Fiberglass cowls
 

Well, I finally decided to read the whole thing (including captions) and look at the illustrations from an old, old editio of AAM, of Aug. 1974. I am referring to the fiberglass article by Robert Harrah, I chose it as I already have many of the noted items at hand, but am a bit disappointed in it too. For the text goes on and on about the materials, not the illustrations and after number 11 I am lost. Zero on how to lay up a small cowling or how to make anything from beyond a plug and mold.

Is there any better, for I need to make up several cowls, not just one big item? I have built model boat hulls in the past, and these items are even smaller.

Wm.

RE: Fiberglass cowls
 

Here's a link to Paul Johnson's article on how to make a one off cowl. I'm sure you can find some useful info here.


http://www.airfieldmodels.com/inform...cowl/index.htm

Scott

RE: Fiberglass cowls
 

Scott: That article is sort of the Hokey way of doing things. Although not very big, I need to pull several copies and not just the one he mentioned.


Wm

RE: Fiberglass cowls
 

Post a pic of what you need to lay up and maybe some suggestions will come forth

RE: Fiberglass cowls
 

I have been following a good thread on RCSCALEBUILDER <div>RCSCALEBUILDER.COM - Beech Starship 25%</div><div>
</div><div>It is a very long thread but the bits that may help is the builder has done some very good youtube clips of the mould making process he is using that would give you moulds capable of a number of uses.</div><div>
</div><div>His youtube channel is at</div><div>YouTube - sevarg7226's Channel</div><div>
</div><div>I am currently trying out his methods on a TF Spit I want to convert from MkIX to MkV</div><div>
</div><div>Mike</div>

RE: Fiberglass cowls
 

Oops,

I should have taken a closer look at who was posting the question. Have you checked out the videos that are available at Freemans?
They have videos on silicon molds, laminate molds, vaccume bagging, all sorts of neat stuff. You might find something there.

http://www.freemansupply.com/video.htm

Scott

RE: Fiberglass cowls
 

Scott: I got several booklets on castings at Aircraft Spruce in Corona years ago. They essentially say come on in talk to one of our consultants and he will aim you inn correct direction (over to the Composites only aisle)

Mike: A frind of mine and I keep getting kicked off the RCScalebuilder web-site so have not been back in 1-2 year now.


Wm.

RE: Fiberglass cowls
 

Here ya go, everything you wanted to know.

http://www.cstsales.com/tutorials/fiberglass_mold.pdf Mold Making

http://www.cstsales.com/tutorials/fiberglass_parts.pdf Laying up the parts

Jeff

RE: Fiberglass cowls
 

I have most all of Composit Sales literature, as they are all over the place in Corona. Mine are gathering dust, as I do not need to lay up for a 23 foot boat right now.

CS sells a line of epoxy that is rather expensive, and dries like in two weeks. I used it but twice. Which is one reason why I like the older resins. They were fast.

Wm.

RE: Fiberglass cowls
 

I found a place in Ontario that manufactures and sells many different epoxy resins. I found them on ebay and picked up my order and the ceo spent 1 hour discussing the many different epoxies and there differences. The place is called polymerproducts. They sell many different glasses, carbon fiber, additives, and as I said many different epoxies with different pot life's. They sell 24 once and up sizes. They showed me several of there products while I was there. On eBay they have many videos and information on each of their products pages for sale. Their prices seem cheaper to me. You could find their products and see their attributes by searching EPOXY RESIN in eBay's search if you were so inclined.

Just my 2 cents.

Don

RE: Fiberglass cowls
 

What part of Ontario? I wonder if they aren't in the new area near to the truck stop in eastern Ont?

Wm.

RE: Fiberglass cowls
 

Polymer Composites
1871 S Lake Place
Ontario, CA 91761
909-673-1625

RE: Fiberglass cowls
 

I am wondering,,,,,

Is that lake street address on East side of town (nearest us) or on the west of south side? Wonder too if they took over any Hastings projects?

Wm.

RE: Fiberglass cowls
 

I make my cowlings easily.

I shape them out of foam then lay glass cloth over the foam. This is called "The lost foam method."

It's been around for many years.

When my foam is shaped, I remove another 1/16 if an inch to allow for the build up of cloth and glass.

The foam is removed from the laid up glass with acetone. The glass cowling is finished sanded.

I only use Polyester laminating resin. Reduces with acetone. A QT can be purchased at your local body shop supply house. Maybe 15 to 20 bucks?

Nothing hard about any of this. Well, you do have to carve and shape the foam, but sandpaper can be used for the final shaping.

I made this cowning for my 1/5 scale Gee Bee Z, and the sholder area of the 1/3 Gee Bee Z is foam with class covering.

RE: Fiberglass cowls
 

What kind of foam are you using? Are you covering it with something? Polyester resin typically melts XPS and EPS foam.......especially when reduced wtih acetone.

RE: Fiberglass cowls
 

Contractor's pink foam.

I shape it as close as I can get then apply a coat or two of two part epoxy. This seals the foam. (forgot this part.)

I scratch it up with 220 grit paper and clean. The rest is Polyester resin and cloth.

I've never done this, but if it's a complicated cowling, parts can be made of balsa and epoxyed to the foam.

RE: Fiberglass cowls
 

As mentioned above. Need several of. Not just the one you are describing.


Wm.

RE: Fiberglass cowls
 

Several of the same or different.

You won't get them if you don't make them. The shaping is the hardest part.

Photos?

Charles