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Jordyn Collier
39 articles

What is this?

February 9, 2019 · in Aviation · · 10 · 2K
This article is part of a series:
  1. What is this?
  2. Update No.2: C-47 Skytrain

Hello all. It's me again. I am so excited. I just finished the fuselage of this scale balsa wood plane that I've been working on since October. What do you think this is? Also, it had the option to turn it into RC or rubber band powered, and seeing as I know I will want it to fly, I thought I'd ask you guys if that was a good idea. Good luck guessing.

Reader reactions:
10  Awesome

10 responses

  1. Jordyn,

    At this point this looks terrific. Whatever you choose to do with it is your choice. But I will just say that what you show here is certainly more of a skill level than plastic. Not that plastic is not a desirable skill, it is just that working in wood is fun and indeed more intense. Finish this in whatever way you choose and just marvel at the accomplishment you achieve. Growing up, solid balsa and stick and tissue is all I knew. It requires a lot more skill and devotion. Finish this in any form you desire then keep it forever as it will prove you have mastered an age old degree of model building. My compliments to you on the fine job you have done so far. Stick with this hobby, you are on your way

    Frank

  2. Look like it could be a balsa wood DC-3 or a C-47 to me... rubber power might be hard to do. I would consider going with two small electric motors and built it as a simple RC model. Good luck with it and please keep us posted...

    Frank has some great advice too. Build it how you want to and have some fun. I remember my first balsa plane. It was a Guillows Spitfire with a 16 1/2 inch wing span. I was also 8 years old...

    Have some fun with it !

  3. Were it me, I'd be afraid to fly it after all this fine work lest it end up kindling. 🙁

    • Honestly, I feel the same. However, I am still a seven year old at heart when it comes to planes and I like seeing them fly. I guess I'll cross that bridge when I get there.

  4. Yes that was my shot at first sight: Guillows C-47. Great model, I built several of those in my youth but then, electric motors and batteries were too heavy for this small size. Today things are very different. If you want to make it RC, you sure can do so!

  5. C-47? Coming along great!

  6. I'll join in with thw DC-3 / C-47 crowd. You've done a great job on it, too anyone with a little aircraft ID knowledge can see what it is in a heartbeat!

    Frank gave you great advice =- be proud of your work because balsa modeling is the next step up from plastic.

    Bravo, Jordyn ... Bravo!

  7. Oh that brings back memories of balsa kits from Comet, Cleveland and later Monogram Speedee Bilt. Testors and Ambroid glue and dope as they used to call the paint for those balsa models. Thanks for sharing that C-47. Please post more as that build progresses.

  8. I have converted several balsa kits to electric RC in the past few years. If you already fly micro RC, you know that the new micro motors, batteries and electronics make this much easier than it was even several years ago. The planes are more fragile than the foamies that are out there now, but they fly great and you'll have the satisfaction of having built it.

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