Oranges are not the only fruit

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Tim Tim

Guest
I don't mean to sound too cryptic, so what I mean by this is, how can you escape the Guillow's mould?

I have been doing lots of surfing with a view to getting a better knowledge of how to work with balsa, and try to produce to better quality work. I want to know about vintage plans and methods.

I have found a few excellent sites, and that has taken some work in itself. One in particular concerns itself with Guillows models. Now, I don't have a problem with that - most of my recent builds have been Guillows, plus a West Wings effort (the Pfiel Do330), and I had one from DRP models.

Yet I have seen reference to 'Diels' models, but know not where to get more info on them. I saw them referred to on the Penn Valley Hobby Centre web site.

I have also found a few sites with some beautiful vintage FF planes with these amazing high wings and elliptical-shaped wings. Are these built from plans? Do you just provide your own balsa?

Thoughts welcome.

Tim

Oh, one more thing. Does anyone have any experience of buying supplies from Australia? I have found a www site that does good delas, but don't know if I would be clobbered by customs. Your thoughts on that?
 
wonwinglo

wonwinglo

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Barry
I have found a few excellent sites, and that has taken some work in itself. One in particular concerns itself with Guillows models. Now, I don't have a problem with that - most of my recent builds have been Guillows, plus a West Wings effort (the Pfiel Do330), and I had one from DRP models.

Yet I have seen reference to 'Diels' models, but know not where to get more info on them. I saw them referred to on the Penn Valley Hobby Centre web site.

***Tim there are thousands of free downloadable plans on the internet which will keep your printer cartridges empty for a long while ! just type in any of the following into your browser- Flying aces plans,Model airplane news plans,free flight scale plans,vintage airplane drawings,Cleveland peerless plans,vintage airplane plans,that should brin up more than you will ever cope with.

The golden years 1932-36 saw almost every contemporary subject of the day covered as a magazine plan,these drawings are real gems and many magazine collectors have kindly and freely put these labours of love onto the internet for us all to enjoy.

With the current prices of vintage pulp magazines reaching astronomicam prices it is a good job these people have scanned them and saved what are in effect high acid paper relics which disintigrate before your very eyes.

The fun of building from these plans is that you can use best quality balsa,modern stable adhesives and as we have mentioned before fit them with modern micro motors guaranteed to set then soaring high up rather than a a short flight of poor duration,never has the time been better to build these models,all you need is the will to get stuck in and cut out all of those fiddly but rewarding parts.

I have no ideas about balsa supplies in Australia but I am sure Kiwi will be able to assist you in that direction ?

My advice is to get hold of any plan that takes your fancy,put your utmost personal skills into building it day by day and learn stage by stage what real building was all about,it will sure be a learning curve as many have found out,you will wrestle with areas that are not always clear on the drawing but once conquered you will have achieved the satisfaction of building something that is a piece of aeromodelling history.

The David Diels kits are beautiifully engineered kits,I believe SAMS stocks a few of them.

Regarding customs you will get stung if your order value exceeds a certain amount ( check with your local post office for details) but be warned balsa sheet does not travel very well unless packed firmly between ply panels,why not go to one of the specialised dealers such as Balsa Cabin,Inwoods etc these people import and cut their own timber,if you are prepared to pay for the best then 'MicroX' is the best wood you can buy.
 
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Tim Tim

Guest
Thanks Barry, I think I just moved a step closer to building my own from plans, and my own bought balsa.

Thanks,

Tim
 
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Tim Tim

Guest
Neville

Now were talking! That's masses of info, and I'll go through it and filter the bits most useful to me.

Many thanks,

Tim
 
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Tim Tim

Guest
Ok, I just rang Customs and Excise about this matter of import duty.

Turns out there's a trade wasr with the US right now, and you'll get charged 14% import duty, and top of that there's 17.5% VAT.

There are no restrictions, apparetnly, with bringing stuff from Australia.

Barry, I note, of course, your comment about the travel qualities of balsa.

Hope this info helps.

Tim
 
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