BradSD
Posts: 146
Joined: 10/12/2004
From: Paducah,
KY, USA
Status: offline
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Okay here we go again, this is about fiberglassing and maybe it will help someone out. Intermidiot I know you are getting close to the finish. I bought my Epoxy resin from a boating specialty group called jamestowndistributers.com they sell the resin in bulk instead of those little 6oz containers of zpoxy from Tower. The product I choose is the System Three Clear Coat Epoxy Resin. This product is a 1 to .5 mixing ratio, so I got a pint of resin and .5 pint of hardner for $32.00. I also added the premeasuring pumps for $10.00, these are really cool and make measuring easy, one stroke of the pump = 1 oz of resin and a restricter on the hardner gives you .5 oz with one stroke. I made a mistake here, the pint size is to small for the pump, it works great in the resin but the hardner container is too small. Next time I will go for the larger size so the pumps will work in both. I substituted a small measuring cup for the hardner. I purchased .75 oz cloth from tower in the one yard packages they are about $6.00 ea. It takes about 3 to 4 yards for one .60 size warbird with some waste. If careful 3 yards might do it. This resin is just a tad thicker than water and wets out the cloth instantly. I mixed up 2oz of resin 1oz of hardner and that is enough to do one side of the wing with some left over. It would be nice to have something on stand by for extra resin mix. I think I have enough resin to do 2 maybe 3 planes. You do not have to thin as it is thin anyway. I poured about 1/2 the mix onto the glass and used a plastic spreader working from the center of each wing panel out. Working the wrinkles out is easy, the resin just flows nicely across the panel filling the weave up. The pot life is very long, maybe too long, I thought my first job was not going to set up but the next morning it had a very nice looking varnish and a hard protective turtle shell finish. I am now waiting on side two to dry completly before sanding. The edges of the cloth sand right off with 300 grit paper leaving only the resin filled cloth attached to the wing. You can get away with overlapping the glass, I was worried about this, I overlapped in the center of the wing and it is not noticeable. All I like now is putting a final sanding on it and it is ready for primmer and painting. This job was fun and rewarding, I look forward to doing all my future warbirds this way, the System Three worked very well. I did not like the extended drying time but if your not in a hurry it is okay. Jamestown sells a product called West Systems also that I think would work nicely, you guys might research this product as well before opting for one. I think this system is a viable option to the zpoxy and if you plan to do two or more warbirds it is worth a look.
Hope this helps you guys in some way, nothing like tackling a job to learn the ends and outs. I once tried the water based polyurethane with bad results so forget that route, take it from me. Some guys on RCU use it but I didn't like it. Doesnt fill the weave of the cloth, and adds little strength. Epoxy resin is the only way to go to glass. I am going to post this and then a couple pictures on another post I do not want to lose this again. NOT gonna write it a 3rd time  Not only that I think I did a better write up the first time 
Enjoyed,
Brad
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All Forums >> RC Airplanes >> Kit Building >> RE: Top Flite 1/7 P-51 Build 
RE: Top Flite 1/7 P-51 Build - 
Well, Here are the start of my images.. I am going to post them today and tomorrow if I get them all back. I took the pictures you needed Zope, but they have not been sent to me. My cable broke for my camera so I had to have my G-Friend's Dad upload them to his machine for me. I was not there and seem to have only gotten 12 of what I think was like 20. 
. I just love everyones make shift plane holders, I carved up a box for mine. The plane looks really nice, level, and straight, you do good work. Looking forward to the other pictures, they have more of the details I was looking forward to seeing. 
Owens looks to be done. No building for me today, I have a family dinner to go to 
