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-   -   Fiberglass Fun (https://vansairforce.net/community/showthread.php?t=134319)

JDA_BTR 02-05-2016 02:08 PM

Fiberglass Fun
 
I've put my fairings on top of the VS and rudder, and done what I can to fit them best. Notice how the VS part doesn't quite dovetail into the rudder part. The rudder fairing has a rise and crest in the fwd portion before falling off aft. I won't be able to just sand down the rudder part to make things smooth. I can build up the fwd rudder trim and the aft VS trim to make a fair line.

Or I could just leave it and keep on trucking. Who would fuss with it (and how?) and who would just leave as is and not worry?


M McGraw 02-05-2016 02:31 PM

Fiberglass fun
 
There really is no "correct" answer. Personally, I added fiberglass cloth and sanded to a smooth fit. I doubt many people would notice the difference. This picture is with the parts laying on my parts pile. You may be able to tell I did not get the match perfect.

mike newall 02-05-2016 04:35 PM

Unless the Guru chips in soon...

Micro will go pretty thick - it just takes lots of balloons. Alternative is to build with flox which goes thick quick and then finesse with micro.

Looking at your tip again, it will need a little remedial, but not too much. I am surprised there is so much difference between the parts and wonder if you trimmed a little before fitting.

Good news is that glass stuff is relatively easy when you have some practise and can always be ground off after a Simpson's - Doh !! or two.

JDA_BTR 02-05-2016 04:44 PM

I didn't trim at the top, just at the bottom and back of the VS piece. It was too long by 1/2 inch.

David Paule 02-05-2016 04:45 PM

You can always glue on some foam, shape it and glass it.

I'd make it look the way you want it to - it's going to be an obvious visual line of the airplane design.

Dave

Tom Martin 02-05-2016 05:49 PM

Hmm, mismatch is the norm rather then the exception but in this case I wonder if you have the correct part? Building up the front piece still will not make it right unless you lower the hump in the aft part. Or, build up both parts, which would take a fair bit of micro.
in any case, see what the horizontal tips look like and try for symmetry with all tips.

bruceh 02-05-2016 05:53 PM

Same story on the RV-9A.



I put some thick micro on the fiberglass and sanded it into shape, then primed.



The tail is pretty tall on the trigear models, so you'll probably never notice that the tail tips don't line up perfectly, unless you are up on a ladder.


DanH 02-05-2016 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JDA_BTR (Post 1051613)
Anyway - can micro go that thick? What is the thickest it should go?

You don't need much to fair those parts. Anyway, there is no real limit on thickness. Well, there is, but it has to do with exotherm (thermal runaway) in thick sections. If you can control exotherm (for example, using slow hardener or just a slow curing epoxy system), you can even cast micro.

Try to apply more than you'll need, so you apply just once. Sanding, then finding a low spot, then adding more micro, can be unproductive two ways. It burns time waiting on the second round to cure, and if the second round isn't mixed at the same density, it won't necessarily sand the same.

JDA_BTR 02-06-2016 11:28 AM

Micro it is; I was planning to put flox in the seam that I opened up to make the sides line up correctly without a bow out too. I did check carefully and I have the right part there. I also have to get the micro at the skin edge to dress that up but that's super straightforward. Was going to get the top right then come back and get the #30 drilled and dimpled/countersunk before skimming the skin edges. All new to me but more messy than difficult.

HeliCooper 02-06-2016 09:16 PM

I have absolutely no knowledge on anything fiberglass other than section 5. Does anyone have a good resource to go to to learn the basics?


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