How to Make the Body of a Glider

Trace the outline of a profile-view airplane onto a piece of 1/2-inch thick balsa wood measuring 4-by-20 inches. The front should be rounded for the nose of the airplane, then the top line of the glider body should taper to about 2 inches wide at around 16 inches from the nose, then sharply back up at the end for a triangular tail fin. The underside of the glider body should remain reasonably flat.

Cut out around the glider body outline on the balsa wood using a utility knife. Very lightly sand the edges of the glider body to remove any rough patches from cutting.

Draw two angled lines from the center point of a 6-inch side of a piece of 2-by-6 balsa wood that is 1/4-inch thick. This forms a triangle. Cut along the lines with a utility knife to make the horizontal tail fin of the glider.

Measure up 2 inches on the tail fin of the glider and cut a 1-inch deep slit that is 1/4-inch wide. At the point of the triangle on the horizontal tail fin, make a 1-inch deep slit that is 1/2-inch wide.

Apply a small amount of wood glue to the slit in the glider and the slit in the horizontal tail fin, then mate the slits so that the tail fin attaches to the glider under the upright tail fin. Wipe off any excess glue that squished out from the sides of the slits using a tack cloth and leave to dry for an hour or so, depending on your type of glue.