My method of repairing a bagged composite wing
10-31-2010, 08:47 PM
#1
My method of repairing a bagged composite wing
Hi All
I have an all epoxy composite K&A F-100 90mm edf. I had to ditch my F-100 on my last flight due to esc thermal protection shutting down my motor.
It is a durable and forgiving airframe even on dead stick. as I made my slope soar to land, it was stooed suddenly buy a barb wire steel post that put a slot into the LE of the wing.
That was all that was damaged.
There was no damage to the internal frame work, only the sheeting.
So far I have removed the damaged sheet section with an razor knife and am going to put a 1/16" balsa "flange' to support the new sheeting. The sheeting is held in place with magnets till glued with CA.
I am going to try using a sheet of fiberglass layup on a waxed window to give a clean surface( if I can't find my extra thrust tubing) instead of balsa/glass/resin/prime/sand/sand................
The idea is to match the surface heights to avoid filling and sanding.
Steve
I have an all epoxy composite K&A F-100 90mm edf. I had to ditch my F-100 on my last flight due to esc thermal protection shutting down my motor.
It is a durable and forgiving airframe even on dead stick. as I made my slope soar to land, it was stooed suddenly buy a barb wire steel post that put a slot into the LE of the wing.
That was all that was damaged.
There was no damage to the internal frame work, only the sheeting.
So far I have removed the damaged sheet section with an razor knife and am going to put a 1/16" balsa "flange' to support the new sheeting. The sheeting is held in place with magnets till glued with CA.
I am going to try using a sheet of fiberglass layup on a waxed window to give a clean surface( if I can't find my extra thrust tubing) instead of balsa/glass/resin/prime/sand/sand................
The idea is to match the surface heights to avoid filling and sanding.
Steve
11-15-2010, 10:42 PM
#2
RE: My method of repairing a bagged composite wing
Forget the waxed window idea.
The following pics are how I made my repair to a full composite vac bag wing. I basically pulled a mold off (covered with mylar, waxed and PVA) the LE damaged area and laid up a new section from that mold and after trimming the "sheet", glued it in place.
An easier way would have been to glue a piece of foam into the damaged section and then shape it, glass and feather into the wing.
I did it the way I did because my way does not dent.
It takes more time and is more work. Next time I just may use foam. But I like hollow composite wings.
Weight difference not an issue. Maybe a few grams.
Steve
Note 1st and second pics are the same thing.
The following pics are how I made my repair to a full composite vac bag wing. I basically pulled a mold off (covered with mylar, waxed and PVA) the LE damaged area and laid up a new section from that mold and after trimming the "sheet", glued it in place.
An easier way would have been to glue a piece of foam into the damaged section and then shape it, glass and feather into the wing.
I did it the way I did because my way does not dent.
It takes more time and is more work. Next time I just may use foam. But I like hollow composite wings.
Weight difference not an issue. Maybe a few grams.
Steve
Note 1st and second pics are the same thing.
11-25-2010, 11:25 PM
#3
RE: My method of repairing a bagged composite wing
Right before I sprayed Rustoleum calk board black on the wing as the base coat for the silver, I filled the the small joint with automotive glazing putty. Sanded lightly.
I use the chalk board black to give the aluminum a darker look than the other panels. Shading the silver panels can be done in many ways. Another way is taping off a section and waxing it with car wax. The wax makes it darker than the surrounding panels as well.
Steve
I use the chalk board black to give the aluminum a darker look than the other panels. Shading the silver panels can be done in many ways. Another way is taping off a section and waxing it with car wax. The wax makes it darker than the surrounding panels as well.
Steve
11-26-2010, 09:41 PM
#5
RE: My method of repairing a bagged composite wing
Here I have painted the center panel with rustoleum silver aluminum which had the flat black base coat. The silver shows all the flaws, so the repair is easy to see but still not bad for a quick fix. LE paint next in just silver on gray primer.
Steve
Steve
