Am I the only one using 3/8 x 1/2  aluminum channel for the bearers instead of maple?

I haven’t read about anyone else doing it but I’ve just bought some 10mm (3/8) square aluminium bar for exactly that purpose. I’m planning to machine a channel and a taper in the rear half of the bar (a lot like the ones they use in the combat models). The plan for Charles Mackey’s Starlight states maple or magnesium for the bearers but magnesium seems to be unobtanium.
What thickness is your channel?


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The wall thickness is .062 so that 1/4 inch ply and balsa fill it nicely. I get it at hardware stores or Home Depot kinda stores.

Ah, I think I see what you do now. So you are slipping the channel over the edge of the 1/4 sheet? I was thinking of basically using the al bar in virtually the same way you use a wooden bearer but mill it out as much as possible to reduce its weight.


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Hardware store aluminum is usually pretty soft stuff.  You may be disappointed.

Trevor: I've seen pictures here of motor beams made of aluminum, tapered and riddled with lightening holes in the back (although, I've never heard of lightening inside of an airplane, so I don't know why you want special holes for it to travel through is beyond me  ).

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