Helpful Buildng Tools

We all have them, tools that we use in this hobby that we've found useful that others may have over looked since their primary use is for something not hobby related. So I thought it might be nice to share a few of my more "specialty" tools to help each other out. For some this may be nothing new but for those starting out, it may be a big help.

Sand bags: The blacks ones I made from scrap vinyl at work, the clears ones are plastic bags wrapped in packing tape. All are 2lbs, but the small square one is 1/2lbs. Come in handy when laminating parts together to help keep pressure down.

Cloths pins: This idea I got from a "Scratch Building RC Airplanes" book I got years ago. Some of the clothes pins have been modified to work with foam. The black lining on them is a thin foam to prevent the pins from marking up projects. I've also got a few large clamps I use too.

Large flat objects: Its always helpful to have a good sized, hard to bend surface. I used these a lot when laminating to help the sandbags get a good even pressure on the foam. Also helps to keeps things strait when gluing things together.

Wax Paper: a lot of balsa guys know this trick. Glues don't really like to stick to waxed paper to well. Comes in handy to help keep things from getting covered in glue, like the family dinner table.

Heat gun: Some foams (like EPS) it will kill the foam, but others like the foam board from Dollar Tree and FFF it can help to shape foam, or even help remove blemishes from foam. It also helps to quickly hit the surface of the DTF foam with a short blast to heat to help harden up the surface. If you hold it in the light, you can see the surface of the foam change, it will look more shiny.

Iron: this is a bit of an indirect tool. But if you like making your own control horns and such there's a neat trick. But you need a laser printer. Simply print out your object, this case control horns I drew on my cad program, and print it out on cheap glossy laser paper.

Next, you need to transfer the image over. Turn on the Iron to the highest setting. Its usually a "Cotton" setting.

Placing the paper down on a heat tolerantmaterial (this case a plate of CF I have) with the image against the material, press the Iron down over the image, and do your best to give good even pressure. Sometimes placing a paper towel or napkin between the iron and the template helps with evening out the pressure. Should take about a minute or so. Try not to let the paper burn or slide.

Here's why you need to use CHEAP laser gloss paper. Run it under water and watch as the water soaks through the paper. That gloss layer is a thin film that easily dissolves in water. Once the water has washed that way, the paper should come off, leaving the toner now stuck on the material. It shows white because of tinny bits of paper now stuck in the toner. Now cut and drill and glue then in.

Disposable Nail Files: You can get these at the Dollar Tree with the Foam Board. They work great for getting into tight spaces. You can even custom cut them to fit a project you are working on.

Angled sanding block: Comes in very handy if you do a lot of end jointing of parts. If you need a clean strait edge at a 90° or 45° or something else, having something like this is very handy.

Curved sanding block. Need to round off the leading edge of a wing, but hate how uneven using normal sanding blocks can be? Simply take a small piece of pipe, this case 1/2" PVC pipe, cut it in half and glue in some sand paper.

Foam Drills: Need to drill a hole in foam? A normal drill bit will tear foam more than make a clean hole. Some tubing or even carbon rods work great.

Servo Cut-out Template: Comes in handy so you don't have to constantly redraw and cutout the same shape over and over. I made mine from PCB material so that I can hotwire out the opening on my models.

Servo Cut-Out Template

Right now I only have the HXT900, HXT500, HKSCM9, and HS-55 servos. If wanted I can try to add more to this list.

I am sure that many of you have your own tricks and tools. This is only a list of things I have made and been mentioned to me by many others who have helped me over the years. I hope to pass on what I have learned to others and hope that you all continue to do the same.

Good luck and have fun building!