Is foam ruining my hobby?
When I came back to modelling it was directly because of watching Flite Test videos. They were building simple models with this stuff called “foam board”, a construction material more commonly used for mounting pictures and building architectural models.
Foam board is cheap, easy to work with and yields fast results. So why do I feel like it is ruining my hobby?
My introduction to the aeromodelling hobby was when I was a kid. My Uncle Mike was a keen aeromodeller who dabbled in RC but mostly built freeflight and control line models.
The first kit we built was a rubber powered Spitfire with a flat plate construction similar to a foam board model. We then progressed to the Keil Kraft Wisp, a built up glider with tissue and dope covering.
After my Uncle died earlier this year I looked up the plans on Outzone and built another Wisp. I covered it in film this time and it is horribly tail heavy but I don’t really care as it was only ever intended to be a hangar Queen.
So what’s wrong with foam?
John Overstreet and his foam board F18
To be honest, there is nothing wrong with foam board. Take a look at some of the creations John Overstreet (@trieditathomeofficial on Instagram) is doing with his “Master Series” models for Flite Test.
They are downright stunning models. The level of detail and build skills are second to none.
The problem is Australian foam isn’t that easy to work with and I just can’t do the same with my models. Australian foam IS heavy. Sometimes that is a bonus as it is pretty tough and in our windy climate a bit of extra weight can be useful.
But because of this I have to keep my models pretty simple. The KFm wings and the Crash-E are good examples of this. Great flying models but they down’t really turn heads at the field.
Balsa Flies Best
There are some composite F3 gliders out there that would disagree but for the purist there is nothing quite as beautiful as an open balsawood frame with translucent covering film.
Balsa is getting expensive these days so a model made of the stuff tends to be something special, something you put a lot of effort into and something you look after.
I doubt the same can be said of most foam models (I know it can’t be said of mine!).
Incidentally, if you are in to RC gliding and scratch building then you should probably check out John Woodfield on YouTube.
I’ve still got a few sheets of foam board. I’ve even got some EPP and XPS. I’ll use it as well at some stage in the future. I just think I probably need to slow down a bit and smell the roses.
Did you know the original Crash-E was a balsa model? Now you do. It was even published as a plan in the UK modelling press.
I’ve got the skills, they’ve just got a bit rusty over the years. Maybe I should start exercising them again and bring you some more traditional content rather than just one foam board wing after another…
I see where you are coming from. I grew up with balsa, too. And there is something special about the finished product of a wood build. That being said, that investment if time and materials almost killed the hobby in my opinion. Let’s face it, these models crash, often in many cases….
I think foam has saved the hobby, along with cheap electric components, by making it more approachable. Foam is why I got back into the hobby and am now sharing it with my kids. My only regret is that I didn’t think of it before Bixler…!
Great arricle. and yes, I do understand the allure of nicely built balsa models. They look beautiful and probably make you slow down and think more about the aerodynamics and design elements. However, I think there will always be room for both.
A year ago, I dived right into the hobby, specifically long range, fixed wing fpv. After confidently buying a mini talon (not a beginner model by any means), and immediately crashing it three times, I finally understood that I needed to start at the beginning and learn to fly.
Luckily, the team at flite test was there, and bixler and the team guided me through the process of building, flying and repairing foamboard planes.
Like you, here in Australia, I found it difficult to source lightweight and affordable foamboard. I now buy it in 50-sheet packs from their website. sadly, despite having to have it shipped half way across the globe, It is still cheaper ($5 a sheet) and better quality than buying from Australia (for me anyway).
I have since gone back to epo models for long range stuff but still find myself building my own designs and experiments with foamboard. I live in the outback and usually there is no smooth grass landing strip to land on, and foamboard allows me to not worry about belly flopping onto the gravel!