Balsa Build Along for 2019-2020

[The Hangar]

You know, I feel bad not having done the balsa build. I’ve just burned through my cash on the UMX planes lately, but hopefully I can pick one of these up this summer!

 

[speedbirdted]

You know, I feel bad not having done the balsa build. I’ve just burned through my cash on the UMX planes lately, but hopefully I can pick one of these up this summer!

At this rate, UMX planes cost more lol

 

[The Hangar]

At this rate, UMX planes cost more lol

Haha, true! But I can justify buying umx planes since most I get are used and I’m getting a good deal on them.

 

[speedbirdted]

But you can't build UMX planes and that's half the fun, or most of it while holed up in quarantine as we all should be right now

 

[kilroy07]

Okay I know I am a year late. I've got my Willy Nillies GLH-250 all built, but I am having a devil of a time covering the elevator.

I have some checkered film and the idea is to have the line where the rudder and stabilizer meet fall along the seam of the checkers...
What is happening in practice (and I've had a LOT of it... I've used up nearly 1/4 of the roll on this one part!!)
When the film shrinks it pulls the line off the edge of the balsa.

I've got my iron set to the lowest setting... Any ideas of what I might be doing wrong or tips/suggestions??

Sorry, I didn't take any pics of the 10 prior tries... Got to the point where I just needed to walk away last night...

 

[OliverW]

Okay I know I am a year late. I've got my Willy Nillies GLH-250 all built, but I am having a devil of a time covering the elevator.

I have some checkered film and the idea is to have the line where the rudder and stabilizer meet fall along the seam of the checkers...
What is happening in practice (and I've had a LOT of it... I've used up nearly 1/4 of the roll on this one part!!)
When the film shrinks it pulls the line off the edge of the balsa.

I've got my iron set to the lowest setting... Any ideas of what I might be doing wrong or tips/suggestions??
View attachment 207710
Sorry, I didn't take any pics of the 10 prior tries... Got to the point where I just needed to walk away last night...

It sounds like to me you're holding the iron down in one spot for too long causing the covering to pull due to the heat. I'd recommend moving the iron more across the piece

 

[Piotrsko]

Or turning down the heat on the iron even closer to off if you can. Or put a literal sock or two on the iron. Or prime the balsa with dope to make it sticky when you tack it, or wrap the film edge around the surface and trim in a straight line later.