The dope is on, the carbon veil was (very) promptly delivered by Eric and there is nothing left but to get started.

First of all, thanks to everyone on Stunthangar. I've spent quite a while with the search button reading up on all the tips y'all have posted on using CV. Very interesting...

Up 'till now I have only used two different finishing methods; As a kid I was a devotee of the "slather on Aero Gloss until shiny" method. Later, I discovered the advantages (and miseries, it must be said) of sandpaper and have used "Windy method" of all butyrate and silkspan as he used on the Strega videos.

This time I wanted to branch out a bit and will be using CV instead of silkspan on the wood bits, the primer that Robert recommends (DS-something? I have it written down somewhere) and perhaps an automotive clear. I know this is still yesterday's technology to some of you guys, but at least I'm finally moving out of the eighties!

One question I do have after perusing the other posts involves covering "valleys" with CV. I know this is trouble with silkspan due to shrinking, etc., but are the rules any different for CV? I'm not talking about fillets, I always do those last, but this model has cowl blisters like a Griffon Spitfire or Schneider Cup type plane and I'm wondering if I should avoid putting CV in the concave sections. Since the CV itself doesn't really shrink is the problem avoided or does the dope shrink enough to pull up the carbon?

It might not matter at all in this case, since I'm guessing that it might be easier to use a separate piece on each cowl blister anyway, but it did make me wonder what you guys had found.  

Thanks again!

Mike

Hi Mike,

First, are you using the .2oz. CF veil?  The reason I ask is that the over laps disappear during the finishing process with that weight.  In that case I would use a separate piece over the humps.  And wrinkles will sand out.  Don't be sloppy, but it's good to know some of the ins and outs.

Bill

Yes, please, post the īpics....

Marcus