Balsa sheet replacement ??

[John Wagg]

As a returning modeller, Is there any thing that is a replacement these days instead of balsa sheet for wings etc ?

It not so much the cost but poor access to shops that sell it.

Perusing the pages of the forum etc', a lot of modellers are using some form of "plastic" block/sheeting.

If I wanted to build a wing obviously there would be ribs and balsa sheeted sections.

Would the only alternative be something like polystyrene (Depron) but the building technique would have to be different.

As say a solid & sanded aerofoil section ? But then what sort of weight would it turn out to be ?

 

 

 

 

 

[Futura57]

Hi John

If you are looking to build a flattish / sheet wing akin to, say, 1/4 or 3/8 inch thick balsa sanded section then take a look at my simple XPS foam (underfloor insulation) wing in my Strange Quark thread on page 2, part way down around Feb 14 to 17. It has balsa spars and leading & trailing edges and brown paper covered. Very stiff and light.

 

Others on this forum can give advice on using foam for a more conventional rib and spar structure. 

 

Edited July 20 by Futura57

[David Davis]

I built the wing of my 2024 Baron with depron wing ribs but otherwise it was a conventional balsa build with a D section leading edge.

 

[John Wagg]

Many years ago I built  a couple of Pete Russel's 362 deltas.

https://outerzone.co.uk/plan_details.asp?ID=10014

The first as per plan but the second I used corrugated cardboard ribs. The tubes of the corrugations were vertical with cap strips for longitudinal strength.

Still using balsa for the sheeting etc', and it's this that would need substitution.

I recently saw an electric 363 delta (362's big brother) and it has got me thinking. 🤔

 

[Engine Doctor]

How about foam board available from craft stores ? Ok fo ribs and formers etc. Have you contacted SLEC for postal delivery of balsa ? Thell them you needs and application and they will supply appropriately grained wood .

[RedBaron]

I have always found "The Balsa Cabin "very helpful and reliable with their gradings and descriptions

[John Wagg]

Not used SLEC but have used Balsa Cabin a few times.

Problem is when I only need a sheet or two the P&P costs are more than the balsa.

I have seen something at Wickes which caught my interest (polystyrene sheet) but can't find it again atm.🥴

I don't do a lot of building these days - have too many models and not enough time or talent to fly them.

But I get the urge now and again to add another one to the fleet. ( don't tell the wife about my urges.  )

I really need something that will withstand finger pressure on the wing leading edge box section and I don't know if Depron/polystyrene will do that.?

Not sure if anything will beat the properties of balsa.

 

Thanks guys.

John

[Don Fry]

Yes depron will do that, but balsa will do it better. Suggest, do a life expectancy assessment. Of you and the model. If no, rest. If yes do a dozen sheets of 1/16. I need 1/16. My box used to have 1/16, one airframe swallowed a dozen. 

if you die,ask, ask the mrs to E mail me. I will buy it, proviso, less a post cost over a proper order.

serious, in a scale of one to ten, do you actually cost balsa, against all the rest of the bills in the hobby.

[Piers Bowlan]

Balsa is a very satisfying and versatile material to work with as we all know so well, pity it has become so pricy. 
 

I have fairly recently rediscovered the joys of hot wire cutting EPP foam sheet. With a little carbon strip (or balsa or ply) reinforcement and  covered with brown paper/PVA, it is very light, torsionally stiff and surprisingly tough. Best of all it is very cheap too! You can quickly knock out several models from one sheet of 2.4x1.2m foam for under £20 from B & Q. It doesn’t require too much effort to make up a cutting bow and source a suitable power supply from eBay.