News:


  • March 28, 2024, 06:42:25 AM

Login with username, password and session length

Author Topic: Cover flaps in silkspan?  (Read 2670 times)

Offline Shug Emery

  • 2018 Supporter
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Admiral
  • *
  • Posts: 1597
  • Whoooo Buddy))))
    • Sean Emery funny guy juggling and stuff
Cover flaps in silkspan?
« on: March 21, 2017, 07:37:48 AM »
As I am in the process of finishing a plane.....I have read a few times that not everyone covers their flaps in silkspan though do cover the rest of the plane parts in silkspan.
Is this common?
Any reason not to cover the flaps?
Thanks for any info.
Shug
Whoooooo Buddy)))))))

Offline Randy Powell

  • 21 supporter
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Admiral
  • *
  • Posts: 10484
  • TreeTop Flyer
Re: Cover flaps in silkspan?
« Reply #1 on: March 21, 2017, 10:24:46 AM »
I do, but I suspect some are concerned with warps. I've used 1/2oz fiberglass and sometimes carbon fiber.
Member in good standing of P.I.S.T
(Politically Incorrect Stunt Team)
AMA 67711
 Randy Powell

Offline Serge_Krauss

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Admiral
  • ******
  • Posts: 1331
Re: Cover flaps in silkspan?
« Reply #2 on: March 21, 2017, 10:46:38 AM »
Shug- I think stiffness is an important issue for flaps. Silkspan will help there, but shrinking dope does bother me. I recommend the .56-oz fiberglass and epoxy route. You'll get a lot of torque resistance, if you bias the weave to 45 degrees, but care is important in order to avoid a real mess! (carefully roll each piece up so that you can roll it out spanwise over a very thin - squeegied - coating of epoxy to start). If you do this and then follow up with a second coat of epoxy, after the undercoat as set to a tack, sanding later down to the weave, you will avoid the glass floating up - same with silkspan. You can dope over slightly roughened fiberglass. I have found that fiberglass takes so little epoxy to fill it that you can actually come in under the weight of dope/silkspan or epoxy and CF veil. I don't recommend dope applied over woven glass, because it may shrink and warp the flap and also because it keeps shrinking and revealing the weave pattern.

Offline Howard Rush

  • 22 supporter
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Admiral
  • *
  • Posts: 7805
Re: Cover flaps in silkspan?
« Reply #3 on: March 21, 2017, 01:44:47 PM »
Silkspan is good, but use nontautening dope.  I use torque tube flap LEs, so stiffness is not an issue, but I use carbon tissue on the wood out of peer pressure. 
The Jive Combat Team
Making combat and stunt great again

Offline Shug Emery

  • 2018 Supporter
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Admiral
  • *
  • Posts: 1597
  • Whoooo Buddy))))
    • Sean Emery funny guy juggling and stuff
Re: Cover flaps in silkspan?
« Reply #4 on: March 21, 2017, 03:35:34 PM »
Silkspan is good, but use nontautening dope.  I use torque tube flap LEs, so stiffness is not an issue, but I use carbon tissue on the wood out of peer pressure. 
Is butyrate the non-shrinking type?
Appreciato.
Whoooooo Buddy)))))))

Offline Tim Wescott

  • 2016 supporter
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Admiral
  • *
  • Posts: 12804
Re: Cover flaps in silkspan?
« Reply #5 on: March 21, 2017, 03:48:59 PM »
Is butyrate the non-shrinking type?

Yes.  In order of achieved rigidity, moncoat, then silkspan & dope, then carbon veil & dope, then some sort of CF or glass + epoxy.

The best way to do it short of Howard's way is probably to vacuum bag CF onto the thing.  Start with flaps that have been lightly coated with dope to inhibit the epoxy soaking into the wood and adding weight, then do the deed.  Someone out there sells CF sleeves woven on a 45 degree bias (for making tubes) that would be perfect for this, if you wanted to be that detail-oriented.

Howard probably knows why this isn't as good as using CF tubes for the LE.
AMA 64232

The problem with electric is that once you get the smoke generator and sound system installed, the plane is too heavy.

Offline Shug Emery

  • 2018 Supporter
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Admiral
  • *
  • Posts: 1597
  • Whoooo Buddy))))
    • Sean Emery funny guy juggling and stuff
Re: Cover flaps in silkspan?
« Reply #6 on: March 21, 2017, 03:59:44 PM »
Thanks guys. It is just a profile electric. I have doped them and they are straight so far. Think I'll silkspan and dope but do both sides as quickly as possible.
Shug
Whoooooo Buddy)))))))

Offline Howard Rush

  • 22 supporter
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Admiral
  • *
  • Posts: 7805
Re: Cover flaps in silkspan?
« Reply #7 on: March 21, 2017, 04:33:00 PM »
Is butyrate the non-shrinking type?

There's tautening butyrate and nontautening butyrate.  I got some of each, made by Randolph.  Brodak is mostly nontautening. 
The Jive Combat Team
Making combat and stunt great again

Offline Randy Powell

  • 21 supporter
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Admiral
  • *
  • Posts: 10484
  • TreeTop Flyer
Re: Cover flaps in silkspan?
« Reply #8 on: March 21, 2017, 06:34:22 PM »
Gee, Howard, and here I thought you  machined flaps out of unobtainium.

How's JCT manor shaping up?
Member in good standing of P.I.S.T
(Politically Incorrect Stunt Team)
AMA 67711
 Randy Powell

Offline Howard Rush

  • 22 supporter
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Admiral
  • *
  • Posts: 7805
Re: Cover flaps in silkspan?
« Reply #9 on: March 21, 2017, 07:31:13 PM »
How's JCT manor shaping up?

JCT Manor is coming along nicely, Randy.  The shop has room for a laser cutter, so I'm picking one up Friday.  Marilou brought the suit of armor up from the wine cellar.  I don't know whether to keep it in the library or Ebay it. 
The Jive Combat Team
Making combat and stunt great again

Offline Randy Powell

  • 21 supporter
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Admiral
  • *
  • Posts: 10484
  • TreeTop Flyer
Re: Cover flaps in silkspan?
« Reply #10 on: March 22, 2017, 10:26:01 AM »
I look forward to flying on your pristine circle.  ;D
Member in good standing of P.I.S.T
(Politically Incorrect Stunt Team)
AMA 67711
 Randy Powell

Offline Steve Thompson

  • 24 supporter
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Commander
  • *
  • Posts: 163
Re: Cover flaps in silkspan?
« Reply #11 on: March 22, 2017, 11:51:44 AM »
Suit of armor...  Cool!

Would really be something to see someone fly control line in a get up like a suit of armor.

I bet our resident flying clown (Shug) could pull that off!

Offline Mark Scarborough

  • 2015
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Admiral
  • *
  • Posts: 5918
Re: Cover flaps in silkspan?
« Reply #12 on: March 22, 2017, 02:55:33 PM »
Well Howard has also flown in a clown suit so I hear, perhaps he should step up and try with the Suit of Armor as well,, it would be a nice resume filler for the JCT
For years the rat race had me going around in circles, Now I do it for fun!
EXILED IN PULLMAN WA
AMA 842137

Offline Chris Fretz

  • 2017
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Admiral
  • *
  • Posts: 1270
Re: Cover flaps in silkspan?
« Reply #13 on: March 22, 2017, 07:19:19 PM »
There's tautening butyrate and nontautening butyrate.  I got some of each, made by Randolph.  Brodak is mostly nontautening. 
I thought Brodaks was tautening. Wonder if I'm using the wrong stuff?! Does the can of dope specifiy?

Chris
Formerly known as #Liner
AMA 1104207
Advanced

Offline Howard Rush

  • 22 supporter
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Admiral
  • *
  • Posts: 7805
Re: Cover flaps in silkspan?
« Reply #14 on: March 22, 2017, 11:20:40 PM »
I thought Brodaks was tautening. Wonder if I'm using the wrong stuff?! Does the can of dope specifiy?

I base that on only one airplane.  I covered an All American with silk and used Brodak clear.  It was wrinkly and baggy.  I called Windy, who recommended putting on some Sig Supercoat, which tightened it up.
The Jive Combat Team
Making combat and stunt great again


Advertise Here
Tags:
 


Advertise Here