Fellow hot wire foam cutters, please feel free to weigh in.

[Merv]

+1 on nichrome wire. I tried may other wires, the work, but nichrome is by far the best.

+1 buying from https://jacobs-online.biz/nichrome_wire.htm Lots of good information, good prices, great service. Many sizes of wire and transformers.

I've had good luck using hot glue to join stuff, the hot wire will go right through it.

 

[Taildragger]

Spackle?

 

[cyclone3350]

I am digging this foam cutting. With a set of cores, this is making for a light & strong set of wings. Not as time saving as I thought, but sure beats hand cutting a bunch of ribs.

 

[Off-topic jes]

I’ve been following along with your builds for a super long time I like to build my wings out of foam like you my next project is a fourth scale Cessna 140 I will be building the wings with the methods that I have learned from you and the fuselage out of balsa thanks for being a great member

 

[Off-topic jes]

Spackle?
View attachment 216706

Spackle works great try red Devil it’s very light

 

[Off-topic jes]

Yes! This thread should be full of good information. Hoping to get into hotwired planes this summer!

It’s fantastic I like to use it for my 1/4 scales

 

[Off-topic jes]

my howire projects can't be done in one month....
View attachment 216079

😂lol

 

[Off-topic jes]

I am currently building a 1/5 Gee Bee Sportster using old school methods with a foam core wing. This is my fourth but most challenging wing to date. I am pleased to say that so far, this cutting method I've used worked out very well. I am sure there R many cutters out there & many more who R interested in doing the same. So I am hoping by posting this thread, others will weigh in with their experiences as well. First, I would like to describe the equipment that I am using & how I would rate them. Being new to this process, all I can say, is, that I am very satisfied as to how these cutters work. The first is my table cutter that I bought from EBay. I cannot remember the exact listing I bought this from, but this one has the same specs as mine. https://www.ebay.com/itm/143610667439?hash=item216fdce1af:g:PWkAAOSwDkVaD1Ie The bow cutter I built using instructions & parts from Jacobs Online. I have it set up to operate a 30" & an 18" bow. I have nothing to compare it to, but I just think that this one is the bee's knee's of amateur cutters. Here is the video

The next set of photos R my first 3 attempts of cutting out foam wings The first 2 R small 24" WS and the last one was 54". For the racer and the pattern plane, pink foam was used. The F5 propjet is Hobby Lobby craft foam. The racer had a wide balsa strips glued to the LE & TE with thin strips in between to simulate ribs. Microlite covering & WB paint for the yellow is what finished it off. This is the method I am going to use on the Gee Bee adapted for a larger scale. The F5 is fully sheeted & the pattern plane is WB topcoat fibereglass over pink foam with WB paint. These wings were fairly easy after a some trial & error. Straight lines for the LE & TE, rib patterns pinned to the sides, & follow through with the bow. The Gee Bee has semi elliptical rounded wing tips. I did this one by dividing the wing into 3 sections. The straight LE & TE as one, & then I did the tips into 2 & made the curves into straight lines for the hot wire cutting. I then taped the sections together & cut the curves back into the wing with an Exacto Long carving blade. U can see how well the sections lined up & the symmetrical step down from the different size ribs to the tips. I hope that @wilmracer has some his experiences to share. He is doing a giant 1/9th B-17. He did his wings using a box method that is just beyond amazing.
View attachment 216062

I’ve been following along with the GB sportster build that thing looks great

 

[Off-topic jes]

My most recent project I built the wings out of foam and used your spar method

 

[cyclone3350]

I’ve been following along with your builds for a super long time I like to build my wings out of foam like you my next project is a fourth scale Cessna 140 I will be building the wings with the methods that I have learned from you and the fuselage out of balsa thanks for being a great member

Oh man, another one of those classic high wings I could just stuff my basement with. Very under represented @ most flying fields. When U do, please post, I would like to see that one done. Waaay back in my younger day, I almost bought a Champ, but a need for reliable transportation took precedence. Around the same time, a good friend of mine found a basket case of a 140 for like 2500.00. I thought he was crazy, but it turned out to be very restorable, economical & a great Sunday flyer.

 

[cyclone3350]

My most recent project I built the wings out of foam and used your spar method

Awesome. I hope this inspires others to join in on the fun of foam cutting. Have U seen @wilmracer Sweet Pea?

 

[Taildragger]

My most recent project I built the wings out of foam and used your spar method

Hey! that has both my favorite types of landing gear (aluminum and wire)

 

[Off-topic jes]

Awesome. I hope this inspires others to join in on the fun of foam cutting. Have U seen @wilmracer Sweet Pea?

Yup looks so nice!

 

[Off-topic jes]

Oh man, another one of those classic high wings I could just stuff my basement with. Very under represented @ most flying fields. When U do, please post, I would like to see that one done. Waaay back in my younger day, I almost bought a Champ, but a need for reliable transportation took precedence. Around the same time, a good friend of mine found a basket case of a 140 for like 2500.00. I thought he was crazy, but it turned out to be very restorable, economical & a great Sunday flyer.

Will do if you wanna follow me you’ll see when I start the build should be posting in a couple weeks maybe two!😂😁😬

 

[Off-topic jes]

Oh man, another one of those classic high wings I could just stuff my basement with. Very under represented @ most flying fields. When U do, please post, I would like to see that one done. Waaay back in my younger day, I almost bought a Champ, but a need for reliable transportation took precedence. Around the same time, a good friend of mine found a basket case of a 140 for like 2500.00. I thought he was crazy, but it turned out to be very restorable, economical & a great Sunday flyer.

By the way it’s not my business but you should’ve bought that champ no matter what it took!😄😁 I know would have

 

[Off-topic jes]

Do you guys have one of these old magazines I love looking through them

 

[Off-topic jes]

Here are my plans!

 

[FlamingRCAirplanes]

Here are my plans!

Awesome!

 

[Taildragger]

@cyclone3350 is a 2s lipo going to be acceptable to power a 12in hotwire bow? or should I just wait and test it later...

 

[cyclone3350]

@cyclone3350 is a 2s lipo going to be acceptable to power a 12in hotwire bow? or should I just wait and test it later...

For a 12", that should work based on what I am using. But keep in mind, electrical knowledge is a big weak spot for me. I went with an AC power unit, because, that was the first thing I saw online. I have a dimmer switch, & with a volt meter I marked the volts in increments of 3 volts for output. For running my 36" 28 gauge wire, it takes about 23v @ around 8a. This also makes for a hot wire to run quick cuts which I find is open to to bad cut errors . I could use less to move more slowly & be more consistent with ensuring the wire doesn't drift off the pattern or if I am not consistent with speed, I find a hot wire can leave deep divots. My 18" bow, as U would guess, take half of that in volts. If U R using and ESC with a servo tester type power supply, try testing different settings even if your first cut goes well on one setting to have comparison to what works out best. For me it was a lot of testing with volts, pull speed and just trying to get the hang of it in general & still learning.