thrust tubes can you help
 

ive got a problem im trying to build my own thrust tube for a df with no luck ive tryed laying fiberglass(3/4 oz cloth) on a sheet of glass to create a flat piece of fiberglass that i could roll into a tube but it comes out about as stiff as a piece of toilet paper ive tryed to double the fiberglass and even tripled the fiberglass with no positive results is there anything else you can build out of?? what about aluminum or tin like flashing im getting frustrated any help would be appreciated thanks donniercjet

RE: thrust tubes can you help
 

For DF? I use one layer of 2 oz cloth and one layer of 4 oz for DF tubes. works for me. Also 1/64 plywood or .010 Mylar will work.

RE: thrust tubes can you help
 

Donnie,
Is this for the TGA F-15 you have mentioned in previous posts? For a Byron fan the best way to go, by far, is with mylar. It is strong, light, fuel proof, and cuts easy with a scissors. You can get it at a drafting or a plastics supply store. If you don't have an old tube to use as a pattern just wrap one end around the fan, size the other end to the exit nozzle, trim it with a scissors, leave a half inch overlap seam, and glue it together with CA. Make sure the seam is at the top. I also wrapped mine on the outside a couple of places with fiberglass reinforced packaging tape.

Very easy and will last forever.

Joe

RE: thrust tubes can you help
 

I have a couple of unused mylar thrust tubes for my old Byron F-16 laying around. If interested PM me and I can give you more info.

Roy

RE: thrust tubes can you help
 

I Donnie,

I agree with both Terry and Joe, i had same problem too on my TGA F15, i made my thrust tube with mylar by wrapping it around byron fan shroud and then letting otherend around both exhaust nozzles onepings, but you have to make sure that outer end is bigger in diameter just enough to go around both both outlets. I kept my seam on the top also....

Sammy

RE: thrust tubes can you help
 

It is not recommended to CA the mylar thrust tubs together, use the clear packing tape. The Ca makes the Mylar brittle and it will crack. As others have stated keep the seam at the top so when at rest the oil will not puddle on the seam. There will be a lot of oil in there unless you are going electric.:D

RE: thrust tubes can you help
 

where do find the mylar at?? checked at lowes and menards they dont carry anything that i looked at thick enough to roll a tube dont have a home depot here checked at a drafting store they didnt carry it ether thanks donniercjet

RE: thrust tubes can you help
 

Hi Terry,
I made a mylar one for my Mig 15 using CA as I described above. It had a 1/2" overlap seam which I roughed up with fine sandpaper and used the CA sparingly. It held up fine for about 100 flights, until the Mig met its demise. The problem I found with packaging tape is that the exhaust residue tends to migrate under the tape and the adhesive gets soft.

Donnie,
It doesn't have to be any thicker than a sheet of paper. The stuff I used was only about .007" thick and worked well. I was able to find mylar in various sized sheets and thicknesses at a place that sold plastic materials and supplies for industrial purposes. Check the business Yellow Pages. When I told the guy I only wanted two sheets and what I was using it for he just gave it to me. Probably wasn't worth the trouble of writing up a $3.00 invoice. If you can't find it locally try searching online.

The original Byron thrust tubes were made out of lexan. They got brittle with age and didn't last very long. Mylar is a lot stronger.
Joe

RE: thrust tubes can you help
 

Hey Joe, maybe it was the origional Lexan ones that got brittle with CA. Haven't used one in about 15 years, and you know what that say about the memory..............LOL;):D