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Post by Ron Stuart on Dec 28, 2015 21:25:51 GMT -4
Santa generously picked up the modest tab for a House of Balsa T6 Texan Kit (hereinafter to be known as my Harvard) which I found NIB in the Moncton area. When I say "Newby" I mean it... the last airplane I built was more than fifty years ago - a balsa, doped tissue paper-covered contraption, the only virtue of which was an environmentally friendly power plant (read elastic band). All this to say I will value fellow flyers' advice and suggestions throughout the project.
First off, my initial Google explorations took me to some discussions about benches and building boards. The good strong, level bench I have, but building board recommendations run the gamut from used ceiling tiles with stick pins, to a steel plate with magnets to hold pieces in place for glue up! Really? Bombardier I am not, but neither can I get away with commandeering the Dining Room table for the winter as did our friend Red John a couple of years ago! Ha!
Any advice around this, initial setup of tools, jigs and other tricks welcome.
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Post by yorcram on Dec 29, 2015 8:50:11 GMT -4
Ceiling tiles are good and I have tried them. Another good base is drywall sheet. That is my current surface. You will need exacto knife and a utility knife. get a metal straight edge ruler and a kids geometry set is helpful for the right angle triangles ( just got a replacement set from santa ☺) Get some 220 to 320 grit sandpaper and a block (i do use a straight piece of pine 1x2 8in long) Aside from T pins and ca you will be ready to build
Cheers, Marc
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daver
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Post by daver on Dec 29, 2015 9:46:06 GMT -4
Pretty much everything Marc said. I think MH or MSC should have T-pins, if not, I'm sure I can loan some out. Pink foam insulation sheets also work ok, especially for smaller projects, but won't have the holding strength of drywall. If you can get really straight warp free laminated pine, i.e. shelving, it's very durable, and you can still drive in the pins.
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Post by Bill F on Dec 29, 2015 17:42:11 GMT -4
Ron, visit the large box stores and look for a broken piece of drywall. HD reduce theirs by 50% and I got a large piece, that I got them to cut into two and when I got home I cut each piece into two again. Result was 4 pieces, each 17" wide by 48" long for a total price of 5.18 Now just find a place to store three of these pieces and you have a great building surface for the next five years..!
Bill
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Post by johnf on Dec 30, 2015 5:47:48 GMT -4
Ron, since you are a realtor, you should know contractors that build homes. What I did was go to a new build home where the dry wall people are working. Ask them for scrap dry wall that they discard. They have all kinds of sizes and shapes that they never use and throw away and are glad to get rid of. Get a couple pieces, one for a layout board and another for a cutting board.
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Post by johnf on Jan 1, 2016 16:07:29 GMT -4
Ron, check your PM messages!
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Post by coyote on Jan 15, 2016 13:43:26 GMT -4
On my workbench, I'm using pink foam sheet with a thin sheet of coroplast (or something similar) glued on top
I found sheet of coroplast makes it easier to work on, lay out plans, also adds a little rigidness to overall board
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daver
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Post by daver on Jan 15, 2016 19:18:47 GMT -4
Thought you were sick? You coming out of the house anytime this winter? lol
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Post by Ron Stuart on Jan 31, 2016 19:48:23 GMT -4
Thanks for all the various tips, guys. I had some drywall left over from house construction, so that is my work surface. Fuselage is taking shape now - so far so good. Waiting for my new engine so I can drill and install the firewall.
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daver
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Post by daver on Jan 31, 2016 19:50:15 GMT -4
Ron, I think you built it upside down. Not to mention backwards, the nose should always face away from you!
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Post by Ron Stuart on Jan 31, 2016 20:04:38 GMT -4
What if I just sit on the other side of the table? Ha!
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daver
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Post by daver on Jan 31, 2016 23:20:18 GMT -4
OK, that will do the trick! lol
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Post by J-G on Feb 1, 2016 9:18:05 GMT -4
Nice Ron. She's coming together! Looks like a plane!
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Post by coyote on Feb 1, 2016 21:51:06 GMT -4
I hope you and John Fennel are putting in sim flying time?
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Post by Ron Stuart on Feb 4, 2016 23:59:12 GMT -4
Yessir, sure am. Don't know anything about John.
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Post by bvmbandit on Feb 18, 2016 22:51:25 GMT -4
Looking forward to flying with you again this summer Ron!
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Post by Ron Stuart on Feb 19, 2016 23:02:54 GMT -4
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Post by bvmbandit on Mar 5, 2016 2:13:14 GMT -4
Will be very happy to help once I'm back soon!
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Post by Ron Stuart on Mar 5, 2016 12:00:07 GMT -4
That's great, Jimmy. Janet and I shall be away in Barbados March 15 to 31, so may not get together until after that. Salaam Alaikum, Ron
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daver
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Post by daver on Mar 5, 2016 12:49:32 GMT -4
Ron, you should be at my shop, until you go on vacation, learning all about sanding and filling. By the time you get through all my projects, you'd be an expert at it! lol
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Post by Ron Stuart on Mar 5, 2016 23:55:02 GMT -4
Trust me, Dave, you wouldn't want me working on your stuff!
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daver
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Post by daver on Mar 6, 2016 10:43:43 GMT -4
Rats, there goes my plan for free labour doing all the stuff I hate! lol
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Post by coyote on Mar 8, 2016 13:54:09 GMT -4
Trust me, Dave, you wouldn't want me working on your stuff!
LOL!!!!!
Could be a first, a TF P-39 with 5 inch dihedral on each side
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daver
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Post by daver on Mar 8, 2016 15:51:02 GMT -4
Or worse, anhedral! lol
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Post by J-G on Mar 8, 2016 16:04:30 GMT -4
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