Where to buy balsa wood, RC equipment, etc.

[chronister]

Hello. Earlier this month I gave a workshop and flying demonstrations at IIT Kharagpur. The students were very interested, and they wanted to know how they could get balsa wood, RC equipment, and other items in India. Since I'm from the US I didn't know what to tell them. Is there a hobby shop in Kolkata that sells these items? What advice would you have for students who want to get their hands on RC and aeromodelling equipment or materials? Thanks for your help!

Nathan Chronister

[nishat]

try anwarmodels@hotmail.com.

cheers!

nish

[chronister]

Thanks! I sent an e-mail and I'm waiting for them to get back to me. Do you guys mostly get your supplies from a local model shop in your city, or do you order supplies through the internet?

[Dr. Crash]

We use both options! Whatever is cheaper basically. Somethings are really overprice here in India so that we order from Internet -- or ask someone to bring it with them -- from abroad.

You can also try www.paylessflymore.com , www.funnhobby.com , www.spherehobbies.com, www.radicalworks.com

Cheers

[chronister]

Thanks! That's exactly what I was looking for.

[Cdr. Soumya Dutta]

Hey Chronister,

i hadnt replied to your post seeing that my fellow modellers have already filled in most of the details you may require !! all of the guys mentioned above are reliable, some with delays in shipment - though it can probably be overlooked keeping in mind the price you get it for, etc...

another suggestion, if you could have your students go to the flying field a few times to see their apptitude towards this wonderful hobby, personally, i hate to see people start with a bang and fizzle out just as fast once they get to know the patience and labour (of love, for us guys!!) one has to put in...

cheers, hope it helps..

Commander.. 8-)

[venkat arun]

There is India's hobby center in kolkata. I have heard that there is a big flying club in Chennai. Check it out! 8-)

[Capt Manish Chandrayan]

Hey I am at Chennai and have not yet seen this BIG FLYING CLUB AT CHENNAI, do you mean a full scale flying club or model airplane flying club?
Would love to source all my balsa supplies from them instead of spending my dollars abraod.

[Cdr. Soumya Dutta]

Hey Captain Sir,

when you do hit on the mother-load at CHennai, as mentioned, do kindly order some for the poor me, tooo...

cheerio...

Commander... 8-)

adios, me goes !!!!

[Capt Manish Chandrayan]

Sir Jee
Will let you know before ordering the next truck/ship load/plane load so that we can accomodate your requirements too. But considering the amount I am spending now I dont think the home/finance minister is allowing me to spend on anything vaugely related to model airplanes for a decade.
And by the way if you want to add strength to your planes wings nothing beats better than Indian Balsa spars either bought as spars or cut out from appropriate sheets. But be ready for extra weight.

[saikat ghosh]

Hi

Architectural students also use balsa - and there are specialist suppliers that cater to them.

Does anybody know what is the  reddish/pinkish  wood with a pronounced grain used by Mr
Anwar for his models?  He does not use balsa.


Rony

[nishat]

hi all !
what about saijan wood? Has somebody used it. Let me know ur experience.

regds
nish

[Capt Manish Chandrayan]

Sajjan wood= Excellent wood (as long as you are building static models)

[Capt Manish Chandrayan]

Hi

Architectural students also use balsa - and there are specialist suppliers that cater to them.

Does anybody know what is the ?reddish/pinkish ?wood with a pronounced grain used by Mr
Anwar for his models? ?He does not use balsa.


Rony

That's called Japanica/Japonica, good where you want to add weight and strength. But tends to split easily along the grains. If you are looking for cheap alternative for Balsa and do not care about weight its good.

[Cdr. Soumya Dutta]

Hi Captain- saheb and Saikat,

What Irshad Anwar uses is absolutely Japonica wood ( also colloquially called Pine (?) wood), weight much higher, more rigid structurally, wont take a crash too well and definitely NOT easy to join up as Balsa with Cyano. one will need to epoxy it to join convincingly... ofcourse does not shatter like Balsa but either gets a cleanish break or smashes up completely....other problem is with sanding the wood or shaping it - the inner ribs of the Japonica are very hard and doesnt care for much sanding.... what Irshad does is cut it finely and that how it remains...

I'm also aware of someone in Bombay who uses wild Mango wood, comes out fairly lighter than Japonica and joins easily..... and a much better wood to use if you are going to use wood other than Balsa....

cheerio..

Commander.. 8-)


PS - Captain 'someone' were discussing this.....