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Building Tips and technical articles. => ARF'S => Topic started by: DanielGelinas on January 18, 2012, 06:39:49 PM

Title: finishing the ARC cardinal
Post by: DanielGelinas on January 18, 2012, 06:39:49 PM: Hello,

I am starting to finish my ARC cardinal and was wondering how any of you have finished the fuselage? I was thinking of glassing the fuselage with .72oz fiberglass but am wondering how the cloth will be over the gapping :o :o holes? I'm worried the cloth will sag... As a solution to this, I was thinking of filling the holes with foam or maybe even ribbing with balsa?

I'm assuming the fuselage NEEDS to be stiffened.

Thanks for your advice,

-Daniel H^^ H^^
Title: Re: finishing the ARC cardinal
Post by: dennis lipsett on January 18, 2012, 06:58:21 PM: I glassed my arf cardinal a few years ago but did cover the openings with heavy silkspan and dope. The glass was put on using water based urethane.Primer and paint completed the project and it has held up very well. Balance was perfect with an OS LA 46.

Dennis
Title: Re: finishing the ARC cardinal
Post by: DanielGelinas on January 18, 2012, 07:19:05 PM: Thanks Dennis,

If I understand correctly, you closed the holes with heavy silkspan and then glassed the fuselage?

I'm putting an enya .40ss in mine which I believe is a tad heavier that the OS LA.40. S?P

Regards,

-dan
Title: Re: finishing the ARC cardinal
Post by: john e. holliday on January 19, 2012, 09:34:08 AM: Why do you want to glass the whole fuselage??? Use heavy weight silkspan and glass only the nose. H^^
Title: Re: finishing the ARC cardinal
Post by: Neal Beekman on January 19, 2012, 02:14:28 PM: On mine I glassed the nose and used an iron on fabric for the rear , and finished it like the nose .Primer and color.
Title: Re: finishing the ARC cardinal
Post by: DanielGelinas on January 19, 2012, 03:07:10 PM: Hi John,
I want to glass it so it is stiffer... I'm assuming it is quit wobbly with these two huge holes in there, although I haven't even tried bending it??
I'll see to it tonight...
-Dan
Title: Re: finishing the ARC cardinal
Post by: dennis lipsett on February 04, 2012, 04:19:59 PM: Quote from: john e. holliday on January 19, 2012, 09:34:08 AM
Why do you want to glass the whole fuselage??? Use heavy weight silkspan and glass only the nose. H^^

John,

I only use 3/4 oz cloth and I assure you it is lighter then silkspan. The polycrylic clear will cover in 2 coats, considerably more dope is needed on paper.
One coat of primer to fill any voids and sanded smooth. Minimum paint on fuselage to get a reasonably shiney finish. It has held up for about 200 flights so far and will probably go a whole bunch more before anything needs to be looked at finish wise.
I do this simply because I really can't stand the whole dope/polish and suffer for your art thing. Guess I'm lazy but I'm a contented flyer.

dennis
Title: Re: finishing the ARC cardinal
Post by: john e. holliday on February 07, 2012, 10:34:31 AM: I have to agree the poly acrylic fills faster. H^^