Fenders

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Bullet

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I was bored and had some time this evening so I made an attempt at some GEE fenders out of balsa. Still bored so I thought i would share. These were intended for my son's scout car...I was pleased with how they turned out, so maybe they wont go on his car. JK! or maybe make a second set. Here's a pic with a the real deal next to them....
IMG_1303_zpsyohegx6o.jpg
 
Nice work. I'm waiting on my first set of gee fenders. I had the same idea to use them as a template for my son's next car too.
 
Nice work on the fenders.

Has anyone worked with balsa foam to make fenders ? Is it worth buying a block?
 
Thx! The tips were coated with CA so they wouldn't break off, then used a quick drying water-based sanding sealer after they were shaped. They took a couple hours, think I could do a set faster next time now that I've got a process.

Lightning Boy is the master of Balsa fenders!
Click to expand...

Ya, LB's car has some sweet full side fenders...he's the man! Looked like you did some nice work on yours also from last month! I always wondered how long it to make a set of those. It's not as bad as I thought it might be.
 
You apply the CA after is is all sanded to the shape you want or do you get it close then seal with CA and do a final detail sanding?
 
I cut out with scroll saw, clean up the edges on sandpaper, paint a little CA on the thin edges, shape the rest by hand, then seal with the water-based sealer. Then paint, but the boys haven't decided on colors yet. /images/boards/smilies/wink.gif
 
Good idea to use CA on it before final sanding. I tried to make my own and failed miserably when the edges cracked off. Wish I had thought about using CA - thanks!
 
ngyoung said:
Heard basswood is a little easier to work with even if slightly heavier.
Click to expand...

Most of my chassis are being built from basswood and I find it much easier to work with but it's all about the weight so I think if I'm going to build fenders then I'm going to have to learn to make them from balsa. I should make a jig to do it - that way they are consistent in size and shape. My last ones kept being whittled down smaller and smaller as I was trying to get them all sized the same. Ended up with fenders so small that they would work on a matchbox car. LOL!
 
Nice Work! Wondering how much they weigh compared to the real deal?
 
Bullet said:
I cant take credit for the CA idea, read it on here somewhere, maybe Lightning Boy. Maybe used for a different reason though.
Click to expand...

Yeah, that's a tip a gave a while back. The key to making balsa fenders is to coat the inside radius with CA right after the rough cut and before any shaping. Otherwise those thin edges will break off too easily while shaping the fender.
 
I've been using this technique for years. Gel superglue works best for this application. http://www.pinewoodderbyonline.com/post/show_single_post?pid=1273424786&postcount=6
 
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