Covering for P-51
 

Iam looking to glass my P-51, but all I can find are small sheets of .75 cloth. Is there something else I can use to cover the wing and fuse that I can get from maybe a fabric store? Instead of resin, water based poly?

RE: Covering for P-51
 

You could use Sig Koverall. With some work it will give you a nice glossy sheen.

RE: Covering for P-51
 

Hi!
There is nothing as good as 24 hour mould making epoxy when it comes to getting a hard, durable finnish on an model airplane.
Mold making epoxy is thin and gets glass hard and in conjuction with brown microbaloons you can get very thin and hard trailing edges on the wing an make wing filets that are razor sharp.

RE: Covering for P-51
 

Those small packs of glass are a square Yard. I have gotten bigger sheets from boat builders and repair places. I have also gone on line and found it in rolls. With 3/4 ounce cloth you can glass a complete plane with small pieces and you will never see the seams. Water base I don't use but I do use the Deft sanding Sealer Lacquer but you need an open area to use it or the stink will get you.

RE: Covering for P-51
 

oh I love working with that lacquer!  I didn't  think to use lacquer, dries quick and gives a nice hard finish.  The smell doesnt bother me, I glass and paint in my workshop all the time, just have a big air cleaner on the ceiling to keep it from stinking too bad.

RE: Covering for P-51
 

It knocks me for a loop. Haven't been that loaded sense 1976!!:D I only glass a plane during the summer when I can have my shop window and door opened and my lunch still tastes like Deft!!!

RE: Covering for P-51
 

I like how my shop smells afterwards, call me weird I guess. Kind of like old school diesel exhaust.

RE: Covering for P-51
 

Defender Industries used to carry light FG called angel hair in large rolls or any length you wanted

RE: Covering for P-51
 

I wonder, will 1 oz be OK? <div>
</div><div>http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1%7C10918%7C16458%7C311437&amp;id=17705</div><div>
</div><div>$2.79 a yard</div>

RE: Covering for P-51
 

For a test I got some really lightweight shear fabric that looks like silk, got 2 yards for $6. I'll see how it works. If not, that stuff I posted above looks to be a good deal, I can get 10 yards for about $32 shipped.

RE: Covering for P-51
 

To give you an idea, I have always used 1/2 ounce glass but on that swoose build all I could find now was 3/4 ounce. I had a lot of 1/2 ounce still on hand and it's really hard to tell one from the other. I'm sure I could tell one ounce from the 1/2 ounce a lot easier but I would really have to be trying. One ounce should be just fine. I think on my 1/4 scale Sukhoi build I used 4 yards of glass total. I like the finer weight of glass just because it's easier to fill the weave. Sig has the 3/4 ounce glass. The last batch I used wasn't all SIG, it was a combination of what ever I had on hand and what I was able to find at the LHS. You sure can't beat the price on the one ounce you found and you can get it in longer lengths.

RE: Covering for P-51
 

Silk is still available for a low price -Tai Silk.

RE: Covering for P-51
 

I am testing a sample of this fine cloth I found.  I took a scrap of balsa sheeting that is used on the wing and some waterpoly and gave it a coat. Once it dries I should have an idea of whether it will work or not. Going to try it with some dope too on that damaged 4* wing. It is really tight weight, the 2 yards weighs maybe 4 ounces it that, should weigh it and see.

RE: Covering for P-51
 

:D

RE: Covering for P-51
 

I've had good service when buying cloth from these folks. http://www.thayercraft.com/

RE: Covering for P-51
 

Thats the place I was trying to find. Ilocated that site about 6 months ago and never bookmarked it. Thanks!

RE: Covering for P-51
 

Placed my order for the .56 cloth. that should be enough for a few planes!


EDIT: What about resin? http://www.jamestowndistributors.com/userportal/product.do?part=14392&amp;engine=adwords!6456&amp; keyword=product_ad_2081&amp;type=pla

RE: Covering for P-51
 

Polyester works, but I don't care for the smell. Zpoxy finishing resin would be my choice. http://www.hobbypeople.net/pacer-z-p...FetDMgod8HgA0w

RE: Covering for P-51
 

Ditto. totally agree with TomCrump. Zpoxy is easy to work with and sands easily. A caution when using polyester resins. Its not just the smell. Use only in a well ventalated area. Prolonged exposure can cause health problems. Fumes are heavy.

RE: Covering for P-51
 

You already know what I use but I just made up some cowls using Zpoxy. It's very flexable and doesn't stress crack. It doesn't sand as well as the Deft but it is an old stand by for me. Not as light as Deft either but it sure beats the stink this time of year when I can't open the door or window in my shop. Set up time this time of year is over night. Pretty easy to work with.

RE: Covering for P-51
 

OK I have some of it too. I did a test patch using just plain ol Bondo resin on a scrap of sheeting, so will see how it turned out.  The test sample I made with water poly didn't look very good, either the second coat soaked in, or it just doesnt fill well. I gave it a couple shots of heavy fill primer to see if it fills the weave.  I also did a test patch with dope, but didn't use clear dope, just some blue I had on hand, so it probably wont shrink. For now though, looks like it bonded well, will give it a pull test to see how it does.

RE: Covering for P-51
 

Wow that was fist, arrived yesterday. The test I made using the stuff I got at the fabric store failed using resin, the fabric came right off. The dope worked though, stuck very tight to the frame, but since I didnt use clear dope that shrinks, just some colored dope I had for fuel proofing, not a true test to see if the fabric will tighten up.


Now that I have the real stuff, I can get working on finishing the P-51! :)
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RE: Covering for P-51
 

Did you prime the wood with whatever you are using first?

RE: Covering for P-51
 

for the dope or the resin?  I did for the dope, the resin got sucked into the wood, and I applied a little more after that.  Has a nice pattern after removing the cloth. The resin didnt stick to the cloth, so doesnt look like it will work for glassing, but the poly did stick, but needs filler to be smooth.   I have the .56 glass now for the Stang, and some zpoxy, not sure how much I need to fully cover it though, only have one 12oz kit.

RE: Covering for P-51
 

I glassed my 108" Cessna 195 with just under two kits of Zpoxy finishing resin. That was using two coats. One to adhere the glass, and a flow coat, to fill the weave.