How do I trace plans and put markings on balsa ?

I use Charette "tracing vellum". A pad of 100 tabloid-size sheets costs just a few bucks. It has a 10 pt/inch grid and is translucent enough to trace plans. Once the plan part is traced I cut it out, tape or tack the pattern to the balsa, then cut directly, usually without first marking the wood.

I use the same paper and technique for making patterns for film covering...

/daytripper

Sounds great! Where do you buy it?

Dennis

covering...

Almost any quilting store sells a frosted plasic material (quilters call it "template plastic) that easily takes pencil markings (or pen, if you prefer) when tracing outlines over a plan. You then cut the material with a pair of sissors, and presto; you have a perfect pattern.

About $10 worth is enough for a giant scale airplane.

The easiest way I know how to do this is to make a photocopy of the part of the plans you need then use a hot iron to transfer the photocopy to the balsa.

Two old time solutions.

1. Make a copy on a copy machine. Place the copy over the balsa and use a hot iron. The image will transfer to the balsa. I have NOT had good luck trying this with a computer printer. A regular copier works pretty well.

1. Lay the plans over the wood. Pin the plans to the balsa. Take a needle and stick hole through the plans on the part lines. This does very little damage to the plans. When you have worked your way around the part, use a French curve to connect the dots.

JR

That is because a copy machine is taking dry ink and then heating it as the copy is made which locks it in on the paper. A laser printer does the same thing. When you iron it, it is releasing the dry ink allowing the image to transfer. An inkjet printer would not work as it is letting the wet ink absorb into the paper.

Dave

I wonder if those T-Shirt Transfer kits for Inkjets would work?

An easier method is to make an electrostatic (not inkjet) copy of the plans/patterns then place the copy on balsa sheet, then tamp with an old sock dampened ( not wet) with lacquer thinner or acetone. You have to make sure the copy is the same size as the original adjusting magnification settings as needed. Works really good and printwood lines are quite sharp and legible.

Gary Gullikson

Best way to solve this lil' problem will be found here

Cheers,

Probably, but would cost more than laser cutting!

Johnboy,

The t-shirt transfers will work just fine. After all, they transfer to a t-shirt, right?

An alternative is to go to a fabric store and ask them about a Pounce Wheel. It is used to make patterns for garments. The wheel has hundreds of needle points on it, which when run over the plan placed on the balsa will put holes in the plan. Then, a dark powder sprinkled on the plan goes through the holes, leaving the outline needed.

I picked this one up on te Ezone - works if you have a scaner/laser printer of photocipier

laser print from scanner, or photocopy teh bits you want to transfer.

Now take some dope thinners and a pad of tissue or cloth, and placing teh part face down on teh balsa, wipe JUST enough of teh thinner through so teh paper JUST goes translucent. The part will be printed on the balas. Too much thoinners and it smears. Too little and it doesn't work, so play around a bit first.

Other methods include pricking through, or simply measuring the part and cutting to teh size - ideal for square bulkheads etc. Then finish up by sanding gently to perfect shape.

How do you get the plans onto your computer? Especially a plan sheet that is 24" x 36"?

That aside, I find it an easy method to photocopy a section of the plans then use spray adhesive to attach the paper to the wood.

I usually use Spray 77 but I understand artist's adhesive peels off better.

m-m

On 7/26/2003 9:26 PM Ted shuffled out of his cave and grunted these great (and sometimes not so great) words of knowledge:

The easiest way I have found is to make a photocopy (or inkjet copy) of the part(s), cut them out (make sure to leave about 1/8" all the way around) and use a "glue stick" to apply them to the balsa. Then cut them out and finish sand to shape. The "pattern" will peel right off after, and any residue that MAY remain can easily be removed with some rubbing alcohol. If you are making multiples of the same part, I have found that the VINYL carpet tape is great for holding the sheets of balsa/ply together and easily separates after.

TIP: If you are using 1/8" "Light Ply", 2.7 mm luan plywood (available at most lumber yards) works just as well, is only fractionally heavier and costs about $8 - $10 for a 4'x8' sheet. Granted it is dark in color, but most of the ply used in a plane is either buried in the plane or covered/painted.

b, I photocopy the patterns, glue them to poster board, then cut them out. Then just trace onto the wood. Cut them out inside the lines. I keep the templates inside mailing envelopes in case I want to do another of the same model later. Gary