This is one of the few kits where pre-cut (die-cut) balsa needs to be recut. It makes me wonder if the die-cut razor blocks was made too long. Or, maybe the extra length was needed for strength when doing that center punch?
You are told to cut off 1/8" off each side of the die-cut panel supports. Then bevel the ends to a 45 degree angle.
Later on, there has to be a 1/8" space between the top of the panel support and the bottom edge of the wrap.
On the left is an early dry fit of the wrap and top of the panel support.
In the inset picture is the beveled top.
I wonder how much weight the 3D parts added to the model?
ReplyDeleteI think that they left some extra material at the ends of the support parts to make sure that the part doesn't end up splitting during the die-cut process, as well as reducing possibility could suffer a split during shipping and handling (we've all probably experienced the situation where parts had popped loose from the sheet and perhaps a part or two got damaged from being loose in the package).
ReplyDeleteJust re-read the instructions and realized yet another reason why the support part may have been left long --- the extra material on the ends would also help to make it less likely for the part to split while you're sanding the shallow curve (to fit the body tube) in the part.
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