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paper, or masking tape. Be sure to test your masking tape on the scrap
foam to make sure that it doesn’t peel the skin off when you remove it.
For the rest of the areas (Like attaching the wings) you’ll want to
brush the glue on. Just spray some on some waxed paper, and use a
scrap of foam, or a disposable brush to paint it right on both surfaces to
be glued.
The 3M-78 has a long working time. After application, the glue can
sit for over half an hour and still make a full-strength bond. If you plan
ahead a little, you can apply the glue to all the fuselage surfaces in the
order that you’ll be assembling them, and the first ones will be ready to
press together by the time that you’re done applying glue to the last.
Then proceed in order, for an exceptionally quick build.
3) “Rolling the Foam”
You’ll be bending the foam to form the airfoil for the wings. You’ll also
need to bend the windshield and Hood parts to conform to their curves.
You need to get a feel for how much pressure the foam will take before
it gives.
a) Wings: Find yourself a section of 2” PVC pipe, (Or a BaseBall Bat,
Rolling Pin, Kitchen Counter, Bathtub edge, etc…) and press the wings
firmly and evenly down onto it to form the airfoil shape. It doesn’t take
too much pressure. The airfoil curves more sharply right near the
leading edge, so you can use smaller diameter pipe (or a Broomhandle
etc.) to add a little more curvature there if you feel it’s necessary. It’s
also acceptable to just use your thumb, and the side of your index finger
to work the leading edge bend a little.
4) Waterproofing
a) The
easiest
way
to
test
your plane for watertightness, without going
swimming is to fill up your bathtub. Take the wings off the plane first,
and take out the batteries if they’re in there. Set the plane in a full
bathtub. You’ll notice that the plane sits very high in the water
especially without the battery and motor weight. Water wouldn’t come
in even if there were big holes in the sides… So, you’ll want to push the
plane down in the water about halfway. Hold it that way for about 30
seconds, and then take the plane up and inspect the insides. The
formers will tend to section off the insides, making it relatively easy to
spot the location of any leaks.
b) If you do find any leaks. You might be able to seal them up by applying
some hot glue or epoxy to the inside seams of the section where you
see the water. If the spot is hard to reach, try soaking a Q-Tip in the
glue, and then applying it that way.
c) Or, you can try a simpler method: Candle wax. That’s right. Simpy tip a
candle into the fuselage, and let the wax run down the length of the
seams and seal the inside. If you can’t get to the inside, the candle wax
can also be used to seal the outside seams. Again, since the wax can
be difficult to control, a Q-Tip can be handy.
