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Conference vmszoo::rc

Title:	Welcome To The Radio Control Conference
Notice:	dir's in 11, who's who in 4, sales in 6, auctions 19
Moderator:	VMSSG::FRIEDRICHS

Created:	Tue Jan 13 1987
Last Modified:	Thu Jun 05 1997
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	1706
Total number of notes:	27193

873.0. "Balsa fillers" by LEDS::HUGHES (Dave Hughes (LEDS::HUGHES) NKS1-1/E3 291-7214) Mon Feb 06 1989 09:12

    What's your favorite balsa filler and why?

    I've only used two:

    Goldberg Model Magic filler: Very light, goes on pretty well, sands very
    well. A caution on sanding: If you are like me and glop it on in a
    fairly rough layer and then sand it down to size, be careful of any
    ridges in it while sanding. If you leave a sharp ridge in the rough
    coat, when it dries it becomes hard and tends to break off while
    sanding. If you don't realize you've got a piece of it under the paper
    (I use an electric palm sander, which works great but you can't feel
    what's under it) the chunk of filler will roll around and make terrible
    dents and gouges in the wood. These then have to be filled, and the
    process repeats until you get it right!

    The other filler I've used is Aliphatic resin glue (Tower Hobbies
    Quick Sand) mixed with balsa dust. That's handy for filling small
    gaps while gluing, just put glue in the gap, sand a scrap piece of
    wood over the gap to generate sawdust, and then rub it into the
    glue.

    What do you use, and why?

    Dave Hughes

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
873.1	Red Devil = Model Magic	LEDS::WATT		`Mon Feb 06 1989 13:50`	9
	I bought Red Devil Spakle filler at a hardware store. I can't tell the difference between this and the Model Magic except for the price. It is the same light weight easy to sand stuff. It comes in plastic containers of various sizes. I scoop some out of the big container and store it in an empty model magic container so the rest won't dry out. Charlie
873.2	Spread the Red (Devil that is)	NEXUS::PAGE		`Mon Feb 06 1989 14:03`	11
	Yup, Red Devil it is, I'd swear Model Magic buy's it in 55 gallon drums from red devil. Also, Charlie, its water based so if it starts to dry out just put a couple drops of water in it and mix it up and its good as new!! Happy Sandings!! Bob Page
873.3	TRY THIS	IMBIBE::VOLLBRECHT		`Mon Feb 06 1989 14:59`	9
	Best,cheapest,and best sanding is vinyl spackel bought in any hardware store. Comes in pints to gallons easy to apply. art @KYO
873.4	Don't use the Heavy Stuff	LEDS::WATT		`Tue Feb 07 1989 08:23`	7
	Vinyl Spackel is VERY HEAVY. Use it on walls. There are some light filled things like the Red Devil that are much better. You can tell by picking up the can. If it feels empty it's the right stuff. If it feels full it's the vinyl stuff. CHarlie
873.5		VTMADE::SOUTIERE		`Tue Feb 07 1989 10:23`	4
	I too use Red Devil. It sands very easy, as a matter of fact, if you sand too much, it disappears! Ken
873.6	Another vote for the glass-filled stuff	LEDS::LEWIS		`Tue Feb 07 1989 10:39`	9
	Me too - although I don't recall the name Red Devil - I think mine was DAP - but it is the very light stuff, not vinyl spackling compound. I love it, it actually sands a little faster than balsa. I think it is also repackaged and sold as something called "Microfill". Three very small containers of Microfill match the cost of a gallon of the same stuff at Somerville Lumber. Bill
873.7	another question	DISCVR::JONEILL		`Thu Feb 09 1989 14:21`	4
	This is a little off track but I'll soon be assembling a Sure Flite P-39 airacobra and it's gonna need alot of filling around the seams. What is a good foam filler? Thanks
873.9		DISCVR::JONEILL		`Fri Feb 10 1989 06:58`	8
	Thanks Dan, My intention with this kit is to glass the whole thing. Kinda a practice ship for the future. Is this stuff you mentioned compatable with glassing? if not, what is? Also, is there any particular type of resin or epoxy thats supposed to be used with foam or better yet that shouldn't be used with foam. Thanks in advance
873.11	Don't use resin...	TALLIS::FISHER	Only 32 Days till Phoenix!	`Fri Feb 10 1989 08:20`	16
	Jim - polyester resin eats foam. I used it on my Sure Flight Cessna and had to rebuild much of the elevator - sigh. Two part epoxy is OK. CA also eats foam and they sell a primer that you can put on the foam first to allow the CA to work - I've never tried that. My Sure Flight kit recommended thinned Elmers to get a smooth coat on the foam. I just painted Dope on top of the bare foam - looked pretty bad tho. Anxious to hear more about this plane in the future. Please keep us posted both about the finish and the flying characteristics. What size engine are you putting in? Bye --+-- Kay R. Fisher \| ---------------O--------------- ================================================================================
873.12		DISCVR::JONEILL		`Mon Feb 13 1989 11:04`	3
	Not real sure what size engine will go in it, probably will depend on how much it ends up weighing. Jim
873.13	Yeh, water will do the trick...	CSC32::M_ANTRY		`Tue Feb 14 1989 10:04`	6
	I was working on my PANTERA last night and having to fill the spot where the spruce piece fits onto the balsa trailing edge and I was having trouble with the Filler (Dap) being to dry and so it was hard to smooth it in. I added about 1 teaspoon of water to the filler and mixed it up and Presto!!! It really went on nice and I am sure it will smooth right out.
873.14	I found the Red Devil filler	LEDS::HUGHES	Dave Hughes (LEDS::HUGHES) NKS1-1/E3 291-7214	`Mon Apr 10 1989 10:35`	13
	I was running low on my Goldberg Model Magic Filler. At my local non-discount hardware store I found Red Devil "ONETIME" Spackling compound. This is EXACTLY the same as Model Magic, except for the price: Model Magic 8 oz. $5.29 (Tower Hobbies) Red Devil 32 oz. $5.69 (non-discount hardware store) Gee, maybe I should repackage the stuff myself and sell it for $4 for 8 oz. Such a deal! Any takers? Dave Hughes
873.15	name that store...	K::FISHER	Stop and Smell the Balsa!	`Mon Apr 10 1989 13:32`	13
	> I was running low on my Goldberg Model Magic Filler. At my local > non-discount hardware store I found Red Devil "ONETIME" Spackling > compound. This is EXACTLY the same as Model Magic, except for the > price: ... > Dave Hughes Dave - what hardware store did you find it in? Bye --+-- Kay R. Fisher \| ---------------O--------------- ================================================================================
873.16	where I got it	LEDS::HUGHES	Dave Hughes (LEDS::HUGHES) NKS1-1/E3 291-7214	`Mon Apr 10 1989 17:38`	9
	> Dave - what hardware store did you find it in? Robinson's True Value Hardware, Main St, Hudson, MA. Check local hardware stores, it's probably in most of them, and most certainly in other True Value stores. Dave
873.17	Caldor Has It Too	LEDS::WATT		`Tue Apr 11 1989 08:26`	3
	Dave, Kay, THis stuff is everywhere in everything up to 5 gallon containers. Imagine how cheap it is if you buy that much. I got mine at Caldor's.
873.18	catalysing Model Magic filler ?	IMBUSY::ECULLEN	It will never fly, Wright !	`Wed Nov 11 1992 07:57`	21
	On the Model Magic tub it says to catalyse the filler before glassing if I rememeber correctly. Excuse my ignorance but how does one do this. In the past with another brand of filler of the same consistancy when I applied the cloth and polyester resin when I got to sanding it it (the filler) sort of broke up if one got too eager with the sanding. That said the Model Magic drys to a harder form that my previous filler and one can get a nice sheen off it when it is sanded down with 1200 grade paper. I was or am going to put a coat of sanding sealer over the plane. Will that catalyse the filler. Would I be correct in saying that catalysing the filler is sort of like letting something seap into it and to dry out such that it is a little tougher ? The previous notes mentioned a cheaper replacement that appears to be identical except in price - that would great to get over here but I have yet to see anything like it. By the way I pay approx �5.50 which is approx $8-9 which is lots to expensive ! Eric.