Why alcohol and scratch building don't mix...

by Red20RC | October 11, 2013 | (11) Posted in Just Fun

Given my chequered history in aeromodelling, it was only right that this should be my first article on FliteTest.

The idea was a simple one...

It was Friday night. I had a glass of wine in hand, loads of 1/8" Depron (kind of like foamboard but without the paper) in the garage and some free time. After not much forethought I decided to build a mini-Versa Wing. No idea what I was going to do with it; maybe a little Turnigy Park 250, maybe a tiny DLG. Anyway, I rapidly scaled down the plans to 73%, giving me a 28" span, printed them out and stuck them together.

Refilled the wine glass...

I always use the same method to cut out my Depron foam. Lay the plan over the foam and prick the outline with a pin. Go over it with a drawing pen and the pattern is easy to follow with a blade when the plan is lifted. No more than 30 minutes later I had my component parts:

Incidentally, those little things at the top right are metal punches. I got them years ago in a bargain bin. They are useless at cutting anything apart from foam, which they cut perfectly. Great for those little slots and holes.

Refilled the wine glass...

This is where it all went wrong. Depron can be cold formed easily by rubbing it over the edge of the bench. I put a curve in the top skin of each wing, fired up the glue gun and got going. It all went together perfectly.

30 minutes later I ended up with this:

Spot the problem yet?

So I refilled the wine glass and started typing...

COMMENTS

alibopo on October 11, 2013
No problem I can spot! You were building two planes.... :)
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Red20RC on October 11, 2013
Guess what I'll be doing tomorrow evening? Better leave the wine alone though in case I end up building four planes!
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Billbo911 on October 11, 2013
Two left wings make for an odd shaped wing.
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hmauro on October 12, 2013
try to cut depron with a scalpel. it is easy. but be carefull. bye.
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Driveandairsmash on October 18, 2013
Lol you made 2 of the same side wings lol
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28th St. Air on October 14, 2013
at least your glass is half full. :)
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rockets4kids on October 11, 2013
I've done that without the alcohol. Congratulations, you have a spare wing, or a head start on your second plane.

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tramsgar on October 14, 2013
I concur, I'd do that any evening dead sober, albeit crooked, too. Good job!
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RCbacon on October 12, 2013
The problem is that the wine glass isnt full ;)
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Johan on October 12, 2013
Ha, but if you make it into one plane: I bet the roll-rate is unbeatable :-)
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p-air-o on October 11, 2013
made my day :-D !!! epic !
toasting with a glas of wine ;-)
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Johnny Danger on October 14, 2013
Ha ha. I can so relate ...soldering and scotch don't mix too well either :-)
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Red20RC on October 14, 2013
Ouch!
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uniondelta on October 14, 2013
Don't worry, any way the two left halves look great!!
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Why alcohol and scratch building don't mix...