More Fun Building a 1/2A Old Timer

One of my favorite tools for building stick balsa and spruce models, right, a Fourmost Products design No. 151, The Miter Cut, which mounts a single edged razor blade in a hinged handle enabling very precise cutting of balsa or spruce sticks. The left stop is adjustable along an accurately marked 90 degree arc so you can cut angles as well as 90 degree cutoffs. Here I am cutting identical pieces of spruce for the major cross-pieces of the fuselage cabin.
The picture at left shows cross piece glued to one fuselage side using a heavy builder’s square to align it vertically with the fuselage while maintaining a plumb line front-to-back. This will enable us to join the fuselage sides without using a jig. It is vital that the cross-pieces be glued vertically.

The metal squares enable the alignment of the cross-pieces while the glue dries. I let these dry overnight. I chose to use spruce 1/8 inch square for the cabin perimeter cross-pieces to give additional strength to the model. I will place gussets at each of the butt-joints to insure sufficient sheer strength to the joint and additonal glue area. By glueing the front and back of the cabin first, I can be sure of avoiding the "wandering line" phenomenon also called "banana Fuse syndrome"

I will position the adjacent fuse side to the cross-pieces and glue them, clamping the unit with adjustable clamps to insure that the glue joints are sound. The clamps are the smallest of the "ratchet" type that clamp when you squeeze the grip. These are very popular with woodworkers.

At left are two different brands of these clamps. The blue 6-inch "Irwin" ratchet clamps are the name brand and cost about $9.99 each at discount places. The black one is a chinese-made copy that sells for $1.99 at Harbor Freight Tools. AT right the two fuselage sides are glued and clamped and will be very useful in keeping everything squared up and pressure applied to the joints to insure a solid bond