How To Repair a Balsa Plane

[@vollzeitflieger2490]

I learned at least half a dozen of new tricks there, thank you for sharing!

[@CliffHarveyRCPlanes]

You're welcome 👍

[@guyoreilly5670]

Ready for another flight! Looking forward to the flight video.

[@CliffHarveyRCPlanes]

You never know Guy the wind may finally ease and I'll be able to 'limber up' the thumbs before the Fokker maiden, cheers 👍

[@furball5553]

After Three hour of arguing about where the crash site was now he tells us leave a marker brilliant nice job on the repair cheers 👍✌️

[@CliffHarveyRCPlanes]

Thanks FB, the idea comes from next day searching experience 😁

[@RCTaildraggin]

Great repair! Yeah whenever I crack a plane up, I have to fix it right away or it will never get done. CHEERS!

[@CliffHarveyRCPlanes]

Thanks Jerry 👍

[@615thAeroSquadron]

Time to fly it! Nice repair..and good tip about marking crash site.....my problem is, I would have markers covering about 3/4 of my flying field.

[@CliffHarveyRCPlanes]

Hi Lawrence, the trick then is to number each crash site 😁

[@shelbyseelbach9568]

It's always amazing about balsa how far back together everything goes just by pushing and twisting and wiggling into place and wicking in some glue! Until you do it, you'd never believe it. I have always found that the damage never looks as bad if you put it away for a month or two and then pull it back out and start thinking about how to put it back together. When you first got home with it you thought it was simply destroyed, usually isn't near as bad as you thought it was.

[@CliffHarveyRCPlanes]

Wise words Shelby, thanks for sharing 👍🤔

[@dutchloveRC]

nice work friend

[@CliffHarveyRCPlanes]

Thanks Dutch 👍

[@ModelAV8RChannel]

Putting the puzzle back together is always a fun challenge. Very nice repair Cliff...tiny bit heavier but stronger than before. I like the way you added the thin ply on both sides. I might have added some small triangle stock underneath the horizontal to beef that up a bit. (I'd be in a let er rip mode at this point...lol) Should be a screamer and a lot of fun! Man I hope you get some non windy days to fly soon...hopefully it calms down a bit in the summer.

[@CliffHarveyRCPlanes]

Thanks Adam, good idea on the triangular reinforcement but it is epoxyied on this time. There's something to be said for not sticking things on too well ... they come off before they break!

[@ModelAV8RChannel]

@@CliffHarveyRCPlanes very true! 😁😁

[@downwindchecklist6567]

Fixing them up is part of the fun, isn't it? Thx for showing your approach!

[@CliffHarveyRCPlanes]

Yes, quite satisfying Andrew ☺

[@DazDaMan]

Great stuff, Cliff. Glad you could mend it!

[@CliffHarveyRCPlanes]

Cheers Daren, looking forward to flying it again 👍

[@barryharrison1750]

Wow, awesome repair, Cliff! Thank you. Your insight and techniques are great for this type of circumstance and I really appreciate you sharing it as it is beneficial to me and others, regardless of one's type of flying and particular interest:)

[@CliffHarveyRCPlanes]

Hi Barry, thanks for the feedback, you're welcome, cheers 👍

[@robertwoolley8632]

Excellent repair Cliff and admirable patience to not rush onto the next step. I have found the plastic separation film found in Parma ham packets a good non stick localised barrier for cyno and other adhesive between the model and whatever.

[@CliffHarveyRCPlanes]

Good tip Rob, cheers 👍

[@robertwoolley8632]

@@CliffHarveyRCPlanes and a tasty one too.

[@davidpoole4359]

Great repair Cliff, thanks for sharing 👍🏻

[@CliffHarveyRCPlanes]

You're welcome David 👍

[@JeffinLowerAlabama]

Well done Cliff, I use little tombstones for marking crash sites 😆 balsa can be repaired and great how the building Master repaired Willy Nillie, Jeff in LA USA

[@CliffHarveyRCPlanes]

That's a good idea Jeff, I'll have to keep some in my pocket 😁👍

[@Yogenh]

Like to see it fly again

[@CliffHarveyRCPlanes]

And we will Yogenh ☺

[@IansRCExploits]

Nice repair job Cliff, looked as good as new 😀👍

[@CliffHarveyRCPlanes]

As long as you don't look to close Ian, the main thing is it won't fall to bits in the air! 😁

[@Yogenh]

Looks great

[@CliffHarveyRCPlanes]

Thanks Yogenh 👍

[@me262a1]

Nice repair. Second times the charm, or is it third. I hope not. I thought you had started the electric motor when the camera mount was shifting. I was thinking that doesn't sound good. LOL

[@CliffHarveyRCPlanes]

Hi Kenny, there won't be a third 🤔 The spring needs a bit of oil lol, it's a great sound though 👍☺

[@davidquerry8869]

Builders rule #7, If all else fails, add more glue.

[@CliffHarveyRCPlanes]

Ahh David, a truer comment would be hard to find 😁👍

[@robin1831]

👍👍👍

[@CliffHarveyRCPlanes]

Cheers Robin 👍

[@tonymccarthy9273]

hi cliff, just wondered do you enjoy repairing a crashed model, as I do where possible, I sometimes just rebuild a panel or frame that's damaged, anyway I certainly enjoy watching you do the repair, I just wanted to ask your opinion on my fairly new build of a 28 inch span Sopwith camel, what position of C,G , would you recommend if you had no data to refer too , anyway I pray you get over the COVID , my sister and family and others I know have got through ok , all the best cliff , from Tony from Bedfordshire

[@CliffHarveyRCPlanes]

Hi Tony, all better now thanks. Repairing a crash model is easy if you built it, sometimes though you might inherit a model and when you come to repair it you could be in for a shock or two! For biplanes a rough calculation for cg is to draw a line from the leading edge of the top wing to the trailing edge of the bottom wing, one third along from the leading edge will be your cg, for safety though I would go a little in front of that. You can look on Outerzone.co.uk at other Camel plans as well, cheers 👍

[@tonymccarthy9273]

thanks cliff, good to hear you ok 👍 , and thanks for the tip on on biplane CG , thanks again , I'm now watching your build of the small Mustang 👍👍🙂

[@1mikeb]

Nice repair. I wondered when you were originally building it and planning to use heavier components if it might be a good idea to reinforce the structure. I'm building a balsa plane now that seems too light for its size and thinking of painting all or part of the structure with thinned white glue for weight and reinforcement. Have you done that, and if so did it work out?

[@CliffHarveyRCPlanes]

Hi Mike, I have heard of this technique but never contemplated it, a heavier model hits harder and breaks more. You could paint part of the structure at high stress points though. I feel it's better to reinforce in specific places. This model's design is fine if one sticks to the recommended equipment. Look at the abuse the Mini Savage Bobber is taking ... 4oz auw and no damage 👍

[@1mikeb]

@@CliffHarveyRCPlanes Thanks, Cliff. Balsa worries me a bit. But I agree with you 100% on those light planes. Three of my favorite planes are sub-150g park fliers. Just bounce off everything! One has a nose that is more glue than foam, though.👍

[@lock_estunts5685]

What were the two glues you used I bought a second hand balsa model and if never had balsa planes before and trying to find the correct glues to use

[@CliffHarveyRCPlanes]

Hi Lock, I use either ca (for speed), white glue such as Speed Bond (or Aliphatic) and epoxy depending on the part you're fixing 🤔👍