Here's a picture from a previous post showing the cracks that started in a thin plastic area.
The same method is used to fill the recessed mold lines in nose cones.
Squeeze out a drop of medium super glue on scrap cardboard. Dip a toothpick in the drop and drag the tip across the crack.
It may take a few applications to build up and fill the gap.
After it dries, sand with 400 grit.
It's better but could still show a faint separation later after paint.
Happy Thanksgiving, Chris. Thanks for continuing to share your skill and knowledge.
ReplyDeleteCame across a tip today and thought of this blog. Try spraying on hairspray (cheap stuff should do) on balsa to seal the surface before applying filler. Apparently an old school RC airplane method.
ReplyDeleteHi Tim,
DeleteI haven't heard of that technique. I'll have to buy some hairspray and check it out.
If I'm not mistaken, one of the components of hairspray can be polyvinyl acetate (PVA). PVA is probably something you're already familiar with -- white glue.
DeleteHave sometimes seen mention of thinned (often with rubbing alcohol) PVA being used as an alternative to clear dope for "stick-and-tissue" model aeroplanes.
We all probably remember the method of mixing (unscented) talcum powder or cornstarch into clear dope (with thinner added so that mixture isn't goopy) to make sanding sealer.