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A STUPID question on Tiny-X building
Sorry guys. This is my very first balsa kit. I want to ask a stupid question and just want to make sure I am doing the right thing.
According to the instruction, whenever it said "pin down" a balsa part, does it really mean to use a pin to "PENETRATE THROUGH" the balsa part and fix it on the building board? By the way, any other tips for balsa kit building? As said in Todd's instruction, he recommended to do the sanding after all the parts are assembled. Just want to see if there are other useful tips, although I thought the hardest part would be covering. |
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go slow, and check the fit of all parts before gluing! constantly check alignment of everything, and be careful! go slow! You dont want to go former-by-former and get to the end, only to look back and see a misaligned peice.
Yes, pinning means to pin through the balsa, although most people don't really like to do that (myself included). So instead sometimes I'll pin down scrap OVER the part with very structural peices, or 'criss-cross' pins over the part to wedge it down, I just hate to split the wood, especially in thin areas. Use your head, and ask lots of questions, you'll do great |
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Hi ETA in HK,
at least you have the sense to ask the question! Definitely go slow and don't glue anything unless you are sure it's correct. A lot of the framework is first assembled dry, then you check it over, then you glue. When we say "pin down" to the board, it's best not to put the pins through the wood; holes in any structure will only weaken it! For sure, try criss-crossing the pins OVER wood to hold it down. Better still, there are these tiny, black plastic discs that you can buy to insert a T-pin into; the disc is slid onto the pin - it has a predrilled hole in it. When the pin is pushed into your building board, the plastic disc is lightly pressed onto the balsa edge, holding it firmly down without damaging the wood. Track some down, they are really useful to use on your T-pins. I found it quicker to build than to cover my X! Just remember that if all else fails, read the instructions! The Tiny-X is a wonderful model to build and fly. Roger |
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I think somone called it "Clancy's Law": "Sanding takes longer than building and covering takes longer than building and sanding combined". You will not run into a problem that somone else has already solved so don't be afraid to ask. We have all been there.
-LY |
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Thanks guys. But I encountered another problem
Big THANKS! I have finally built the horizonital stab and the elevator. However, I have encountered a problem which I didn't expect before. I fixed all the parts on the building board and used thin CA to glue things up. When I try to get the finished stab & elevator after drying, I find these 2 structures glued firmly on the planset paper and the paper in turn glued firmly on the building board. I was having hard time to separate all these up by cutter and still got mess up a little bit.
I think it's my fault and I may have used too much CA (it really got strong penetrating power). All construction is now suspended until problem sorted out. Any techique I have missed here?? |
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Oooops...........
I use wax paper or saran wrap between the airframe and whatever is underneath it. As far as pin clamps go I have made some from vinyl or plastic material, such as all the extra parts on the tree that comes with a GWS airplane. Cut it into 1/8 to 3/16 squares, push a pin thru it and slide the square out to the end of the pin. Then push the pin into your building board right next to the part you want to hold down. The plastic will slip up the pin and hold the wood down without putting a hole in it. |
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Work in progress
Thanks again. Finally, I used the wax paper method and everything is fine. I guess very soon I will finish the assembling stage and start sanding. For sanding, I supposed I have to sand the L/E, T/E and any outer frame which will get contact with the cover. Just wondering if it is necessary to sand the ribs as well as other inner parts. Also, how much sanding does it actually need and how to determine the sanding is good enough??
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