Building Tips

Does anyone have any good building tips they would like to share. Things like dow to do it easier, or faster, or better.
Things like lightweight spackling compound makes good lightweight filler and it's easy to sand.
Just ANYTHING YOU THINK MIGHT BE USEFUL.
THANKS

Charles,

I notice you are new to the forum. In answer to your question, Yes. Many people have these kinds of tips and opinions about the best way to do things but you will have to be a bit more specific in you quest for information.

Have you heard of PAMPA (Precision Aerobatics Model Pilots Association)? Are you a member? This is a world wide organization of about 2000 modelers. PAMPA publishes a newsletter/magazine on a bi-monthly basis which contains pictures, articles and columns which cover a wide range of modeling skills from beginner to expert level. There are a couple of columns that address the very thing you are talking about. Go to www.control-line.org for information.

On this forum I have seen questions such as "Down and Dirty finishes?" "Easy fillets", "Best tank mounting system" etc, etc, etc. If you ask a specific question you will probably get more than you bargained for and a number of people will gladly share their opinions and methods. This response may be the perfect example but as your question was so general with no background information. I, for one, don't know if the question is from a brand new CLer or a person who may be getting back into modeling after a many year lay-off.

Anyway, welcome to the forum and the wonderful world of CL Aerobatics. Burn fuel, have fun.

Make a directory on your computer and start downloading pictures and information. People on this forum have a lot of good ideas. Start with the Flite Streak pic postaged a few days ago. Next time you build an airplane and need some good ideas check your library.

One of the best tips I can give is keep your work area clean and uncluttered. Next sort your tools into groups..ie.. cutting tools in one group.. glues...drill bits...sand paper and blocks in another....nuts and bolts and hinges...paint supplies and brushes another....metal working and soldering stuff in another. Nothing is worse than running to the Hobby Shop to buy something you already have but can't find. Don't ask how I know this. Modeling is so varied by the imagination that is why we love it. The limit is only time once you get going. None of us are going to get out of this life alive. Organizing time becomes very important once you realize you won't live long enough to build all the wonderful designs out there. But done right a certain satisfaction and enjoyment is what I strive for. The greatest moment comes when your creation lands safely after the first fight. I don't fly enough, I don't practice enough but my mind is always full of the next project or contest. Ain't Obsession grand! Jim J

>None of us are going to get out of this
>life alive. Organizing time becomes very important once you
>realize you won't live long enough to build all the
>wonderful designs out there. But done right a certain
>satisfaction and enjoyment is what I strive for. The
>greatest moment comes when your creation lands safely after
>the first fight. I don't fly enough, I don't practice enough
>but my mind is always full of the next project or contest.
>Ain't Obsession grand! Jim J

Jesus said, "My Fathers house has many rooms, I have come to take you to live with me and my father in his house for ever. The lord has made a special place just for you. No man shall enter the kindom of heaven unless he is born again." I can't wait, building and flying model airplanes and all the other fun things I like to do for ever sounds like FUN to me.

Hey Jim!!! Clean and uncluttered???? Wish I could send you a picture of my shop, you would know what serious clutter is all about!! I once had a supervisor that insisted we clean our work area from top to bottom every Friday. He said,"I like a clean work area" and I said, "So do I, if I can find someone to clean it for me!" All kidding aside, you have good tips. Cheers!!

Off the top of my head:

1. Use jigs to build your airplane straight.

2. Don't use lightweight spackling compound on inside curves, such as fillets. It has no tensile strength. Paint will shrink and pull it loose.

3. Clean thoroughly any materials to be glued with epoxy. Don't get fingerprints on them.

4. Don't put leadout wire through the holes in a metal bellcrank without some sort of bushing.

5. Cyanoacrylate glue will make your eyes itch. This is a trick it has to get you to touch your eye with CA on your finger. Then it's off to the emergency room.

6. Nitromethane debonds CA. It also dissoves any dope, including "fuel proof" dope.

7. Get a lot of sandpaper.

8. Use sanding blocks with the sandpaper.

9. Don't solder control lines or leadout wires.

10. Use copper tubing in fuel tanks. Nitromethane also dissolves brass.

Hi

Do not use twist drills on balsa wood they tear it up,
use sharpened brass tubes. You can sharpen tubes by running
a hoby knife round the inside of the tube.

Mitre joints help prevent warps and cupping. Easy to cut both
pieces at the same time so the angle is right.

Try to make good joints and avoid gaps that will need filler.
Filler is a time consuming pest to be avoided.

If sheeting a structure, sand the joint surfaces flush first.
Use a full sheet of sand paper glued to thick glass sheet.

Use alaphatic resin or similar sandable glue on external joints
like wing sheeting. This avoids ridges after sanding.

Join sheeting before applying to a wing. Lay the sheets weighted
down on a cutting board and cut through both at the same time.
Apply masking tape right along the jount to keep it together.
Fold so the joint opens and apply glue, then lay it down flat untill set.

Wipe off excess PVA etc with a damp cloth before it dries.

First rule of thumb...don't CA it to anything.