TimC

I was given an old 1/4 scale Cessna 140 that has sat for many years. The covering on the control surfaces is a thin corrugated plastic. This has become brittle and needs to be replaced. I'd like to keep it scale if possible. Plastruct makes sheeted corrugated plastic for railroad modeling. What is the thickness of these sheets? If anyone has solved the problem of making scale control surfaces, I could sure use some help. Thanks, Tim

dicknadine

have you called the Co yet and ask HOW Thick? how big are the sheets? ask the manufacture/seller. they will answer if they are more than a catolog. dick

bigchap

i work at a place that sells plastruct products,the corrugated sheets are designed for 00 gauge railways and as such the corrugations are really small as are the sheets,you cannot see the corrugations until you are real close so i don't think it is suitable for a 1/4 scale aircraft.how about using corrugated cardboard wrapping then glassing over the top?

mstroh3961

My Feedback: (4)

Sig use to carry that material It might be worth a call.

TimC

Thanks for the replies. I visited the Sig website, and it looks like they don't carry the plastic that simulates corrugated metal anymore. In this day of ARF's, probably many of the products that builders use are just not cost effective to produce.

beepee

Tim,

Check directly with Sig. I have found that they stuff that does not necessarily make it to the web site.

Let us know what you find in the end. I have a number of scale projects in mind that will need the same thing.

Bedford

Bill Jennings

My Feedback: (85)

G'Day Tim.
I am also like Bedford, and would like to know how you get on in your quest.
Regards.
Bill.

TimC

I'll give Sig a call Monday. It seems like a acceptable corrugated metal could be easily formed out of very thin sheet aluminum. (Beverage can thickness) Making the dies would be the only problem.

mstroh3961

My Feedback: (4)

Here is another method for the corrugated surfaces. although more work.

TimC

That looks very nice Mark. How did you make the little triangle stock? I received a reply from SIG. Here's the answer:

We do sell the crimped plastic in sheets that have a ridge spacing of 11/16".
They are available in two sheet sizes.
SIGRPCP2571 is .010" thick x 8" x 17"
SIGRPCP2572 is .010" x 6-1/2" x 13-1/2"

You can order on-line at www.sigmfg.com or call 1-800-247-5008 between 8am and 5pm CST.

mstroh3961

My Feedback: (4)

TimC, I hope one size will work for you.... I pooched that picture off the web. http://community.webshots.com/album/111442239triQAF

that is the rudder for a GS DHC-2 Beaver, Folow the link and look through the pictures he shows a jig to make the strips.

ballgunner

My Feedback: (1)

Seems like a lot of extra work but ordinary thread glued in place and then covered should work. There was a picture series in one of the older magazines, can't remember which one that showed an "Auntie Ju" (JU-52) scale model complete with regular Junkers corrugating. Must have taken months to do but the string and covering looked perfect. Small job, such as Cessna surfaces, should be easier as well as quicker.

Bill Jennings

My Feedback: (85)

Thanks Tim.
Regards.
Bill.

TimC

Thanks for the help and suggestions everyone. The wings and tail one this Cessna 140 are my first restoration project. After stripping the wing covering, I found numerous cracks and places the glue had let go. I have some time to do it now; a big rainstorm came through and put the dry-lake under water for a few weeks. I think I'll go with the Sig crimped plastic. It's not expensive and won't tax my limited building skills.