flyingagin

I have made a fiber glass cowl. I made a mold out of foam and the remove the foam once my lay up got hard. Still sanding and lots of sanding left. I have only cut the opening in the ply nose ring.
Could I Use my new cowl to make a female mold with out damaging the existing cowl? What would I use for the new mold. Silicon? And when would I make the new mold? After I apply sandable primer to my cowl? Release agent?
I am thinking of making some wheel pants out of fiber glass and a reusable female made would be needed.

speedracerntrixie

My Feedback: (29)

Yes, you can use just about anything as a " Plug". For best results you would want to finish it off with as perfect a paint job as you can. Preferably an epoxy paint. Then you can mount it to a flat plate and then make a devider plate that seperates the two halfs. The plates need to be a non-porous material. I have had great results using balsa and then covering it with Monokote. Then wax one side with part all wax and apply PVA mold release. Let that dry overnite and then apply a couple coats of resin allowing then to cure before the next. You can add some tint if you wish. Once you have a good surface coat it's time to start applying cloth. You will want to make a paste with the resin, milled fiber and cabosil and fillet the corners. Usually 1/4" is fine and then start with the cloth. On a mold that size I usually go 6-8 layers of 4 oz. After the first side cures, remove the seperator plate and wax/PVA for the second side. Lay up the second side the same as the first. Let cure, seperate the two halfs and you have a right and left mold. Wax 6 times, PVA and make a part.

VIRGINIA MODEL BUILDERS

My Feedback: (159)

I would like to learn more techniques not just for cowls but also regarding fiberglass fuselages.
At this time we are searching out companies to produce OEM fiberglass fuselages and apendages such as cowls and wheel pants for planes we intend to produce.
Thanking you guys for any info
vamodelbuilders

csimpson

My Feedback: (3)

You could check out my Supra~Fly 60 build. I reproduced an original cowl for it.

I need to get that project going again!

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_96...tm.htm#9607575

VIRGINIA MODEL BUILDERS

My Feedback: (159)

You do beautiful work.