Wavey sheeting
 

What should I do with the sheeting on my kit thats is alittle wavey? The wing has some sheeting thats wavey, I am going to fiberglass the plane will this get rid of it or should I use balsarite to fill the area in. However that would take alot of filler! I'm going to use West Systems resin the finish off with evercoat filler! I was thinking the evercoat could fill in the waves but I don't want too much weight! What do you think?

RE: Wavey sheeting
 

I had the same problem with my tf corsair, I ended up resheeting it, but still had some waveyness but not as much. I ended up sanding the hell out of it to make it as smooth and properly contoured as possible. I am now getting ready to glass it. I have a lot of thin places in the wing now though. I hope it won't be a problem. The fiberglass should strenthen those areas I believe. I'd try to keep from adding filler at all, if possible, but thats me.

Ask caffeenman he seems to be very knowledgeable in this area.

RE: Wavey sheeting
 

Generally waviness in sheeting is caused by not having enough formers or ribs in the structure. Long unsupported structure causes dips.
Another common cause is not using a sanding block.Using your hands will almost inevitably cause you to sand dips or waves into a structure.
This is not a candidate for fillers and there is nothing to catch the filler and give it a bonding surface. Glass will not fill it but will make it much more noticable so everyone will comment on your wavy fuse or wing.
Possible solutions more stringers in the fuse or half ribs in the wing. if possible use a harder balsa or thicker stock if your design can carry the weight.
For fuselages you also might consider strip planking if you can't add more stringers. Strong and light but more time then slapping a piece of wood on.
Hope that this is useful to you.
Dennis

RE: Wavey sheeting
 

If the sheeting has not yet been glued to the frame work, I wouldn't worry about it. It will lay flat and follow the fibs and formers just fine when the time comes to install it. If the sheeting is already installed, I would double check to be sure it's glued down properly. If not, make it so.

John

RE: Wavey sheeting
 

To stop waving in sheeting , true all edges with a straight edge before forming sheet. If they do not lay flat before you put them on they will not lay flat when glued. Any imperfection be for will dubble.

RE: Wavey sheeting
 

Generally, I put aside the 1/16 sheeting idea and go with 3/32nds. Doesn't sound like a lot of difference till you realize its 50% thicker without adding much weight (if you choose your wood carefully) THEN you have a bit more to sand if you need to. I use one of those long aluminum sanding tools from Great Planes - the longer the better and stop sanding when I get rid of the high spots.

I've unsheeted a few wings to take out warps and its a lot better to do a replacement than try to sand out a mistake. With warped wings, you're not all that deep into the project yet and you should be checking the incidence down the wing. If you get one started, believe me it won't go away with trying to put the opposite sheeting in a reverse warp. You just waste wood.