Great Planes Illusion Q.
03-09-2006, 12:44 PM
#1
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Great Planes Illusion Q.
Good Afternoon,
I am in the process of building a Great Planes "Illusion" Pattern kit. My question is about wing sheeting. The kit is a basic kit from Kitty Hawk Models several years ago. Glass fuse and foam core wings and stab, the rest is up to me.
My question is can I or should I sheet the wings with 1/16 ply or 1/64, as opposed to the 1/16 balsa recommended? I would think the ply or maybe even obechi (SP?) would provide a more durable surface than with balsa sheeting. The question becomes one of weight then as well. But I could do some honeycombing of the wing to offset the added weight. But would the honeycomb offset the durability of the ply, by becoming more fragile?
I also plan on glassing the wings, and stab.
Thanks!
I am in the process of building a Great Planes "Illusion" Pattern kit. My question is about wing sheeting. The kit is a basic kit from Kitty Hawk Models several years ago. Glass fuse and foam core wings and stab, the rest is up to me.
My question is can I or should I sheet the wings with 1/16 ply or 1/64, as opposed to the 1/16 balsa recommended? I would think the ply or maybe even obechi (SP?) would provide a more durable surface than with balsa sheeting. The question becomes one of weight then as well. But I could do some honeycombing of the wing to offset the added weight. But would the honeycomb offset the durability of the ply, by becoming more fragile?
I also plan on glassing the wings, and stab.
Thanks!
03-13-2006, 03:29 PM
#2
My Feedback: (11)
RE: Great Planes Illusion Q.
If you use plywood, use 1/64" ply. Anything else will be too heavy. Obechi would be 1/2-1 mm....again, more would be too heavy.
If you're going to glass the wing, you could even use cardboard for the sheeting. The glass will provide the strength. Get sheets similar to the material used for business cards or file folders.
1/16" balsa, the old standby is also good. Basically, you choose what you like to work with. Cardboard is likely the lease expensive, ply the the most. All can be quite heavy if you're not careful when you glass.
If you're going to glass the wing, you could even use cardboard for the sheeting. The glass will provide the strength. Get sheets similar to the material used for business cards or file folders.
1/16" balsa, the old standby is also good. Basically, you choose what you like to work with. Cardboard is likely the lease expensive, ply the the most. All can be quite heavy if you're not careful when you glass.
