Balsa wood shortage in 2010? Don't remember that hearing about one.
Paper notice was wrinkled in bottom of package.
Scan - pretty large - of paper notice found - yesterday in 2013! - in bottom of package and package insert card of reissued classic Estes Plasma Probe. Because of wood shortage a plastic nose cone was in kit.
http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/...zps4695eed3.jpg

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later, Forrest "Today's scientists have substituted mathematics for experiments, and they wander off through equation after equation, and eventually build a structure which has no relation to reality." -- Nikola Tesla, Modern Mechanics and Inventions, July, 1934

There have been shortages for a couple of reasons. One of the big balsa sellers here in the US had a warehouse burn down. It seems like it was Lone Star Balsa. The other biggie was/is windmill construction and is probably the source of your paper, as I believe the Lone Star fire was a few years earlier. Windmill construction has had an impact on balsa availability on a global scale.

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I love sanding.

Actually, there has been a balsa shortage, or, at least, a change in the supply and demand situation.

A few years back, due to perceived interest, Estes did start using more balsa cones in their kits. About that time, the fledgling new windmill business was growing, and they use balsa to make the blades. As I understand it, the blades are made by doing composite layups over balsa forms. With the added demand from the windmills, the price of balsa went up, with the result that kit makers have since cut back some on their use of it.

A while back, when I showed a design of mine to Don at Squirrel Works, he pointed out it used too much balsa with a transition and four outboard cones in addition to the top one, implying that, with the price of balsa being higher, the extra pieces would add too much cost should he attempt to kit it. So the price has definitely had an impact on kit makers.

Doug

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YORF member #11

Can we see the design?

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Bill Eichelberger
NAR 79563

http://wallyum.blogspot.com/

I miss being SAM 0058

Build floor: Estes - Low Boom SST Semroc - Marauder, Shrike, SST Shuttle

In paint: Canaroc - Starfighter Scorpion Centuri - Mini Dactyl Estes - F-22 Air Superiority Fighter, Multi-Roc, Solar Sailer II, Xarconian Cruiser Semroc - Cyber III

Ready to fly: Estes - Solar Sailer II Semroc - Earmark

Always interested in seeing designs. Though, if one intended to be marketed as kit, it is understood that one might want to keep it behind the veil.

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later, Forrest "Today's scientists have substituted mathematics for experiments, and they wander off through equation after equation, and eventually build a structure which has no relation to reality." -- Nikola Tesla, Modern Mechanics and Inventions, July, 1934

Doug wears a veil?

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Bill Eichelberger
NAR 79563

http://wallyum.blogspot.com/

I miss being SAM 0058

Build floor: Estes - Low Boom SST Semroc - Marauder, Shrike, SST Shuttle

In paint: Canaroc - Starfighter Scorpion Centuri - Mini Dactyl Estes - F-22 Air Superiority Fighter, Multi-Roc, Solar Sailer II, Xarconian Cruiser Semroc - Cyber III

Ready to fly: Estes - Solar Sailer II Semroc - Earmark

Well that's just the thing, Bill. If only it was one. It's the dance of the seven veils that just takes things too far...

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John
YORF #003
SAM #004

Especially in a cowboy hat.

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Bill Eichelberger
NAR 79563

http://wallyum.blogspot.com/

I miss being SAM 0058

Build floor: Estes - Low Boom SST Semroc - Marauder, Shrike, SST Shuttle

In paint: Canaroc - Starfighter Scorpion Centuri - Mini Dactyl Estes - F-22 Air Superiority Fighter, Multi-Roc, Solar Sailer II, Xarconian Cruiser Semroc - Cyber III

Ready to fly: Estes - Solar Sailer II Semroc - Earmark

That's a surprise that you didn't hear about the shortage. It was nation wide news for a day. Just like during WWII, balsa was scarce being in high demand.

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If it flies, I can crash it!

It was my ill-fated, lost on its first flight, tube finned takeoff of the Athena, called the Tubena. Doug



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YORF member #11