How to Scribe Balsa Aircraft

[stelios2000]

I am making one mirage2000 in 1/32.

at least i am trying.

anyway

i have made half the wing and half the fuselage all from balsa sheet.

I have a problem.When and if i finished it how will i make all the lines and panels?

The balsa wood is TOO thin and cant make anything.

any ideas?

thanks in advance

[maverick728470]

Stelios2000,

When i was working on my B-17F.I had the idea as to the panel lines and etc.After primering the whole plane at least three times and to sanding it down alot.I used some spot putty in thin coats and sanded them down as not to sand through the balsa wood sheets i used that were 1/16th inch thick.But later on found some yellowish type wood filler at a hardware store here in town and covered the whole plane with it and let it sit up for about two days as to let the filler dry real good.Used some fine sandpapaer as to sanding down the filler and made sure that all the areas were smooth and primered again.Worked better the second time around.

Erwin was doing some quick builds of some balsa kits and he also used a filler type sealer for the balsawood from the kits he was doing and it worked well for him.U might also want to go back through the What's New and take alook at the articles on the builds he was doing that to can be of some help for u as well.Larry

[jetmex]

Here's a trick from my RC days that might help you. Go to an office supply store and find some Chart Pak tape; it's used for bulletin boards and such. I think the smallest size is 1/64", but it does come in varying widths. After sealing the wood skin by whatever method you choose, lay out your panel lines with the tape. Then spray several coats of primer (I'm assuming you're not going to fly the model?) with a very light sanding between coats. Allow to dry thoroughly, then carefully peel the tape from the model. You should end up with a shallow recessed line where the tape was. Gently sand the edges to remove any ridges where the paint met the tape. The more primer you apply, the deeper the panel line will be. A raised or butt type joint can be represented by leaving the tape in place and painting over it.

 

If the 1/64" tape looks too wide for your model, you may be able to cut it thinner, or you can use the masking tape of your choice cut to fit. Automotive pin striping tape will work just as well, and you might be able to find that in narrower widths.

 

Paint your model as usual, using light coats as not to fill in the panel line.

 

There is also an RC product called Flite Metal, which is an adhesive backed foil type material used to duplicate natural metal finishes. This can be applied in sections to duplicate panel separations and can be painted if desired.

 

http://www.flitemetal.com/

 

Another method -- assemble and paint your model, apply the decals, then draw the panel lines on with either a drafting pen (these come with different sized tips), or a lead pencil. Lines applied like this will have to be sealed to prevent them from being rubbed off.

[Impatient Pete]

You could also try "paneling" or skinning the thing with very thin sheet styrene. It may give you that panelled look of the real thing. And, if you use double sided tape, you can remove it and adjust it (as long as the tape isn't too sticky) and then seal the edges of the panels when you get them the way you want them.

 

Oh, or maybe a thin aluminum tape. Just be careful!

 

Good luck,

 

Pete

[stevegallacci]

My very good freind, Mr. Surfacer, is a good sanding sealer for balsa or bass wood and a layer of any real thickness will take careful scribing lines pretty well. To re-enforce very thin wooden edges, I saturate the wood with very thin CA glue, just to be sure.

[Cleveland Model Resins]

Hi Stelios,

Whilst doing the masters for my old 32nd Buccaneer I used an old way of scribing balsa parts ....

rough out the parts from blasa to get a good shape and then coat with Polyester resin --- the stuff used for laying up boats etc ... this gives a good hard surface to scribe. Lay on 2 coats of what is known as gell coat and polish to a fine surface. Then you can scribe away.

I would say try it on a bit of balsa first and please make sure you use the polyester in a WELL VENTILATED place. It smells.

[Erwin]

Hi,

 

I have never cribbed lines on any of my wooden models.Not even after adding several coats of balsasealer.

 

It might work well when going with the woodgrain,but it won't when going against.

 

Another option is to draw them with a very fine pen.But the tip from Pete is also a good one. Get the finest plasticsheet and make pannels from that.