Another T45 Swallow - Slingsby --

[MarnochS]

Covering with PolyFiber Fabric -- Modified process.

The main modification is to paint all the surfaces you want the fabric glued to ( twice with thinned Poly-Tak ) Of course, letting it dry in-between coats. Thinning it makes a smoother surface.

For the Elevators, I'm gluing the fabric to everything to try and prevent air bubbles on the rib cap strips of the exposed fabric.



Next step is to determine where the fabric overlap is going to be. Luckily I can do a full wrap around with one piece of fabric so the overlap is on the bottom of the leading edge ( wrapping bottom first around to the top ) I used a ruler to cut a clean edge before application.

Use an Coverite Pocket thermometer to get the Iron at 200 degrees F to smooth the wrinkles out of the fabric ( doesn't have to be perfectly flat, just no major bumps )

Lay the fabric down on the surface and just wipe MEK or Painter's Solvent ( replacement for MEK in California ) across the surface. I used a folded half sheet paper towel dipped in the Painter's Solvent . The Solvent dry's pretty quick.



The end of the elevators is a little thin to glue the fabric to so I elected to form the fabric over the end.



I let the excess fabric hang over the work bench and the use the 200 F iron to form the fabric around the trailing edge.

Then flip it over and continue the fabric forming process so it lays relatively flat. Then continue the process of Solvent application
If you see bubbles, just apply a little Solvent and rub it in with your finger to smooth it out.



On the Leading edge overlap, I applied a little more Poly-Tac on the fabric overlap area.

[MarnochS]

Hi Mike......that is the Plan.....

[ARUP]

You gonna bring it to Horizon?

[MarnochS]

A productive Saturday ......temperatures were in the 80's which is a help for Epoxy cure time. ( 0.73 oz .glass )






And fuselage transport jig in an effort to reduce Hanger Rash.

[Gene C]

Looks outstanding.

[MarnochS]

A little better detail of the bely/nose skid using the UHM material and stainless steel skid....
Socket head screws will be replaced with countersunk units.



had to put the wings on to match sand the underside of the wings and check the look of the rounded boom section and of course the new nose.

[lenb]

Thats great,
I would LOVE to cover and paint versus the plastic covering. Believe me!!

[MarnochS]

Hi Len,

Actually that has already started, Wing tips , Stabilizer and Fin / Fin base are glassed/epoxy ( 0.5 oz glass ).
Figured if I glassed the Fin first there would be a slight safety margin while "shaping" the fin base........



The plan is to start covering this weekend with Stits lite ........after a little final SANDING............

[lenb]

Geez Scot, you're closing in on it now, Looks like your just about ready to start covering it,

[MarnochS]

Sand, Sand,....Sand,....and more sanding....
and a Sailplane emerges......




And then...on to .... ..."Sculpting with Sandpaper"........ had to add some "extra" thickness to mine.... so I could sand ......oops.....Sculpt it to shape....
Used a ).010 shim in-between the base and fin to allow for removal ----- I hope......
the self-adhesive sand paper (150 grit ) attached to a popsicle stick worked great.

[JimD]

Thanks for the inspiration Scott...particularly that last little part! 😉

[MarnochS]

Pre bent the canopy faring plywood before installation as it was flatting out on the narrow section at the back... Quart size paint can is the perfect form.



Matching the wings to the fuselage with some minor error corrections as I built the root rib straight instead of at an angle ( to match the taper of the fuselage ).

[MarnochS]

........"When the Swallows come Home".....

[ARUP]

When all of the models appear at Horizon we'll have to dub them 'The Swallows of Monticello'!

[Swiss1]

Looking good Scott!