Align Your Front End
This simple jig makes that straight and strong front end a lot easier to achieve. The jig takes about two hours to build and costs about eight dollars. It can be adapted to many types of engine-powered model airplanes. Each model builder tackles the construction of his airplane in a different way. There's no single best method, but some techniques are better than others. This article describes how to do a better job in planning and building the front end of your aircraft through the use of a simple engine/tank mounting jig. With the exception of Gliders and Electrics, every airplane needs an engine/fuel tank assembly regardless of the construction method used. An easy-on, easy-off engine/tank mounting assembly that's lightweight, straight, and strong makes for a better performing, more efficient model that's easier to handle and maintain - and much more fun to fly. This jig represents a proven method for easily building such a structure for your airplane.
Bow Flex Foam Cutter
THE DEVELOPMENT and use of foam wings began many years ago. Still, there are typically only a few modelers in each club who have the equipment and the ability to cut foam wings. Building a foam wing with a warp in it is very difficult; foam wings are essentially straight. Thus your model will fly with increased predictability. Building multiple foam wings with the same airfoil becomes easy, and takes less time than built-up wings. This article describes an easy to build, economical, efficient power supply and nichrome wire bow for cutting foam. The primary use of the foam cutter is to cut wings for Radio Control and Control Line models, and fuselage parts. A person with basic building skills can build a nichrome wire bow for about $30.
CL Foam-Core Wings
MOST CLUBS have at least one expert in building foam wings. The Paducah Aeromodelers (Paducah, KY) have Dave Paessler. He makes beautiful foam wings for RC models, but nobody has had experience in building foam wings for CL aircraft. This article is intended to supply the basic technology needed to build a CL Precision Aerobatics foam wing, a procedure that is two or three times more difficult than a foam wing for RC uses. Choice of a particular airfoil will not be dealt with; it assumes that you have a set of plans with an airfoil already laid out. Let's get right at it. To begin with, study Fig. 1, as it names the parts that will be discussed.
