I finally started to build the Chipmunk. All parts were cut with my Cricut Maker. I am using foam from Hefty foam platters. It is denser than the meat tray foam I was using. Comes out to be about 1/16 in thick. Seems to be pretty stiff as well. Saves on balsa needed for the kit. I'm using my new magnetic build board and magnets I got at Hobby Lobby. The balsa came from Amazon and seems to be pretty good.
I must admit it looks effective and would be very light . I guess that you are leaving the TE at 1/16 ?
Happy building
John
Yes the balsa stringers are all the size called for in the plans. I used the Cricut to make all the stringers
I got the wings finished and the elevator as well. I decided to build the elevator according to the plan. I did use 1/8 strips for the cross pieces. I could have used foam sheet but I am covering with yellow tissue so I thought it wouldn't look right. The rudder I am using foam but I think it has enough added graphics to look okay.
I wish I had spent a bit more time aligning the spar slots on the formers. Some were off enough to be irritating. The fuselage really has a lot of spars!
Got almost all the stringers on. Man there are a lot of stringers!
Guess I have to put in the obligatory put together bones shot. Will start covering soon still need to make a decision on canopy. I'm a little afraid of the one in the plans, trying to get it to glue together.
Not sure what I was thinking I made the ribs where the 2 wing halves go together out of foam. Not a good idea. I recut them in balsa, it will glue together much better.
Okay fixed the issue with the ribs I recut them in balsa and it all looks solid to me. Not sure why they didn't reinforce the center spar joint. I may do that. I finished the fuselage and put the rubber motor anchor one section forward of plans as had been recommended. I tried doing the panel lines before covering the elevator and rudder. I have to say that worked great. I may need to find a different pen as I used a fine point Sharpie. I wasn't thrilled with it I'd like a finer point.
The tissue I am using came from Hobby Lobby brand is Brother Sister. It's a dollar for 8 sheets with lots of colors available. We'll see. It shrinks real well.
I got the fuselage covered haven't shrunk it yet. Hope it shrinks decently.
Did the landing gear. Not thrilled with the process of putting on landing gear, but it had to be done so I can cover the wings.
Got the wings covered. I hate working around landing gear. I was able to get it to shrink decent enough. Took two mistings to get it shrunk enough. I use my magnet board to hold the wing flat while it dries. I had to raise it up pretty high to clear the landing gear.
Clear coated everything with Rustoleum Clear Satin 2X. It didn't seem to affect the foam at all. I put on 2 thin coats.
A good way to keep a wing flat while it dries is a wire cookie cooling rack. I got the idea taking ginger snaps out of the oven the other week. It worked really well. You can "pin" what ever "it" is down with magnets and let it dry or use the heat gun. Just 'sayin not 'preachin!
I took a "h" of a warp out of the Collegiates' stab the other day....
Sounds like a good plan, I'll give it a try next time
It's starting to look like a Chipmunk! All glued up. Need to make fairing and add a few pieces, nose section, wheels, and canopy.
Trying something a bit different. The foam I have been using is really pretty stiff so I decided to make the wheels out of foam. I still need to add aluminum center hub and paint. I may have made the hub too thick to get a keeper on the axle so I may have to modify the hub. All the pieces where from Hefty tray foam and cut out with Cricut Maker. This is a project in work so I need to see if it will work but it looks promising so far. They are very light (sorry no scales)
Well the wheels would have worked great just wasn't enough axle to hold the wheels on. Did a redesign with different hub design. I think it will work this time. Need to sand and install aluminum hub. If was thinking properly I could have painted the hub before assembly.....Hmmmm will see how hard it is to paint may just leave the hubs white. This does give you an idea of how detailed a cut the Cricut can make.
I got the wheels finished and painted. I think they look pretty good. I will see how they hold up. I think if I have a problem with the "rims" I will make them out of balsa. and use the foam for the "tires". Another note for me is make sure to make the axle part of the gear is longer than needed so you can cut them to fit.
Your wheels came out well. The detail and the painted finish makes them stand out.
John
Thanks
Since I don't have a printer at my present location I decided to paint the roundels. I drew them in Inkscape and cut the stencils with my Cricut. Came out fairly decent.
Great work on those rondels! Love the Canadian scheme.
ian
Thanks
Got the roundels on and decided to use vinyl for the lettering. Used the Cricut for the lettering. I also got the front portion of the canopy on and the wing fairing as well. Need to finish the canopy next
Added some more graphics and got the rest of the canopy on. I need to add some tissue to the front and rear of canopy to complete the framework. I used card stock on the rest of the frame so I am hoping just the tissue won't look too off. The lettering on the rudder is about 1/8" not sure if I can go much smaller with the Cricut. It will cut smaller but handling it is really difficult.
I realized the mistake I made with the small lettering is I used a .png file. The lettering I am putting on the front is an .svg and it came out much neater
There are decal sheets with letters and numbers available from decal makers that specialise in plastic modelling.
Now that I am getting better at putting them on I think I could go even smaller. One roll of vinyl will make a lot of graphics. Hunting down the decal sheets would be hard.
Getting down to final countdown. Not sure I like the antiglare black in front of the windshield. I was a little nervous about taping it off and painting so I did it in vinyl. Got to build the nose portion. I won't be able to add the prop or test fly until I get it back home.
Okay ready to call this one done. When I get it back home I will build a prop for it and test fly it.
Beautiful Chippy!
Good luck with the test/trim flights.
Happy landings,
Ramses
Thanks hopefully test flight in May
Very nice! It blows my mind how it can be built with Styrofoam formers.
Good luck with the test flights.
Any idea what it weighs?
A.
It is 19g without rubber or prop assembly.
COME ON! I mean, who doesn't love a yellow Chipmunk! Looks beautiful.
Quote from: pedwards2932 on Mar 04, 2026, 05:25 PMIt is 19g without rubber or prop assembly.
Ooh, that'll go well.
Beautiful work!
Could you explain how do you work with the Cricutter? E.g. which files do you use, dxf, svg? Own drawings? What material thicknesses are possible in balsa and foam(depron)? May be a short "tutorial"?
Thanks,
Steve
I use Inkscape. I import pdf plan files and trace the parts. This gives me an .svg file and the Cricut Design space works with svg files. It will cut up to 3/32" which with the size planes I use is plenty. If I need 1/8" I just cut 2 parts 1/16 and laminate them together. I have been using meat packing tray foam but recently it hasn't been working as well. I started using Hefty foam trays. They are about 1/16" thick and pretty stiff. I did a tutorial on tracing pdf to convert to dxf files a few years ago not sure I can find it. Inkscape is fairly easy to use and with the Cricut using svg files there is no conversion.
Thank you! The most important for me was the thickness of the materials. I'm working with Turbocad an can convert the files in svg. Have agood flight-time! Happy Eastern!