dirk gently wrote:I disliked that too, when I used to do it with a knife. So i made a notch-cutter. I took a piece of the hardest 2mm balsa I could find, and using double-sided tape I secured a thin slice of medium-grain sandpaper to the edge (with the small Guillows you would have to use 1.5mm balsa). Now I just sand the notches out, easy and precise.
I went a bit further.
My notcher is a thin piece of hardwood (usually a piece of a free paint stir stick from Lowe's) surfaced to the thickness of the notch I want. I put a light coat of epoxy on the edge (just the edge, nowhere else) of the stick and pour abrasive grit into the epoxy.
When it hardens you have a stick with an abrasive edge that is permanent, at least permanent when used with balsa, and will notch balsa with one swipe. 80 grit or 60 grit is a useful grit size. I have had mine so long I forgot where I bought them (I have a few bottles of different grits) but I think I got them at Woodcraft.
Tom
and keep the pics coming too. I'll be checking in periodically to watch your progress, and read your report about how well she flies. 