Sebby Posted September 25, 2020 Share Posted September 25, 2020 Up till now I have either flown ARTF, or 2nd hand planes where any repairs have necessitated like for like replacement. Now I want to build from plan where I need to order the wood based on what the plan shows me. Taking advice from this forum I note that there are many views on where soft, medium or hard balsa or birch or other wood should be located, but nothing definitive, is there such a guide anywhere, and do I need to ask the balsa supplier for specific types of balsa or other wood by ordering from where the wood it to be used, e.g spar, longer on, wing skin etc? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Gray Posted September 25, 2020 Share Posted September 25, 2020 Use the search facility for Balsa and you will find really good threads about this subject matter, such as: Link Link Edited By Ron Gray on 25/09/2020 13:11:43 Edited By Ron Gray on 25/09/2020 13:12:38 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonathan M Posted September 25, 2020 Share Posted September 25, 2020 Good to hear another person graduating from ARTFs to proper building! What are you building? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Former Member Posted September 25, 2020 Share Posted September 25, 2020 [This posting has been removed] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Miller Posted September 25, 2020 Share Posted September 25, 2020 If you look on this forum you will find an aryicle on estimation wood needed.It also refers to grade choices which should help you **LINK** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sebby Posted September 25, 2020 Author Share Posted September 25, 2020 Thanks for all replies which I will start and read with a fresh brew in the workshop. Build 1 is a flair junior 60, build 2 is a MeadowSkipper as shown on Plans given in radio modeller mag in the 1990s. Both will have 4 strokes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fly boy3 Posted September 25, 2020 Share Posted September 25, 2020 Hi Sebby, I second the comments above re model building. It's is a wonderful and satisfying part of this great hobby. Have a good read and perusal of the plan before you start. Some are easy to follow, some assume you are allready a competent builder and will not provide all the info. The good news is that this is the best forum available with members very willing to answer all building and related queries no matter how difficult or simple they may sound. We have all started at the same point as you. If the Internet was around when I started to build and fly, I could have doubled the twenty plus models I have built from plans lol. To fly a model you have built yourself will give you a thrill that I cannot put into words. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin Colbourne Posted September 25, 2020 Share Posted September 25, 2020 Sebby, Here's an article which explains a lot of the terminology in wood selection and an application chart. White Horse Model Club - Balsa Selection Article Good luck! Robin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ernie Posted February 12, 2021 Share Posted February 12, 2021 This really is a minefield. Balsa can vary so much. Some shops will grade balsa for you as hard, medium or soft. SLEC comes to mind. Common sense will serve you well. For example, structural members such as wing spars should be hard, whereas pieces that don't do so much can be medium. Soft can be really soft, but is useful for non structural bits of block that need a lot of carving and sanding, such as cowlings. ernie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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