CL Racing
The sheet to the right shape. The balsa can also be taped to a form, such as aluminum or an oak one. Once dry, the curved balsa can be applied to the area of the model for which it was made.
In the Orbiting Eagles newsletter, Bill Adair wrote that he keeps several thin facings of different types of wood moldings he has obtained from the local lumberyard and an assortment of large-diameter aluminum and plastic tubing. He chooses a section with the curvature that best simulates the surface to be sheeted. He sets the sheeting on both sides, places it on the form (molding or tubing), and wraps the assembly with a Band-Aid bandage. When dry, the balsa sheeting will be much easier to glue in place with the adhesive of your choice.
Advantages of taking this extra step to make preformed balsa sheeting is that fewer pins, clamps, etc. will be required to hold it in place while the glue sets. Preforming the sheeting also reduces the chance of splitting it during application to a wing or fuselage.
Please send ideas, notice of upcoming CL Scale events, contest reports, and especially photos of CL Scale activity to me at the address at the top of this column. MA
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
