Hello. I'm scratch building a GLH. They call for 3/32" C grain balsa all empennage for the tail. I see it for sale at Sig Mfg. I don't like the shipping charges/ oversize box fee's. What would be the best alternative to using this? I'm going to look up the word empennage because I don't know what that means.

Ok empennage means tail feathers of an aircraft. Learn something new every day.

If you only need a sheet or two, try the large box craft stores like Hobby Lobby and Michael's. They usually have a pretty good balsa display. I would call first to make sure before I wasted my time though.

I assume you know "C" grain balsa when you see and feel it.

Planeman

I have both those stores nearby. I'll check them. I didn't see any at the regular hobby shop. I assume they're suppose to label it. I usually just go through what they have and look for something stiff with heavy grain patterns. But it would be nice get C grain. I could just do some lamination cross grain.

http://www.specializedbalsa.com/bals...sification.php

Where are you located and how much do you need?

"C" grain is 'speckled'- if you didn't know-very little straight grain.

C- grain is indeed "speckled". However it also fits the criteria for "vertical grain", so the grain is infact the straghtest/strongest available for a given weight density (pounds per cubic foot). Light Balsa is 4-6 pound range, while medium, is usually around 8 lbs per cubic foot. 12 lb is rock hard, but the strongest. Anyone wishing to understand balsa and its application to model aircraft should Google Sig's explanations and charts. They have been linked here many times.

I've never seen a local retail outfit that sells balsa provide a grading system. 99.9 x's out of 100 hobby clerks won't have a clue.