How to join a two piece fiberglass cowl  
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All Forums >> RC Airplanes >> Composites Fabrication And Repair >> How to join a two piece fiberglass cowl Page: [1]

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How to join a two piece fiberglass cowl - 2/12/2003 7:43:45 AM   
webiz49



Posts: 23
Joined: 8/28/2002
From: Harrisburg, IL, USA
Status: offline 		I am building my first kit, a sig 4*60, and ordered a cowl from sig that showed up in two pieces. How do you joint the two pieces??
       Post #: 1

How to join a two piece fiberglass cowl - 2/23/2003 9:45:41 PM   
flytime56



Posts: 159
Joined: 9/27/2002
From: London, ON, CANADA
Status: offline 		first, glue some plastic stripes to one side on the cowl using pvc cement, making a seam. next, glue the other half to the seam using pvc cement again. make sure that your frount surface is flat.

next, you have an option, if it is a plastic cowling, i recomment fiberglass the entire cowling inside to make sure that it will not crack. you can either use pvc cement of using epoxt. use a thin onze cloth for this.
if you do not want to fiberglass the entire inside, then just fiberglass your two seams, and the outer rim inside when you will be putting your screms in to bolt it onto the fuse. this is worth it, or else your holes will crack in a few months.

GB

(in reply to webiz49)
       Post #: 2

How to join a two piece fiberglass cowl - 2/25/2003 6:10:26 AM   
webiz49



Posts: 23
Joined: 8/28/2002
From: Harrisburg, IL, USA
Status: offline 		Thank you for the information. I did fail to mention that the cowl was plastic. How many layers of cloth and resin should I use?

(in reply to webiz49)
       Post #: 3

How to join a two piece fiberglass cowl - 2/26/2003 2:55:54 AM   
flytime56



Posts: 159
Joined: 9/27/2002
From: London, ON, CANADA
Status: offline 		just a thin layer of fiberglass is all that you need. you don't want to ass too much weight here. all you want to do is add a little more strength with the minimum weight possible. just use enough epoxy to saturate the fibers, that's all you need. if you have excessive, like drips and a shinny layer of resin over your cloth, remove this.

remember, your cowl is up foward, don't ass too much weight or else you can end up nose heavy.

GB

(in reply to webiz49)
       Post #: 4

How to join a two piece fiberglass cowl - 2/28/2003 7:19:03 PM   
CAPtain232



Posts: 2467
Joined: 12/15/2001
From: Waynetown, IN, USA
Status: offline 		[QUOTE]you don't want to [SIZE=3][COLOR=blue]ass[/COLOR] [/SIZE] too much weight here[/QUOTE]

How about [COLOR=red][SIZE=3]ADD[/SIZE] [/COLOR] too much weight


the s and d are right next to each other

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(in reply to webiz49)
       Post #: 5

How to join a two piece fiberglass cowl - 3/1/2003 1:24:33 AM   
flytime56



Posts: 159
Joined: 9/27/2002
From: London, ON, CANADA
Status: offline 		yea, thanks, i noticed that afterwards. just guess i slipped on the keys, too much airplane oil on the flying fingers.

GB

(in reply to webiz49)
       Post #: 6

How to join a two piece fiberglass cowl - 3/1/2003 2:37:09 AM   
JimTrainor


 

Posts: 1308
Joined: 10/25/2002
From: Ontario, ON, CANADA
Status: offline 		This is recurring subject I think... anyway.. I'll ask again:

I have to decide if I wish to fiberglass the inside of a cowl as well. I've read several techniques (two of which are metioned by flytime56) :

1) epoxy, but it doesn't stick too well to plastic. I've scuffed it up with 60 grit sand paper, so that should help. I would use finishing resin if I do it this way. I'm still not sure about it.
or
2) glass and thin CA
or
3) glass and canopy glue (e.g. Pacer 560 or R/C-56). I'm not so sure about this one. As far as I can tell canopy glue is just plain white glue that may or may not have been modified somehow to improve its performance with plastic.
or
4) pvc cement. I have the feeling this one may take some practice to get right. Will it dammage the plastic if used to excess? I've never used the stuff.

Thanks!

(in reply to webiz49)
       Post #: 7

How to join a two piece fiberglass cowl - 3/1/2003 6:38:47 AM   
webiz49



Posts: 23
Joined: 8/28/2002
From: Harrisburg, IL, USA
Status: offline 		This is all great informtion....weight being an issue, would the added strength of glassing the entire interior of the cowl offset the weight if I cut open the cowl for engine head clearance, and cooling.

(in reply to webiz49)
       Post #: 8

How to join a two piece fiberglass cowl - 3/9/2003 9:17:39 PM   
flytime56



Posts: 159
Joined: 9/27/2002
From: London, ON, CANADA
Status: offline 		if you do plan to fiberglass the inside of a cowl, here is in my opinion the best way,

you need to use epoxy, finishing resin will not give you the bonding strength that epoxy has. yes it is easer to sand, but you want strength in this place. use a light weight cloth, whatever you can find. yes, you do want to use a rough sandpaper inside the cowl to get ride of the oild they use when making the plastic. then use rubbing alachol to clean it well. apply some epoxy inside the cowl, then lay your cloth inside. finially apply a bit more resin to the cloth and using a flat surface scrap the excess away.
if you do a good job, there will be little weight gain, and a smooth surface.

if you have a plastic cowl i would say go and fiberglass the inside. the plastic they use gets brittle over time, and especially in the sun. also, this is good to use around your mounting holes so that it will not crack on you.

good luck,
GB

(in reply to webiz49)
       Post #: 9

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