Sanding Leading Edge
03-02-2003, 07:44 PM
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Sanding Leading Edge
I was wondering if it is better to make a sanding block the shape of the leading edge? Or can you buy a sanding block to sand the leading edge smooth and perfect? Or do you just do free hand? Thanx for the help.
03-03-2003, 12:02 AM
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Sanding Leading Edge
I use a small razor plane to shape the leading edge. Its quick and precise and it only takes light sanding with a block to prepare it for cover.
03-03-2003, 12:27 AM
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Sanding Leading Edge
For most planes... you don't need to be "perfect" about the LE shape. Fun-Fly types (non-competition), sport models and trainers, you won't notive small deviations in the LE shape.
LATER, when building a precision aircraft (scale competition or Pattern aerobatics, or IMAA aerobatics...) you'll want to make a shaped sanding block. The LE shape can be critical for precicion aerobatics, and noteable deviations in the LE of a scale plane can give a major downgrade (plus detracts from perorrmance of HEAVY scale warbirds... messing up your flight score.)
So its not a bad habit to get into to be using the shaped block...
LATER, when building a precision aircraft (scale competition or Pattern aerobatics, or IMAA aerobatics...) you'll want to make a shaped sanding block. The LE shape can be critical for precicion aerobatics, and noteable deviations in the LE of a scale plane can give a major downgrade (plus detracts from perorrmance of HEAVY scale warbirds... messing up your flight score.)
So its not a bad habit to get into to be using the shaped block...
03-04-2003, 03:07 PM
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Sanding Leading Edge
If you are concerned about a precision L.E. shape, make an accurate template and use the razor plane to shape the L.E to fit. To use a shaped sanding block, the block itself must be a precision mirror image of the desired shape, and I don't know how to create such a precision cavity, especially when you have to add sand paper into the groove and still maintain the accuracy.
