Hadn't seen this thread until you mentioned it in the Ask Chad thread. I'm one of those who've requested a balsa episode as well
I've built quite a few balsa models in my life...but never really flew one yet. I did a lot of free flight as a kid but quickly got tired of the repairs on balsa from flights with such limited control. And it was balsa that brought me back into the hobby about 4 years ago when Make magazine ran an article with downloadable plans for the Medicine Man glider:
http://archive.makezine.com/17/model_airplane/ (Plans are still posted along with build instructions:
http://makezine.com/projects/make-17/medicine-man-glider/)
Breaking out a building board and cutting balsa again sure felt good:
(Full build log is on my photo site here:
http://www.dunephotos.com/Hobbies/R...-Glider/7710282_Zwg2Q5#!i=498158286&k=d79vhTm )
Little side note - Dang, seeing those photos again I'm realizing just how much difference the 50lbs I lost about 18 months ago has made!
I "flew" it for a few hand tosses but that's it so far. First day out with it broke a couple of things after gliding only a dozen feet or so. Repaired that, took it back out and had a better test toss - but then broke a wing while carrying it
Repaired that...but have been too chicken to try flying it again since. I do dust it off every couple of months - but it doesn't even have an RX in it right now. Part of my reluctance to fly it is fear of breaking it again...but part is also not having a good way to launch a glider. Have thought about making a hi-start (and after the video a week or two ago am thinking about it again) or trying towing...but just haven't worked up the nerve for either.
I did order the optional motor pod the designer came up with and have it 90% built...but not being in a hurry to fly I haven't been in a hurry to finish that
Plus the idea of just letting the motor go until the battery is dead just doesn't sit right with me so I've been looking at ways to set it up a bit better but haven't settled on anything. Keep forgetting to grab a brushed motor controller for it...
Even though it's currently "fixed" I've learned enough from actually flying foamies the past 2 years to know that it really needs some bench time before I try to fly it again. I didn't know anything about setting up linkages and servos when I built it - and the instructions didn't clarify much. I know now that one of the problems I had with it is because I didn't mount my linkages with the holes over the hinge lines. So those need to be moved.
I'm really getting the itch to dust it off, fix it up and get it in the air...but I've also been thinking about tackling another balsa build. Just not sure if I can pull it off due to limited table space and a 3 year old in the house
I've always wanted to do a nitro plane...but not sure I'm quite up for it just yet. A balsa electric is sounding really tempting though. With the foam planes they're so quick and easy to build it's easy to be reckless with them and try things that are likely to result in a crash. But there's just something about a nice balsa plane that's calling to me still.
The medicine man is a fun build but more work than the lazer cut ones since even the kit isn't pre-cut...just "printed" wood so you don't have to transfer plans. Still with free plans and being a fairly simple build it could be something to look at for a group build. Not using any special parts or pre-cut bits it's easy to build out of locally sourced parts anywhere. And being a 2 channel glider it's a fairly easy flier too (from what little "success" I've had with it so far.)
I'm going to try to remember to keep an eye on this thread...winter is my flying time and summer is more for building since we hide inside for summer...but balsa has been calling to me again...