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Building Tips and technical articles. => Building techniques => Topic started by: Bill Sawyer on October 07, 2006, 07:00:44 PM

Title: Polyspan
Post by: Bill Sawyer on October 07, 2006, 07:00:44 PM
I would be interested in some data about this product. Is it Good/bad, How to use, any problems, any installation methods to avoid? Anything else?
Title: Re: Polyspan
Post by: RC Storick on October 07, 2006, 07:03:15 PM
Sense I have started to use Poly-Span I will never use anything else. It take a little to get use to but once you get the hang of it boy is it great!
Title: Re: Polyspan
Post by: wwwarbird on October 07, 2006, 07:46:31 PM
 Sparky is right, it takes some getting used to, but it's totally the way to go. y1 y1 y1 One BIG thing to remember is don't even think about sanding until you have enough clear on it.

 Now, if I can figure out how to do wingtips with the stuff...
Title: Re: Polyspan
Post by: RC Storick on October 07, 2006, 08:09:56 PM
Industrial heat gun
Title: Re: Polyspan
Post by: Jim Oliver on October 08, 2006, 07:34:51 AM
Guys,
What is the best way to apply polyspan to a fuselage--or should I use something else?

Thanks,
Jim
Title: Re: Polyspan
Post by: Bill Little on October 08, 2006, 07:40:44 AM
Guys,
What is the best way to apply polyspan to a fuselage--or should I use something else?

Thanks,
Jim

Use something else!  y1 **)

It's great for wings........... we tried it on a RD-1 fuselage, I wouldn't do it again.

Bill <><
Title: Re: Polyspan
Post by: Ward Van Duzer on October 08, 2006, 09:58:28 AM
Great for wings! Tips get silkspan! Easy answer...

 <=
Title: Re: Polyspan
Post by: Jim Oliver on October 08, 2006, 11:12:08 AM
I used it on a Pathfinder wing--I can vouch for the advice to be SURE you don't sand thru the dope!!

Thanks for the advice to use something else on the  fuse.

Jim
Title: Re: Polyspan
Post by: Busby on October 09, 2006, 10:28:36 AM
Just be sure to install it shiny side up.
Attach it to the perimeter of the wing first ,top and bottom, prior to shrinking it with a heat gun,.
It is really tough after the dope is applied.
Put the first couple of coats on with nitrate, it helps the butyrate to adhere better.
Title: Re: Polyspan
Post by: Bill Little on October 09, 2006, 12:38:03 PM
Just be sure to install it shiny side up.
Attach it to the perimeter of the wing first ,top and bottom, prior to shrinking it with a heat gun,.
It is really tough after the dope is applied.
Put the first couple of coats on with nitrate, it helps the butyrate to adhere better.

Nitrate substrate and attachment.  Heat shrink, then two coats of Supercoat Clear (shrinks) then a few coats of Lite Coat 50/50 (non-tautening) until it is shiney.  I really like Polyspan, and it will do most wing tips just fine, fills quickly, and is STRONG!.

Bill <><
Title: Re: Polyspan
Post by: dennis lipsett on October 25, 2006, 06:28:14 AM
For doing tips we used to do this when we were a lot younger. Dope by itself is too slow to grab and hold the covering material in place so we used to mix Duco cement in a 50/50 ratio with the clear. Now to clarify this we only made up a little amount of this as we only used it to hold down really stubborn spots. It also worked great on undercambered wings. The weight was really negligable and it did sand out nicely.
In a spirt of nostalgia I built a Sterling P-38 and used polyspan on the wing and used this technique for the tips and it was absolutely painless to do them. Only I used Sigment as Duco is hard to find. This is a really small tright radiused curve to cover if your familiar with the plane.
Dennis.
Title: Re: Polyspan
Post by: Lyle Spiegel on October 26, 2006, 06:52:38 PM
In my younger days I used Ambroid !! It is still available abd will do same as Sigment or Duco
Title: Re: Polyspan
Post by: Dan Labine on October 29, 2006, 07:24:16 AM
Who makes "Polyspan" ?
Title: Re: Polyspan
Post by: Bill Little on October 29, 2006, 07:51:17 AM
Who makes "Polyspan" ?

Tom Morris supplies it in 20' rolls, and it's pretty inexpensive.  I cannot find his internet contact info right now, but he is in Stunt News.

Bill <><
Title: Re: Polyspan
Post by: Dan Labine on October 30, 2006, 06:44:32 AM
Thanks.. I'll look for it..
Title: Re: Polyspan
Post by: Jerry Bohn on October 30, 2006, 09:52:36 AM
Dan try first.    Controline Central  http://www.clcentral.com/products.asp?cat=45

OR    http://www.faimodelsupply.com/starline-frontpage.htm
Title: Re: Polyspan
Post by: tom hampshire on October 30, 2006, 10:24:57 AM
If you try to adhere polyspan with dope, and then cut the scrap off the edges with sandpaper, it always gets creates the dreaded fuzz.  Try adhering the polyspan with CA instead, and when you sand it, the edges are stiffened enough to give the fibers support so the sanding block cuts clean, without fuzz.  I generally fix the poly at the root/high point, with just a dot of CA, with the poly aligned along the trailing edge, and enough hanging over the leading edge to wrap all the way around. Stretch it wrinkle free to the tip, and secure the tip with a CA dot at the high point.   Then adhere the trailing edge with 3- 4 dots, and fill in the root and tip with full continuous CA seams.  Fiinish the trailing edge, and wrap around the leading edge, repeat the process on the flip side, heat shrink and its done.  Sikspan on the tips sos you can sand smooth.  I don't believe its as good as silk.  The puncture resistance is a little better, but it doesn't seem to add as much torsional rigidity.  Tom Hampshire