Hello all

My first kit, an LT-40 is almost done Busy covering it as you can see in the pic but I do have one question. I have fuel proofed everything that is needed before I started covering her. But can't help wondering if you have to give special attention to the covering around the outside of the engine bay area. Is merely iron on the covering sufficient to make it stick seeing that fuel, oil and heat etc. all could cause it to tear loose? What would the best way be to give that area additional protection if needed?

Marcel

I typically hold off on fuel-proofing the engine compartment until after covering. That way I can wrap the covering around the edge by about 1/8" and then when I fuel proof with epoxy, I just overlap the edge of the covering enough to secure it. In your case tought, just go back over the edges with some thinned epoxy and it will secure it.

I prefer to fuel proof before covering (So the fuel proofing is well under any seams). Then after covering, touch-up any oily areas with some CA applied to the covering edges.

I also used thinned 30 minute epoxy (about 3:1 ratio of epoxy to alcohol -- Denatured best / 99% Isoproply fine). Covering does not stick to epoxy well, I would do the little trim around the nose with an 1/8th overlap into the engine compartment. Use an emery board (finger nail file) to lightly rough up the 1/8" that is in the compartment. Fuel proof the entire compartment with thinned epoxy overlapping the roughed up covering that overlaps.

I have also found that if you want the compartment to be roughly the same color, after applying epoxy you can use Dope (usually available in a close color) over the epoxy. You can get little bottles for a few bucks from your LHS. I usually do not try to match color but will often use flat-black inside the compartment.

But make sure you use a fuel proofer that will not only adhere but almost become part of the wood. Polyester resin also works well -- but man does it smell! Don't rely only on covering or your wood will suck-up fuel. The next thing you'll know is that your firewall has come loose. This is a very very bad thing to happen in flight!

By the way, your plane look great!

I too prefer to fuel proof the engine compartment before covering, then touch up after.
The only difference is I use butyrate dope.

I painted the engine compartment of my LT-40 with Butyrate based paint, then when covering made sure to lap the covering around the edges and into the engine compartment slightly. When the covering was ironed down the Butyrate paint under it melted slightly and sealed down the edges. I've certainly never had any problems with edges coming loose in the engine compartment and it's three years/100+ flights now

Cheers,
Neil.

I usually fuel-proof with thinned epoxy before covering then if it is a open cowl plane (I hate seeing bare wood on my plane) I buy a little jar of Testors Model Magic paint the is a close match to my covering color, they have so many colors the are bound to have one that matches your covering. Then I paint the firewall or other exposed areas the paint is a epoxy enamel so and it seem fuel proof but I have always put it on over other fuel-proofing just in case.