(Magnetic Building
Boards... pg2)
Another frustration is that the magnets repel and attract each other
if they are placed close to each other . Whenever several balsa pieces
come together in close proximity it can be hard to hold everything
down with magnets. As you try to brace and support pieces in place
adjacent magnets are jumping all over the board, either away from
or towards each other. So you can't always get that magnet exactly
where you want it. Buying magnets of different sizes and shapes might
be one way to overcome this.These observations are minor frustrations
and deal only with the physical properties of the MBB itself. What
about using the MBB to actually build with? In my opinion I believe
there are many positive features. |
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The
Good Stuff
"Strip" magnets are really
useful, and I use them most frequently. These didn't come with my
MBB kit, but can be purchased from craft stores in 1/2" wide
rolls. This material cuts easily with scissors and has a peel off
self-adhesive strip on one side. I've cut strips of various lengths
that can be used to outline wing leading edges and trailing edges.
The wings are built to these outlines, and they stay put in nice straight
lines. |
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I also adhere lengths of this type of magnet to 1/2" x
1/4" hardwood strips (again, in various lengths), and use
them to frame the fuselage outline when building the two sides. |
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The height of the hardwood magnets allows me to build the second
fuselage side directly over the first while maintaining the
exact outline of the side below. I use the "stock"
magnets (1/2"x1"x1/8") for the innards of the
wing.
Lengths of strip magnet without any backer can be used to lay over
top of framework to keep it flat to the board. Magnetic business cards
are also great building tools. When building a fuselage box I use
the stock magnets to hold the framework perpendicular to the top view,
and brace the sides at a 90 degrees with aluminum angles. I know someone
who makes these angles magnetic by routing out a 1/2" wide slot
on the bottom leg and attaching a length of the 1/2" strip magnet. |
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