Elastic Launched Glider C

[illusionist]

What are some recommendations for buying balsa online (I'm looking to buy sheets of 1/32")? I've done a search through last year's forum, but I'm unable to find the discussion about buying balsa online there. I think someone had bad experiences with a certain company, though I can't remember which one.

Edit: What's the proper grain for the wings? Would "A" grain be best due to it's flexibility? Also, a couple of sites list AAA grade balsa. What does that mean?

[retired1]

That will depend on who's plans you are using. Most will use A grain. Some will use a mixture of A and C grain. I think that there was one that used all C for the wing.

On line is at best a craps shoot. You can not see the grain or the wood. AAA quality does not have an agreed upon meaning, so it varies from company to company.

If you have a small portable balance, you can go to your hobby shops and sort out all of the wood by size and thickness, weight and grain. Hold the ones that pass that up to the light and pick the pieces with the least variations. You may have to go to several hobby shops. I think that most shops will sell Midwest brand. I have ordered contest grade balsa from them in the past and have received excellent product and terrible product. The last one was double the listed weight range, had knots and was terribly inconsistent.

A2Z used to sell superior material, but at a very high price. He now sells someone else's balsa so I do not know.
I have been very satisfied with the material from specialized balsa (Colorado) but they are a bit pricey if you get very specific on grain and weight.

I have bought from 3 other sources, but have not gone back to any of them. I will pay the price for quality.

The hobby shops in my area normally have leftovers, unless you get there fairly soon after a shipment arrives.

[iwonder]

What are some recommendations for buying balsa online (I'm looking to buy sheets of 1/32")? I've done a search through last year's forum, but I'm unable to find the discussion about buying balsa online there. I think someone had bad experiences with a certain company, though I can't remember which one.

Edit: What's the proper grain for the wings? Would "A" grain be best due to it's flexibility? Also, a couple of sites list AAA grade balsa. What does that mean?

A lot of structure builders(myself included) use specialized balsa for wood, I ordered some over the summer and I'm astounded at the quality. The nice thing about it is that the sheets are very even thickness(even at 1/32" and 1/64") and you can buy by weight and grain classification.

[illusionist]

What are some recommendations for buying balsa online (I'm looking to buy sheets of 1/32")? I've done a search through last year's forum, but I'm unable to find the discussion about buying balsa online there. I think someone had bad experiences with a certain company, though I can't remember which one.

Edit: What's the proper grain for the wings? Would "A" grain be best due to it's flexibility? Also, a couple of sites list AAA grade balsa. What does that mean?

A lot of structure builders(myself included) use specialized balsa for wood, I ordered some over the summer and I'm astounded at the quality. The nice thing about it is that the sheets are very even thickness(even at 1/32" and 1/64") and you can buy by weight and grain classification.

You mean this: http://www.specializedbalsa.com/ ?

That will depend on who's plans you are using. Most will use A grain. Some will use a mixture of A and C grain. I think that there was one that used all C for the wing.

If you have a small portable balance, you can go to your hobby shops and sort out all of the wood by size and thickness, weight and grain. Hold the ones that pass that up to the light and pick the pieces with the least variations. You may have to go to several hobby shops. I think that most shops will sell Midwest brand. I have ordered contest grade balsa from them in the past and have received excellent product and terrible product. The last one was double the listed weight range, had knots and was terribly inconsistent.

Thanks for clearing that up. My local hobby shop doesn't tend to have the best quality wood (at least the last two times I checked there). It splits easily, so I'm guessing it must be C grain. I don't think that'll work too well for gliders

[chalker7]

Thanks for clearing that up. My local hobby shop doesn't tend to have the best quality wood (at least the last two times I checked there). It splits easily, so I'm guessing it must be C grain. I don't think that'll work too well for gliders

I think you're flipping C and A. Almost all wood at local hobby shops is A/AB/B grain, with long vertical striations. C grain is much stiffer across the width of the sheet and is generally better suited for glider wings, tails and rudders. A/AB grain is great for the fuselage.

[_HenryHscioly_]

if fuselage has square cross section, which side, A or C grain, should face up?
I made my fuselage taller than wide, and put A grain on the side, just cuz it looked nice..

I got about 10 seconds on my glider.
My problem is, i have a really hard time transitioning.
I got it to work twice, at about 20degrees from vertical, 30degree left-bank.
If i get the degrees from vertical, off by a tiny bit, it doesnt work..
If too vertical, it kinda stalls, and nose-dives.
If too flat, it flys in an upside down parabola.
tried a total of about 20 times... 2/20....

it's ~3grams, ~2" chord.
It has long tail-arm...tiny horizontal stabilizer...
um.,,12" moment, 1.5" x 1"
I was guessing it's because my stabilizer isnt big enough?

[twototwenty]

To those who haven't yet noticed it, check this post out:
http://scioly.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php? ... 66#p220166

[illusionist]

If I were to take the Simple Simon Plan (20cm wingspan), and enlarge it so that it has ~30cm wingspan, would I have to lengthen all the other measurements by the same percentage in order to maintain proper balance and flying characteristics?

[7thGeneration]

Where are you guys getting your elastic from? Do normal rubber bands work?

[retired1]

Common rubber bands probably will not work well. Longer ones that you can get at office supply stores, wall mart and some hobby shops will probably work better. You can frequently get super sport tan rubber on line at places that sell model airplanes and ebay etc. This should be a bit better. Check with your middle schools in SO. Their chopper event should be using a good grade of rubber. I have seen recommendations anywhere from 1/16" to 1/8" for widths.