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Thursday, June 19, 2014

Quest Aurora Build, Part 5, Lug? & Cutting Standoffs

Here's a closeup of the lug in front of the face card.
You can see the plastic lug is open on the face card shot.

On the face card:
Directly opposite the lug is a raised black tunnel running almost the entire length of the body. This tunnel was on the prototype model and not part of the produced kit.
On the stick-on decal sheet is a thick two piece band to simulate the tunnel.



I don't quite understand these two steps.
Quest supplied die-cut balsa wings and rudders.
The builder has to cut out a lug standoff and two "cradle plates" for the glider.
Die-cutting was always done to make the build easier, whether it was a model airplane or rocket kit.
Of all the balsa pieces, these three are the hardest to cut out!

They aren't wide and the longest cuts go against the grain.
Be sure to use a sharp knife and make many light passes of the blade.
These pieces (especially the smaller stand off) can easily split down the grain.

2 comments:

  1. For cuts like these, cover the area to be cut with a piece of masking tape first. It'll hold things together a little better.

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  2. Hi Wallyum,
    Good tip! This balsa held together okay but I've seen other sheets that would have broken up when cutting against the grain like this.
    My question is: Why wasn't the pylon and lug standoff die cut with the other pieces?

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