Turtle deck sheeting

This one can be tricky. Easily it's the most difficult of all the sheeting chores you'll have to do with the Black Magic.

Select the lightest 1/16"x4x36" balsa you can find. It should be A grain, that is you should be able to easily bend it across the sheet. It will need this flexibility. Especially the center sheet.

Lay out your sheeting as shown in the diagrams. Use the same techniques as we used for the wing sheeting, with one change: use Duco cement instead of white glue. These sheets will need to be applied wet so we don't want to use water based glue.

Block sand and use the hair spray sealing method just like on the wings. Sand and clean when ready.

Using a wet rag, dampen the outside of the skin (the side not bonded). This will allow it to better take the shape of teh turtle deck without cracking.

Spread good laminating resin extremely thin, you don't want to use any more than you absolutely have to. The bond isn't nearly as critical as the wing, but it needs to be down and tight. Especially the front area and the edges.

Lay the outer shuck on the flat table, and center the skin in the shuck. Paying particular attention not to twist the skin and keep it aligned, gently press the assembly down into the shuck. Since the nature of these cuts tend to cause a loose fit at the rear, you need to move the whole assembly toward the rear slightly (about 1/4" or so). Put the inner shuck in place.

Now, get creative. You'll need to weight down the center shuck with as much weight as you can get on it, up to 70-100 lbs. Yet you need to be sure you don't get into teh edges, so you'll need something to press down the center.

I use an old level and weights. They'll want to slide, so use masking tape and once again, get creative.

The rear can be a littl problematic. Here I use a carpenter's clamp and adjust until barely snug, being careful not to distort the shape and keep the edges true.

Let it cure overnight, then trim the skins flush with the foam.

Tricky, but not really difficult.

Note: the one shown in the last picture was sheeted before I made the center cut on the core.