Jul 23, 2021
Guillows Balsa Wood Flying Machine Kit
seen from Yemen
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from China
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from Russia
seen from United States
seen from United Kingdom
seen from China
seen from Poland
seen from Germany
seen from Türkiye
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from United Kingdom
seen from Belgium
seen from United Kingdom
Guillows Balsa Wood Flying Machine Kit
The neat part about these models is what people can do with them! Originally they were meant for display or rubber band powered free flight. Then people added small nitro motors (yes, .020 and .010 cubic inch engines) and flew them via "control line" or still as free flight. Today with RC electronics being what they are, electric and controlled gas adaptations of these planes are possible!
So some modifications on the fly are necessary. I intend this to be an electric model and so hinges are necessary on the control surfaces. 1/16" balsa strips can't exactly hold onto plastic hinges, tape hinges would look ugly and glue hinges may be too stiff so I'm resorting to even more old technology: sewn hinges.
Here is the modified vertical stabilizer, it was split into two separate parts with blocking added. I'll have to drill small holes in the blocks so thread can be looped through. Positively ancient but what's the point of doing things if not to learn more.
In general these are fairly simple kits to construct if you know how to follow the plans and a few drawings.
The five main parts (left and right wing, fuselage, vertical and horizontal stabilizers) follow the same formula: perimeter frame, ribs, stringers. There's a lot of fitting and finishing that goes into each piece, a good way to stay sane in these trying times.
Shown is the fabrication of the left and right wings. Lots of sanding, pins and cyanoacrylate glue (superglue).
I also rounded all of the trailing edges of the wings and stabilizers though at this scale its more of a visual choice than an aerodynamic one.
The next step for these parts is directly to covering in tissue paper or sealing and finishing the balsa further. I have a bottle of Midwest Aerogloss Sanding Sealer (albeit a bunch of it has evaporated) that I plan on sealing the wood with.
More balsa models on their way.
Building a Guillows Typhoon for a contest on a group on Facebook.