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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Sig's catalog contains a good description of the
various grades / cuts (grain) / applications of balsa. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The effort required to get the proper grades of
balsa and the building involved drives most folks to composites. A few years ago
I needed another Hydeout kit when they were out of production - so I
scratch built a Hydeout from balsa - lighter than the composite version.
Competed with it for a couple years / Nats, most folks didn't know that it was a
"woody". As has been suggested - building a balsa model from plans is very
informative and rewarding.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Earl</FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=kerlock@comcast.net href="mailto:kerlock@comcast.net">Mike Hester</A>
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A
title=nsrca-discussion@lists.nsrca.org
href="mailto:nsrca-discussion@lists.nsrca.org">NSRCA Mailing List</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, March 28, 2006 5:53
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: [NSRCA-discussion] An
education in balsa usage for pattern</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>""<FONT color=#000080>It seems that everything I
read of late seems to indicate that light weight and strength only come with
composite construction.""</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2>What in the devil have you been
reading? Ads for composite planes? =)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2>Composites are easier to market,
manufacture and sell. (Unless you're in dire need of carbon...you could be in
deep dookie soon, if you're not already). Wood, for the purposes that we
need it for, is impractical to mass pruduce. only about 1 of 100 balsa
trees are in the 4-6 lb (contest) range, and the quality and weight vary
wildly within that range. large well funded overseas companies can buy up
large supplies and go through it, selling off the wood they can't use to other
sources who aren't as picky. It's not that practical here in the
states.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2>However, sometimes you just can't
beat a dead tree. I've heard you can't get a partner sized plane to 9.5 lbs
with glow (hogwash) or that you can't make weight with an electric wood plane
(also complete garbage, even with the heaviset equipment). Anyone that tells
you that in this day, at this time, is either full of crap or trying to sell
you something. Nothing wrong with the latter, as long as you know what you're
really getting and why.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2>Truth is, if you want the kind of
plane that the japanese fly, you have to either build it or have it built.
yeah I know about the Tojiero from a long time ago, and I also know it's light
now (although a couple years ago it was rare to hear of one under
10.75)....but the design is a little lacking. Probably just fine for AMA
classes I would suppose. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2>The best crash course would be to
get a set of 2 meter plans from someone who sells 2 meter wood plane/parts
stuff. To name a few, Mark hunt's Insight, Bryan hevbert's Patriot (slightly
overbuilt, but still very awesome), or....well just look around. *cough*
=)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2>Here's a few weights to go
by:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2>1/16x4x36 12-16
grams</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#000080
size=2>3/32x4x36 18-22 grams</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#000080
size=2>1/8x4x36 24-28 grams</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2>For leading edges and 1/4 squares,
buy sheets of 4-6 lb and cut your own stuff. if you buy 1/4" square sticks,
they can be between 4 and 22 grams(!!!!) If you cut it out of a good piece of
1/4x4x36, it'll be about 3-4 (or less). Stay on the lower end of the scale for
electrics, but examine each piece carefully. Some of the really light stuff is
too brittle and cracks easily.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2>In general, for sheeting you want
A-grain. For stronger/stiffer stuff, you want C-grain. A bends easily across
the sheet, C is stiffer.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2>Wood reinforced strategically with
carbon and a couple of odd composite parts make for an extremely light, strong
and great lasting airframe. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2>BTW when you order it, don't be
afraid to have it hand picked. Order more than you need, and weigh each and
every sheet. use the best. there's sometimes a fee for hand picking, but you
have some accountability if it's boat lumber.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=2>-Mike</FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=chris@ssd.fsi.com href="mailto:chris@ssd.fsi.com">White, Chris</A>
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A
title=nsrca-discussion@lists.nsrca.org
href="mailto:nsrca-discussion@lists.nsrca.org">NSRCA Mailing List</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, March 28, 2006 5:37
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> [NSRCA-discussion] An
education in balsa usage for pattern</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV class=Section1>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Can anyone tell me
where a person can get a “Crash” course in learning about balsa
weights and strength and its proper use in balsa pattern
models.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">I notice a few
years ago that in the 99 world champs most of the Japanese pilots models
were balsa and light weight too. It seems that everything I read of
late seems to indicate that light weight and strength only come with
composite construction.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Thanks….Chris<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=navy size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: navy; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV></!
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