I've read this phrase over and over, but honestly, never knew what it meant and have always been afraid to ask. Can someone please tell me what does, "sheeting the turtle deck" mean?

thanks,

The turtle deck refers to the rounded top of the fuselage behind the cockpit found on some planes like the extra 300 and super chipmonk to name a few. The turtle deck is often constructed with formers (usually halfmoon shapped pieces) with notches cut in them for stringers (basicly balsa sticks). Sheeting it means to apply thin (in thickness) pieces of balsa sheeting over the stringers.

I got it. Would I be corrected when saying a 4*60 has a turtle deck?

Go to:

http://www.galip.net/Sig4Star

I have picturese of the sheeting the turtle deck for 4*40.

Not difficult at all and looks good.

Cobra, thanks for the pic, I fully understand what it means now.

thanks again,

Cobra78: I understand the mechanics of the process pretty much except for 1 thing. How do you reduce the size of the formers so that the balsa sheeting meets up with the fuse side blasa sheeting so you do not have a bump? My first thought is to sand down the former to the width plus the siding to make it match. I just want to make sure there is not a better process so I don't start off wrong. I am considering doing this to the turtle deck on my Someting Extra.

I generally warp the sheeting to shape (using ammonia) and then trim to fit before gluing.

HTH, Jim.

hookedonrc,

yes I sanded down the formers just a little where they meet the fuse, I used 1/16" sheeting and you can use scrap 1/16" balsa for your guide for how much to sand down the formers.

note that I glued some thing balsa sticks between formers where the sheeting will meet the fuse side to form a surface to glue the sheeting.

1/16" balsa worked great for me.

Thanks Cobra78, that sounds exactly what I was planning. Thanks for the tip on the glue tabs between the formers, I would have forgotten that.

Jim,
Thanks for the forming info, I will do that as well. Is pure ammonia the best, I have used Windex with Ammonia D before and it seems to work?

I use Windex with ammonia D as well... definitely safer.[8D]

I have a really cool warping tool. I put it in the tips section of TR. I don't have pictures here or would put it up here too. Take a look at it or send me a note and I can put it up when I get home. It pre warps the wood with steam. Pretty cool tool.