[DeTomaso] Balsa front bomper!!!

[JDeRyke at aol.com]

In a message dated 3/5/10 2:09:16 PM, hemipanter at hemipanter.se writes:
snip....
> ...This bumper is solid wood which makes it very stable form. A 
> well-stretched fabric on the surface firmly glued with wood glue ought to reinforce 
> balsa wood for a large strenght. The actual mounting screws are anchorage 
> in a bit harder pieces of wood glued into the balsa wood....
> 

Ok; I didn't understand they were solid; my balsa models were stick-built 
covered with fabric & dope so thats what I thought you'd used. IMHO, even 
factory pre-L bumpers are only cosmetic and fiberglas L bumpers almost as 
flimsy, so as far as using Pantera bumpers to actually BUMP anything, balsa 
should work just fine. Mother Nature's hi-tech composite! 
But due to the heat and the rear air-swirl, they may not work as well in 
back. One Nor-Cal member with upswept exhaust tips MELTED both his tail light 
lenses during a 150-mph run at an ORR some years ago. Maybe some Mallite 
(aluminum/balsa/aluminum composite), or a good high-temp coating for rear 
bumpers? Cheers- J DeRyke