vikas1974

Hi !
I am new and wish to design an aeromodel. I have seen lot of pics of aeromodel building and what i have seen is that after making frame (wing or fusalage) the model is covered with balsa wood. I wonder why is it required . Can't it be covered now with just light covering material like monokote or lamination film or something similar? Will covering the model with balsa sheet will not add quite a lot of weight to the model ?

Why is it required ? for strength? But strength is already comin from the wooden frame !

Please let me know !

Thanks
vikas

DBCherry

My Feedback: (4)

In many instances the sheeting is added for additional strength. The wood stringers, or ribs, or longerons, can not provide sufficient strength to handle flight loads.
Many airplanes are built with minimal sheeting, like the leading edge and center section of the wing, and the area around the nose of the fuslage. In most (if not all) cases, leaving this sheeting out would result in a structural failure in flight. Not what you want.
Dennis-

BykrDan

I think sheeting is also more common on scale models of more modern aircraft.

Unsheeted ribs and stringers are more reminiscent of early WWI-era planes, in which case the sunken covering stretched over the frame looks quite appropriate. Sheeting gives airplanes that are attempting to look like a more modern craft a smooth-skinned appearance.

vikas1974

thanks dbcherry and BykrDan

I am no scale plane builder and i build .40 size. so will sheeting matter in such planes. If i use very hard and strong spruce / ply for stingers,spars,ribs etc will sheeting be required ?

Thanks again for such a prompt replies

rctrax

The structure will still flex causing trim changes with flight loads. sheeting is what prevents this