Balsa

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17 May 2011 at 11:19 #30658
Gary Dyson
Participant
@garydyson81492
Morning all my Dad is wanting to build a MTB from the free plans that came with the “other” model boat magazine. In the plans it lists using medium Balsa 5in deep by 1/4in thick, up to press he can only find 3in deep, does anyone out there know of any suppiers in the UK that supplies large sizes of Balsa ?

Gary
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17 May 2011 at 11:19 #6709
Gary Dyson
Participant
@garydyson81492
17 May 2011 at 12:30 #30660
Bob Abell 2
Participant
@bobabell2
Hello Gary

Just butt joint two 3″ planks together!

Bob
17 May 2011 at 14:40 #30661
Gary Dyson
Participant
@garydyson81492
Thanks Bob for the promt reply. he was hoping to cut the pieces he needs from a solid sheet to aid strenght.

Gary

P.s. G.E looks good.
17 May 2011 at 14:54 #30662
Colin Bishop
Moderator
@colinbishop34627
Bob is right though. At 1/4 inch thick you should get a pretty good joint with butting two planks together with an aliphatic glue as long as you keep a bit of pressure on overnight. A lot cheaper than buying 5 inch planks if you can find them too I would think.

Colin

Edited By Colin Bishop, Website Editor on 17/05/2011 18:14:28
19 May 2011 at 07:59 #30681
ashley needham
Participant
@ashleyneedham69188
I glued together several very very thin balsa sheets to cover the wings on Shorty Sunderland with no probs.

I did find that you need to sand them down BEFORE fitting though…lay the joined bits on a flat surface and flat them off…or even seal around the joint then sand, as its difficult to sand the join flat having glued it in place somewhere.

Ashley
21 May 2011 at 15:45 #30694
Dave Milbourn
Participant
@davemilbourn48782
Choose two sheets of the same weight and hardness (as far as possible). Check that the two sheets butt together exactly, as often one will have a bend in it which prevents the edges from touching all the way along the length of the joint. Straighten any curved edge with a heavy-duty craft knife and a metal straight edge. Lay the edges of the two sheets together and fix a length of 25mm Selotape along the whole length of the join, overlapping 12.5mm each side. Pick the joined sheets up and open out the join like a flat hinge, then run a thin line of aliphatic wood glue along one edge only. Lay the sheets back down flat with the tape on the underside, squeezing glue from the joint as the edges close up together. Wipe away any excess glue with a slightly damp cloth. Weight down the sheets flat and allow to dry, then remove the tape and sand both sheets flat on both sides with something like 320 grit paper wrapped around a flat sanding block.

Works for me!

DM
21 May 2011 at 17:39 #30696
John W E
Participant
@johnwe
hi there

I have just re-read and studied the plans & article which are in June 2011 Model Boats mag for the Vosper MTB by Glynn Guest – I cannot see where it says 5 inch wide balsa. I think the maximum width of standard balsa is 4 inches which is the balsa I have purchased to do the same build.

The model is only 7 inches wide so 2 x 4 inch planks glued on edge will be the maximum width required, unless I am the only one reading this article and everyone has read something else.

aye

john

Edited By bluebird on 21/05/2011 17:41:52
21 May 2011 at 20:19 #30702
Colin Bishop
Moderator
@colinbishop34627
He referred to the ‘other’ magazine John – the one we aren’t allowed to mention on here. MTB plans all over the shop this month including the one in my Special Issue. Like buses really, you wait for ages and then three come along at once…. A whole flotilla really!

Colin
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