Creating a Balsa Wood Plane

Method

·         1. Choose a plane design on paper of the options provided

·         2. Cut out separate shapes from the plane design.

·         3. Collect two planks of balsa wood, one thin and one thick

·         4. Trace the cut out fuselage onto the thicker balsa wood

·         5. Trace the rest of the cut out plane parts onto the thinner balsa wood. Trace the wing twice

·         6. Using a scalpel, cut out all of the balsa plane parts. To ensure straight edges, use a ruler and then sandpaper as desired

·         7. Make an incision into the fuselage for the wings and another at the back of the body for the horizontal stabilizer

·         8. Angle the wings on a 3 inch slant and glue together

·         9. Glue the horizontal stabilizer into the back incision

·         10.Glue the vertical stabilizer onto the back of the body

·         11. Insert wings into the body and glue as required
       12. Add blu tack to the tip of the plane and decorate as desired 

 Precautions

·         1. Make sure you cut the balsa with a ruler to avoid cutting through a vital plane part

·         2. When gluing the plane together, make sure everything is exactly where you want it as it is difficult to take it apart once glued together

·         3. Don’t be too rough when sanding the pieces of balsa wood as this can lead to snapping them in half around weaker areas.