EvilC57 Posted November 30, 2020 Share Posted November 30, 2020 I’m currently building a large twin engined model from plans, the wing and nacelles for which were cut out, and the nacelles test fitted into specially prepared gaps in the wing structure back in the summer. The nacelles, which were a perfect sliding were then removed and set aside, as I thought it would make the wing easier to handle while sheeting it, fitting the ailerons & servos etc. without the bulky nacelles being in the way. So now at the end of November having also built the fuselage, I’m ready to fit the nacelles permanently. Remember back in the summer, these were a perfect sliding fit into the gaps in the wings. Not now! I’ve sanded the sides of the gaps, but they’re still a tight fit, so I’ve bought the wing and nacelles from my modelling shed into the house for a few days. Hopefully the central heating and lower humidity will dry the wood out sufficiently to loosen the fit, so I can get the glue in. Who would have thought the weather could make such a difference to the dimensions of the wood! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dwain Dibley. Posted November 30, 2020 Share Posted November 30, 2020 Watch out Evil, Cos plans can grow as well. Always make the sides of a fuselage on the same day, else one can be bigger than the other. D.D. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil James Posted November 30, 2020 Share Posted November 30, 2020 Humidity makes a huge difference, quite amazing how much wood can swell or shrink. Not balsa but my modelling shed was T&G planks which in the dry summer shrank so much that they popped apart. They would swell again after rain but by then they’d warped too so would never fit back together again as they expanded, leaving gaps for the rain to run down inside. The roof started leaking too 🤬. It’s now been replaced by a proper shed erected by a local builder and made of 18mm treated planks, set vertically and with a 50mm wide strip over the joints. This one won’t leak! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon Whitehead 1 Posted November 30, 2020 Share Posted November 30, 2020 I learned several years ago to bring my built-up balsa planes indoors from the garage in winter. I didn't notice them growing larger, but the swelling noted by Evil must also be accompanied by absorbing moisture as there was a measurable weight increase on a 6ft span bipe after it had been stored in the garage during winter, which disappeared after a period stored indoors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff S Posted November 30, 2020 Share Posted November 30, 2020 Could it be the answer to the balsa shortage? Geoff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Clark 1 Posted November 30, 2020 Share Posted November 30, 2020 I've just had to repair 2 uncovered wing at different stages of building that had the skins swell at detach from the ribs. Took a bit of manipulation to get glue in but within a couple of hours in the house they were back to normal Gary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Stephenson Posted November 30, 2020 Share Posted November 30, 2020 Moisture also kills electronics especially if batteries are left connected. It kills the electrical connections to unconnected batteries as well. A. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan p Posted December 1, 2020 Share Posted December 1, 2020 the man cave grows 19mm(3/4" in winter. Built and fitted out in autumn/winter had to slot the conduit fixings as they buckled and bent in the summer with shrinkage Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel R Posted December 1, 2020 Share Posted December 1, 2020 Hence why full size aircraft have a lot of plywood, I guess. Very stable, as well as being strong. According to this chart balsa shrinks about 7.5% tangentially (horizontal plane in the circular direction, in an upright tree) and 3% radially (in and out from the core to the bark). Fairly average, I think. "Not balsa but my modelling shed was T&G planks which in the dry summer shrank so much that they popped apart." The thing we pulled down a couple of months ago had a section made from T&G. It had been fixed with nails at each edge of the plank... I doubt there was ever enough clearance for shrinkage around the T&G connection either. Needless to say it had swelled, buckled, pulled the nails out and never gone back into place, leaving the old shed full of holes. The replacement I'm (still) building has planks fixed on one edge only! "Moisture also kills electronics" It can do. Condensation is the real killer. It doesn't exactly do wonders for IC engines either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EvilC57 Posted December 1, 2020 Author Share Posted December 1, 2020 My modelling shed, which sits on battens on a bed of chippings at the side of the garden is vertical in winter, but sags at one side in the summer as the lawn dries out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martian Posted December 1, 2020 Share Posted December 1, 2020 I built a 30 inch spit in the summer and stored it in the shed it's now a 60 inch spit or did I get the wrong one out hmm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuart Z Posted December 3, 2020 Share Posted December 3, 2020 I keep a dehumidifier running in the garage in the winter, where all the models are stored, keeping the humidity (damp) levels down. Yes it costs to run but cheaper than all the repairs I would otherwise have to do. S Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nik Harrison Posted December 7, 2020 Share Posted December 7, 2020 I use a couple of these. They do work and are cheap. https://www.lakeland.co.uk/24627/Lakeland-Moisture-Trap Cheers, Nik Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martian Posted December 8, 2020 Share Posted December 8, 2020 My stomach swells in the winter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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