Laser Cut Kits

[scigs30]

I see all the 300 and 700 series kits are laser cut.
http://www.guillow.com/300Series.aspx
http://www.guillow.com/series700.aspx

[Philc40]

I think that the 400 series aircraft are laser cut too.

[goose]

And so are the 200 series.

What's next? I vote for the 500 series!

[Xanadu]

Nice...........be nice for the 1000 series as well. I am sure that one day they all will be, just going to take some time.

[regular guy]

xanadu
i don't like 'em.
i remember it took a good touch to know
when the balsa piece would pop out of DIECUT sheet.
sometimes the piece would split along the grain and
that was a whole step gluing that back together.

Have A Nice Day!

[Steve Blanchard]

Regular Guy,
I think I am misunderstanding you. You say you DON'T like the laser cut? And it's because the Die cut pieces break sometimes? What does one have to do with the other? I get that the die cut versions have inherent problems such as crushed but not cut areas that cause splitting and the fact that they needed to use a sturdier (read heavier) balsa to get the pieces cut without crushing. These have been eliminated with the advent of laser cutting. The balsa can be much lighter (and it seems Guillows is trying a little in this direction) and the cuts are perfect with no broken pieces. I am confused at your comment. please clarify.

Thanks,

Steve

[SteveM]

Considering he's never touched laser cut wood or even seen a photo of it till a few days a go, it seems like forming such an opinion is based solely on resistance to change rather than any experience with both die cut and laser cut.

[Steve Blanchard]

Steve M,
That was my assumption but I didn't want to read into it too much. It's tough on these forums to get a good idea of who everyone is really. Thanks for confirming my initial assessment.

Steve

[regular guy]

steve's
from the cover of Guillows 'Rubber Powered Model Airplanes'
'Plus Advanced Design-Your-Own Instruction'
i think the goal of balsa model airplane building is
to advance to where you're making your own.
at some point you're going to have to deal with blade cut balsa.

Have A Nice Day!

[SteveM]

i think the goal of balsa model airplane building is
to advance to where you're making your own.
at some point you're going to have to deal with blade cut balsa.

Would that look anything like this scratch built Albatross that I made from Earl Stahl plans?

How do you classify scratch builders that draft the parts in CAD and then have the parts laser cut for them? Scum of the earth?

[Steve Blanchard]

Regular Guy,

Please feel free to view my builds on Small Flying Arts of either Focke Wulf F19 Twin rubber powered FAC Scale or my Beechcraft model 18 build that I am doing right now. Both from my own plans. 99.999% of my building is scratch built from either published plans or plans of my own design. Again this has nothing to do with the quality of laser cut balsa kits. Below I have some shots of the builds I mention.
First the Beechcraft. I have finished the wing and the nacelles:


Next is the Focke Wulf. There are videos available of this in flight as well.



Have a Nice Day!

[Steve Blanchard]

Steve M.

Nice job on the Earl Stahl Albatross. I built the same one several years ago. It was an excellent flier!

Steve

[regular guy]

mr blanchard
'feel free' . you got that right.this is America, until further notice.
i think the quality of the laser cutting is probably first rate.
it's just not for me.
i could see that coming about now they have custom laser cutting
from cad files.
that work on your plane is first rate!
interesting subject choice too!

Have A Nice Day!

[Steve Blanchard]

Regular Guy,

Thanks for the compliments. Much appreciated. I honestly feel that there are times when laser cut is appropriate and times when it's not. I too prefer to scratch build so I can pick the balsa I want and and adjust the plan as I need to make the plane more flyable. It's not a matter of whether you like laser cutting or not it was your reasons that I didn't understand.

I'm Having a Nice Day!

Steve

[Phugoid]

Hi Steve B.

Absolutely awsome beechcraft build. I have been following it on the SFA - a real work of art.

I hope they laser cut the 500 series next.

Andrew