foam vs balsa construction...

Arbo · May 05, 2002, 10:55 PM

I know this has been talked about before, and all have their own opinions on what is best... but....

Which is lighter? I can make some light foam stuff, but that requires glassing for strength... where with wood I can just use normal shrink covering...

Foam makes for easier rebuilds after crashes (usually).. but can a good strong airframe of balsa save that much weight over foam?

I ask because I am working on putting a plane I built into a CAD program, and in messing with it, I just started wondering about wood vs foam (i used foam originally)..

Paul

balsaman · May 06, 2002, 10:12 PM

I like both. I like foam wings cuz its fast, and I don't like building wings. I like balsa fuselage cuz I can make it look any way I like without a lot of cutting, sanding etc. and balsa fuses are already hollow for batteries, servo's etc.

I pesonally prefer to repair a balsa airplane.

Eric

Mike Rolls · May 07, 2002, 05:35 AM

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Arbo
[B]I know this has been talked about before, and all have their own opinions on what is best... but....

Which is lighter? I can make some light foam stuff, but that requires glassing for strength... where with wood I can just use normal shrink covering...

Arbo

Whenever I think about using foam for a wing I remind myself that a proper wood structure is mostly trapped air and go and lie done until the urge goes away.
Seriously - if you can't build a wooden wing for less wright than a foam one of equivalent strength, size, and section there is something wrong with the design and/or the building technique.

All the best

Mike

aft_cg · May 08, 2002, 08:53 AM

I agree with Mike. I used to hate foam. If the urge to build foam hit me, I would do it and then I would remember why I hate foam. However, I bought some foam cutting equiptment recently and it isn't so bad. I can whip up a plane with much less design and building time. I think that it is easier to repair foam, based on lots of repairing experience with both

I still use both materials, but a good balsa structure is much lighter thatn foam.

May 05, 2002, 10:55 PM	#1
Arbo Suspended Account Joined May 2000 8,525 Posts	foam vs balsa construction... I know this has been talked about before, and all have their own opinions on what is best... but.... Which is lighter? I can make some light foam stuff, but that requires glassing for strength... where with wood I can just use normal shrink covering... Foam makes for easier rebuilds after crashes (usually).. but can a good strong airframe of balsa save that much weight over foam? I ask because I am working on putting a plane I built into a CAD program, and in messing with it, I just started wondering about wood vs foam (i used foam originally).. Paul

May 07, 2002, 05:35 AM	#3
Mike Rolls Registered User Haslemere, Surrey, UK Joined Jul 2001 91 Posts	Re: foam vs balsa construction... [QUOTE]Originally posted by Arbo [B]I know this has been talked about before, and all have their own opinions on what is best... but.... Which is lighter? I can make some light foam stuff, but that requires glassing for strength... where with wood I can just use normal shrink covering... Arbo Whenever I think about using foam for a wing I remind myself that a proper wood structure is mostly trapped air and go and lie done until the urge goes away. Seriously - if you can't build a wooden wing for less wright than a foam one of equivalent strength, size, and section there is something wrong with the design and/or the building technique. All the best Mike

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May 06, 2002, 10:12 PM	#2
balsaman It's just PLANE silly! Ontario Joined Jan 2002 915 Posts	I like both. I like foam wings cuz its fast, and I don't like building wings. I like balsa fuselage cuz I can make it look any way I like without a lot of cutting, sanding etc. and balsa fuses are already hollow for batteries, servo's etc. I pesonally prefer to repair a balsa airplane. Eric

May 08, 2002, 08:53 AM	#4
aft_cg Registered User Baton Rouge, LA Joined Jun 2001 107 Posts	I agree with Mike. I used to hate foam. If the urge to build foam hit me, I would do it and then I would remember why I hate foam. However, I bought some foam cutting equiptment recently and it isn't so bad. I can whip up a plane with much less design and building time. I think that it is easier to repair foam, based on lots of repairing experience with both I still use both materials, but a good balsa structure is much lighter thatn foam.