RCU Forums - View Single Post - Black Magic v2 builder's thread! *Updated*
Old 12-12-2005 | 07:22 PM
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MHester
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Default RE: Black Magic v2 builder's thread!

The sheeting for the stabs and fin is nothing special. Use good 4-6 lb balsa, the lightest you can find for this step. 12 grams per sheet is about right.

There's a thousand ways you can do this, but what works best is just tape the pieces together, apply a bead of Elmer's white glue, wipe off and let dry for about 20-30 minutes. Then go over it and lightly sand with 220 grit. Don't try to get it flat now, the tape will make it uneven.

After about another hour, flip it over, remove the tape and sand lightly again. This fills the seam.

Allow to dry at least 8 more hours (or overnight) and then block sand flat on a smooth, flat surfae.

Using the core shucks as a guide, make the angle cuts that are necessary according to the drawings. Leave about 3/8" overhang on teh leading edge, the trailing edge should be flush. Leave a little bit over the root and tip as well.

Now use generic hair spray and spray down the skins to seal them. if you omit this step, the wood will soak up much more resin (and weight) than is necessary.

After letting this dry completely (like overnight) sand it lightly with at least 400 grit. I like 600 for this step, but 400 works.

For the fin, you need to glue many pieces edge to edge, and make a long angular cut following the angle of the fin leading edge.

Once again, trim using the core shuck until the trailing edge is flush, and the leading edge overlaps by about 3/8". Spray/seal and do the same as with the stab skins.

To bond the skins, use a good quality laminating resin. West system is pretty good and easy, although I prefer MGS. Any of the better laminating resins will work fine.

Lay down the skins and spread the mixed resin with a folded piece of poster board as a squeegee. It should be thin, and barely look wet. It shouldn't take very much resin at all, less than an ounce for both stabs. Much less if you can manage it. Just as long as the coverage is there, and you have no totally dry spots, you're ready to bond.

Place the bottom skin on the shuck with the TE flush. Lay the core on top of it, aligning the core to the shuck. Watch your corners here for visual cues.

Now add the top skin, press down, and add the top shuck. I have made some pieces of MGS board slightly larger than the sheeted surfaces, and I lay that on top and pile on the weight. It takes about 50-70 lbs for each surface to get a really good bond without a vacuum.

Now let them cure overnight.


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