HappyRCFlyer
Active member
I'm sharing my hot wire foam cutter system, an easy DIY thing for cutting up EPS and a range of thick foams. I use Nicrome wire these days but other then that, it's the same system I use to this day. I'm going to do up a smaller one and attach it to my laser cutter for better control, sudo CNC but will still need the forms and weight so it cuts correctly. It will be a step up from a gravity fed system which is also an option to look up on how to do using the same bow/system shown.
I used to do a range of kits for people in the early 2000's using it and after opting out for doing them I watched Flight Test get onto the scene and was happy to see them carry the ball for US based foam creations on kits, empathized with them along such an uphill battle with a lot of work and little financial reward upon. Wishing them well but also knew they are headed for a lot of frustration, this market and business is not at all like most other industries.
I do a range of balsa based kits now and it's building momentum, I also have one series of wings that were designed as alternative wings for the Aeroscout, which is going to get it's own new thread in the balsa builder section here, but for this application, reintroducing the foam based kit's i'm starting out with it's simplest and latest version, the Aeroscout Stunt Wing. I'll be selling the laser cut forms for the diy people that want to hot wire cut their own and will be doing this as an alternative, foam based option to go with, something more for the non builder or those that don't have the patience for stick and covering construction.
The conversion from the ribs and the rest will be pretty painless.
I tend to always supplement the foam based creations with balsa and thin ply, in this case, 1/4" stock for the leading edges and main spars, with some 1/16" and 1/32" sheeting in other areas. Sharing things on the drawing board for that aspect.
I used to do a range of kits for people in the early 2000's using it and after opting out for doing them I watched Flight Test get onto the scene and was happy to see them carry the ball for US based foam creations on kits, empathized with them along such an uphill battle with a lot of work and little financial reward upon. Wishing them well but also knew they are headed for a lot of frustration, this market and business is not at all like most other industries.
I do a range of balsa based kits now and it's building momentum, I also have one series of wings that were designed as alternative wings for the Aeroscout, which is going to get it's own new thread in the balsa builder section here, but for this application, reintroducing the foam based kit's i'm starting out with it's simplest and latest version, the Aeroscout Stunt Wing. I'll be selling the laser cut forms for the diy people that want to hot wire cut their own and will be doing this as an alternative, foam based option to go with, something more for the non builder or those that don't have the patience for stick and covering construction.
The conversion from the ribs and the rest will be pretty painless.
I tend to always supplement the foam based creations with balsa and thin ply, in this case, 1/4" stock for the leading edges and main spars, with some 1/16" and 1/32" sheeting in other areas. Sharing things on the drawing board for that aspect.
