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Fiber glassing foam wing - 10/6/2007 1:28:10 AM   
Flying freak


 

Posts: 1359
Joined: 6/29/2006
From: granby, QC, CANADA
Status: offline 		Hi

what would you recomind to fiberglass some foam wings there wings that will be made for a sig somthign extra i need a source of fiberglass and epoxy please suggest what you would use... i am looking at fully fiberglassing 3 60 inch wings

also i asked this is the scratch building section but do you guys know of any people that do cnc hotwire cutting??

please help

Steven
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RE: Fiber glassing foam wing - 10/6/2007 2:28:36 AM   
seanreit



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From: Cedar Park, TX, USA
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quote:

ORIGINAL: Flying freak

Hi

what would you recomind to fiberglass some foam wings there wings that will be made for a sig somthign extra i need a source of fiberglass and epoxy please suggest what you would use... i am looking at fully fiberglassing 3 60 inch wings

also i asked this is the scratch building section but do you guys know of any people that do cnc hotwire cutting??

please help

Steven

www.flyingfoam.com is the best guy I've used, not cheapest, but best.

For a sig something extra, your best bet is monokote or equal. You try to fiberglass foam without adding balsa, and it will never ever ever be right without tons of bondo or alternative filler.

And then you've got primer, paint etc. Not for an airplane that small, that's just extra weight for stupidities sake, and I have yet to see a .40 or .60 size airplane that is worth that much work, well, maybe some scale stuff, but certainly not a small sport plane. Keep it light and simple.

(in reply to Flying freak)
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RE: Fiber glassing foam wing - 10/6/2007 2:36:00 AM   
Flying freak


 

Posts: 1359
Joined: 6/29/2006
From: granby, QC, CANADA
Status: offline 		oo ok... well i was just going to go with putting a layer of fiberglass over the foam to fuel proof it and add some strength and then just kinda spray paint it tis for a science fair project the wings will probably never get more then 10 flights on them (just enough to do the test).

ya i know it wouldn't give the mirror amazing finish of the high end stuff with thousands of hours in it but at the end of the day i don't think i really need it just something that will stand up accurately represents airfoils and has to be easy to see (for orientation when flying..)

(in reply to seanreit)
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RE: Fiber glassing foam wing - 10/6/2007 2:15:02 PM   
Flying freak


 

Posts: 1359
Joined: 6/29/2006
From: granby, QC, CANADA
Status: offline 		So i guess my idea wouldnt work and i would have to use balsa then mk ok....

well if anyone else has ideas or comments please keep them coming.

(in reply to Flying freak)
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RE: Fiber glassing foam wing - 10/6/2007 2:17:36 PM   
seanreit



Posts: 6748
Joined: 4/17/2002
From: Cedar Park, TX, USA
Status: offline 		Boy are you getting into a mistake. Buy half ounce or 3/4 ounce fiberglass, and get "20 minute finishing resin" from your local hobby shop.

Lay the glass on the foam and squeegie the 20 minute on.

PS, the 20 minute says 20 minute, but you will need to leave it on there over night before you can touch it, so do it at the end of the day.

(in reply to Flying freak)
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RE: Fiber glassing foam wing - 10/6/2007 2:18:44 PM   
seanreit



Posts: 6748
Joined: 4/17/2002
From: Cedar Park, TX, USA
Status: offline 		Read this thread:

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_2025232/mpage_2/key_isobar/tm.htm

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RE: Fiber glassing foam wing - 10/6/2007 2:46:50 PM   
Flying freak


 

Posts: 1359
Joined: 6/29/2006
From: granby, QC, CANADA
Status: offline 		Well if im getting myself in trouble please let me know what you would do i have never sheeted a wing before would you just epoxy 1/16 balsa on there? i thought the fiberglass would be simpler to do....

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RE: Fiber glassing foam wing - 10/6/2007 4:35:09 PM   
saramos



Posts: 2243
Joined: 12/6/2003
From: Northridge, CA, USA
Status: offline 		I suppose an alternative would be to sheet the wing with some .005" G10. It might not be the cheapest. but it would be quick.

http://k-mac-plastics.net/g10-fr4-sheets.htm

Here's a 4* 40 Fuselage covered in .007" FliteSkin.

Scott


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RE: Fiber glassing foam wing - 10/6/2007 4:42:33 PM   
Flying freak


 

Posts: 1359
Joined: 6/29/2006
From: granby, QC, CANADA
Status: offline 		Isnt this basically in many ways just a thin sheet of fiberglass that has been soaked in epoxy and let cured between somthin like to pains of glass? would it be able to go around the LE without breaking/cracking..?

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RE: Fiber glassing foam wing - 10/6/2007 7:30:55 PM   
rmenke


 

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From: Merced, Ca., CA, USA
Status: offline 		FF:

Back in the 70's there were several firms experimenting with foam wings with a fiberglass finish. One got into production that I know of, but were not a success because of the total weight of the wing. When they tried to reduce the weight, the wings became easialy damaged and folded in flight. Lots of R&D histrory in this regard by many, am not aware of any real successfull product. But, looks like you can get a decent wing out of the new glass panels at a minor expense of $4-800.00. Good luck and ENJOY!

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RE: Fiber glassing foam wing - 10/6/2007 10:18:10 PM   
Flying freak


 

Posts: 1359
Joined: 6/29/2006
From: granby, QC, CANADA
Status: offline 		ok well this is probably the wrong place to ask but what thickness balsa would you use to sheet? and what glue iv herd of everything from foam safe ca to epoxy to gorilla glue to contacts cement....

Also how would you build the ailerons? just cut out that section after sheeting?

< Message edited by Flying freak -- 10/6/2007 10:19:08 PM >

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RE: Fiber glassing foam wing - 10/6/2007 11:11:41 PM   
saramos



Posts: 2243
Joined: 12/6/2003
From: Northridge, CA, USA
Status: offline 		G10 is fiberglass sheet. It's available in a wide range of thicknesses. I know of one fella who uses it for larger foam wings and has successfully rolled it around the leading edge. I've just started playing with the stuff and have not attempted to roll it around a leading edge. My next project, I plan on using it (.010 or .015) to sheet a Top Flite P-51s wing (built up, not foam) instead of traditional balsa and fiberglass. I am not planning on trying to roll it around the leading edge.

Scott


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RE: Fiber glassing foam wing - 10/8/2007 3:57:48 AM   
Flypaper 2



Posts: 4306
Joined: 3/29/2002
From: Kingston, ON, CANADA
Status: offline 		Friend of mine and I built a 60 size wing for a Florio. We hot wired the wing then covered it with three layes of glass. the first layer went 1/3 the span of the wing. second layer 2/3 of the span and the third of course the full length. Then we put on Mylar sheeting, epoxy won't stick to Mylar, then all the goodies for vacuum bagging. The wing weighed about the same as a built up structure but just about unbreakable. No need to finish it as the mylat left a glass smooth finish. Did that about 10 yrs ago. He still flies it occasionally. You should be able to do the same thing without the vacuum bagging. Don't know how strong your wing needs to be. Might get away with two layers, first layer half the span, if your not going to do violent aerobatics.

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RE: Fiber glassing foam wing - 2/13/2008 4:12:35 PM   
kochj


 

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Status: offline 		Mylar sheeting....
Isn't that the same as : Poly, Plastic drop/barrier that you can pick up at home Depot?

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RE: Fiber glassing foam wing - 2/13/2008 4:40:32 PM   
Flypaper 2



Posts: 4306
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From: Kingston, ON, CANADA
Status: offline 		I believe that's polyethylene plastic. The mylar was quite heavy plastic, about the same as poster board or even a little heavier. Couldn't have any wrinkles in it.

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Gord
Dreamed I was a muffler. Woke up exhausted.

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RE: Fiber glassing foam wing - 2/13/2008 5:42:43 PM