Balsa for flying models?

The Continental Op

Not it seems a very active forum but I'll give it a go anyway.

I'm looking for supplies for making flying models in Ireland. In particular balsa wood.

Is there a supplier thats known for this?

the_pen_turner

carpentry store in naas

The Continental Op

Thanks. I can see they have sheets of balsa but I'm looking for a mix of sizes from 1.5mm square section up to 10mm sheets. Do they keep other sizes in the shop?

Edit if all else fails that might do as I can laser cut the narrow sections out of full sheets.

the_pen_turner

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123634952#Comment_123634952

not sure. its a while since i was there. i vagally remember a bundle of diferent sized

deandean

Lots of balsa wood on amazon uk.

The Continental Op

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123635410#Comment_123635410

Surprising little actually. The sizes are nearly all short. The std size for model making was always 36inches long. 12inches (30cm) which is what you find on Amazon isn't much use to me. OK so delivery of 36inch lengths might be difficult but even 18inches would have been more useful.

T-Maxx

How old are you (Continental) OP? Plant a few balsa trees and wait patiently? 😆 Coolwings might be able to help but I'd guess balsa has really gone oldschool and everything nowadays are foam or carbon graphite or composite something something.

The Continental Op

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123635737#Comment_123635737

You hit it in one there - how old are you? I'm trying to relive my childhood by making balsawood flying models with the neighbors kids.

Plenty of free plans out there https://outerzone.co.uk/ and I've a good laser cutter/engraver for cutting out parts. I've one kit but its a bit to fiddly for a first model (not my first) so thinking about making something simple like this https://outerzone.co.uk/plan_details.asp?ID=1319 .

T-Maxx

I think it’s great that the kids are interested in modelmaking and fair play to you for making the effort. Or perhaps they're not that keen and you're just using them as an excuse to rekindle an old hobby?! 🤔. Coincidentally earlier this evening I was asking my lad about a half-built model of his that's taking up space on the workbench and his lack of enthusiasm is just a complete opposite from when I was a kid - I spent just about all my pocket money on models. Nowadays it's just x-box and mobile phones with a bit of school in between.

The Continental Op

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123635983#Comment_123635983

I picked up a new complete in box flying balsa model in a charity shop for a euro and gave it to the neighbors kids. Thought it might interest them, it was sitting around for a while and now one of them wants to build it. As with all good ideas it has its problems. Now I've looked at it properly its a little too difficult for a first time model. If I build it with them I'll be the one doing all the work. I'd like them to invest some effort in it themselves so its not one flight a crash and forgotten. Parents will be delighted to get them off the PS5.

The Continental Op

To answer my own question this seems the best option I can find so far (Irish shop) and has the traditional sizes I'd expect. Note the metric sizes are probably all conversions from imperial eg 1/16" = 1.6mm

Evans Art Supplies

coolwings

Evans & The Model Shop Capel Street, would be your main shop options I guess.

If you're only looking for small qty every aeromodeller, myself incl, has a personal stock for coming projects. We all get it from somewhere. So visit your local RC model flying Club and say Hello!

First projects for kids are hard to get them involved and still succeed. A kite making project with plastic from the florist shop plus a few wood spars & ball of string possibly? Free-flight chuckie planes are great too. Rubber band crawlers made with match, band, wax & sewing thread spools also are cheap & easy and inspire well.

Start them off with paper planes, then add a paperclip on the nose to balance it and double the flight even though it's heavier. If they appreciate a technical improvement is actually a thing you could be on a winner with more complicated projects.

Maybe something in that helps! :-)