Workshop: Build Your Own Mini T-Square

While building the fuselage for my Chuperosa, I needed a way to square up the bulkheads. My regular T-squares were too big for this job, so I quickly built a simple mini T-square. It's easy to make, and if constructed correctly will be very accurate. Below are a few sequence photos with descriptions that will show you how to build one.



These are the tools you'll need. A larger drafting T-square and a builder's triangle. The ridge on the builder's triangle needs to be flush up against the blade of the T-square.



I used 1" by 1/8" bass wood strips from the hobby/art supply shop, and squared it up on the combination tri/drafting t-square and then used slow CA glue, and pinched it with my fingers for a few seconds until the glue dried.



After the glue dried, I cut the long side to match the other side of the beam. As you can see it is perfectly square.




Here's the mini T-square in action, as you can see, a normal drafting type square wouldn't work for this hand launch glider. If you build one, please let me know about it and post a comment.

Workshop: DIY Measuring Dividers

Here's a simple tool that I wish I had made years ago. These dividers are perfect for measuring short distances within difficult to reach areas like fuselages and the interior of any built-up structure like wings, and tails. It is far more accurate than a ruler or the dreaded method of laying the piece of wood across the structure and just cutting- a bad habit I finally broke with this tool. It's comprised of two pieces of 1/4" square bass wood, and cut T-pins inserted with pliers. The two legs are connected with a machine screw and washer. Harder wood and better hardware could be used if you like- just remember to pare down the tips of the legs where the pins mount for better accessibility. Do you have any unique tools that you've already built? Please share with the rest of the world and post a comment!

Workshop: CA Glue Bottle Trick

Tired of your CA glue nozzle getting clogged? Use a scrap piece of music wire (1/32 or larger) with a bit of tape on the end for a little handle, and you can use it as a stopper. I've wasted too many bottles of expensive glue due to frozen tips. This stopper solves the problem. If you have any model adhesive tips, please post your comments.