{"id":1409,"date":"2017-05-14T20:51:48","date_gmt":"2017-05-15T01:51:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.balsaworkbench.com\/?page_id=1409"},"modified":"2017-09-09T17:41:38","modified_gmt":"2017-09-09T22:41:38","slug":"how-to-enlarge-your-rudder","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/www.balsaworkbench.com\/?page_id=1409","title":{"rendered":"How to enlarge your rudder"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The rudders on a lot of older airplane designs\u00a0seem kind of small by today&#8217;s standards. \u00a0A lot of guys nowadays like to hover or do other demanding stunts which require a lot of rudder control. \u00a0The older planes are still good planes, but maybe you want to build yours with a bigger rudder. \u00a0Here&#8217;s the rudder from an RCM Basic Bipe kit I cut out for a customer.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.balsaworkbench.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/DSC_0325.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-1413\" src=\"http:\/\/www.balsaworkbench.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/DSC_0325.jpg\" alt=\"DSC_0325\" width=\"1200\" height=\"1742\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.balsaworkbench.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/DSC_0325.jpg 1200w, http:\/\/www.balsaworkbench.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/DSC_0325-600x871.jpg 600w, http:\/\/www.balsaworkbench.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/DSC_0325-207x300.jpg 207w, http:\/\/www.balsaworkbench.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/DSC_0325-768x1115.jpg 768w, http:\/\/www.balsaworkbench.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/DSC_0325-705x1024.jpg 705w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>I know what you&#8217;re thinking. \u00a0This rudder seems really slim for a sporty biplane. \u00a0The first idea that occurs to most of us is to add balsa to the trailing edge to make it bigger, as shown in this drawing. \u00a0I traced around the rudder and indicated the area where you would want to add balsa wood, following this theory.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.balsaworkbench.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/DSC_0326.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-1411\" src=\"http:\/\/www.balsaworkbench.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/DSC_0326.jpg\" alt=\"DSC_0326\" width=\"1200\" height=\"1092\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.balsaworkbench.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/DSC_0326.jpg 1200w, http:\/\/www.balsaworkbench.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/DSC_0326-600x546.jpg 600w, http:\/\/www.balsaworkbench.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/DSC_0326-300x273.jpg 300w, http:\/\/www.balsaworkbench.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/DSC_0326-768x699.jpg 768w, http:\/\/www.balsaworkbench.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/DSC_0326-1024x932.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/www.balsaworkbench.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/DSC_0326-330x300.jpg 330w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>You could theoretically accomplish this by using the original rudder as a template for cutting out the balsa, then glue it to the trailing edge. \u00a0But there&#8217;s a much simpler way. \u00a0Glue a straight piece on the leading edge to make the rudder as wide as you want it.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.balsaworkbench.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/DSC_0327.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-1412\" src=\"http:\/\/www.balsaworkbench.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/DSC_0327.jpg\" alt=\"DSC_0327\" width=\"1200\" height=\"1615\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.balsaworkbench.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/DSC_0327.jpg 1200w, http:\/\/www.balsaworkbench.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/DSC_0327-600x808.jpg 600w, http:\/\/www.balsaworkbench.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/DSC_0327-223x300.jpg 223w, http:\/\/www.balsaworkbench.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/DSC_0327-768x1034.jpg 768w, http:\/\/www.balsaworkbench.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/DSC_0327-761x1024.jpg 761w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>I know, this seems pretty obvious. \u00a0But I&#8217;m sure there&#8217;s a beginner out there wondering if it would work. \u00a0Yes, it does. \u00a0All you need to do is glue the strip on, then sand the edges so it lines up properly with the top of the vertical stabilizer and the bottom of the fuselage.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The rudders on a lot of older airplane designs\u00a0seem kind of small by today&#8217;s standards. \u00a0A lot of guys nowadays like to hover or do other demanding stunts which require a lot of rudder control. \u00a0The older planes are still &hellip; 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