Glassing wing center section

[Rick Wallace]

Jerry -- 

Another thing that makes it easy to smooth the transition from the glass to
the balsa is to spread the epoxy a little beyond the glass - so that there's
hardened glassed wood to receive the transition from the glass. Epoxy
thinned w/ alcohol works well here. (caution - weigh is still the enemy!)   

For filler, I've used NHP Products Micro Fill (comes in white or balsa
color), or just lightweight spackle from the home store. Both are water
based / can be thinned w/ water and brushed on , then sanded (dry!) smooth.
Usually takes a couple coats and lots of sandpaper to smooth it out. 

What you have will be just fine - for next time maybe consider this --
Another glassing technique is to use 3 or 4 layers of lighter cloth, each
one wider than the previous one, and ending up with 3/4 ounce cloth out as
far as the aileron cutouts. If you're careful with the epoxy, the weight can
actually be less than one layer of heavy cloth -- and it's at least as
strong. 

Looking forward to pics of the plane when it's done! 

> -----Original Message-----
> From: discussion-request at nsrca.org [mailto:discussion-request at nsrca.org]
> On Behalf Of Jerry Wilson
> Sent: Monday, November 24, 2003 9:15 PM
> To: discussion at nsrca.org
> Subject: RE: Glassing wing center section
> 
> Using two 6" width pieces overlapped 1" at center.  So glass extends 5"
> from center each side.  What type of filler?
> 
> Thanks for the advice.
> 
> Jerry
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: discussion-request at nsrca.org [mailto:discussion-request at nsrca.org]
> On Behalf Of Rick Wallace
> Sent: Monday, November 24, 2003 7:34 PM
> To: discussion at nsrca.org
> Subject: RE: Glassing wing center section
> 
> Jerry --
> I assume you're glassing out at least an inch past where the fuse mates
> with
> the wing?
> As long as the cloth is wetted and fully in contact with / bonded to the
> wing surface you should be fine. More epoxy will just add weight, not
> strength. Some lightweight filler should get things smoothed out.
> When I built my Elan and had to relieve the bottom of the wing for the
> exhaust system, I glassed the resulting sanded-out indented bare foam
> area
> also.
> 
> 
> Rick
> 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: discussion-request at nsrca.org
> [mailto:discussion-request at nsrca.org]
> > On Behalf Of Jerry Wilson
> > Sent: Monday, November 24, 2003 8:07 PM
> > To: discussion at nsrca.org
> > Subject: Glassing wing center section
> >
> > I'm glassing the center section of my Elan.  Using 6 oz/yard K&B cloth
> > and 30 minute epoxy warmed with a heat gun on application.  The epoxy
> > brushes on well and when dry the weave of the cloth is noticeable.  In
> > other words the surface is not a smooth glasslike finish.  Is this OK
> or
> > do I need more epoxy applied for strength?
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Jerry Wilson
> > Katy,TX
> > NSRCA#3107
> > AMA#119585
> >
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