

I always cut on the outside of the line and then sand to the line, but the key is to measure the parts that are going together and make sure they will fit when you have finished, so you always have to adapt what you are doing. As I have said the plans are often out, due to many factors, so the lines are only a rough guide. Good luck with the building.