---------------------------------------------------------- Europa-List Digest Archive --- Total Messages Posted Sat 10/18/03: 4 ---------------------------------------------------------- Today's Message Index: ---------------------- 1. 02:06 AM - Europa List: Peel Ply on Root Rib (Ian Swankie) 2. 10:07 AM - Mini U2 - landing lights (david.corbett) 3. 10:41 AM - peal ply @ roots (Fred R. Klein) 4. 04:18 PM - Aeropoxy 30 minute and 2 hour hardner? (Ronald J. Parigoris) ________________________________ Message 1 _____________________________________ Time: 02:06:49 AM PST US From: "Ian Swankie" Subject: Europa-List: Europa List: Peel Ply on Root Rib --> Europa-List message posted by: "Ian Swankie" Last Thursday was a Bad Day. If Ron Parigoris felt a little foolish after wasting just 20 minutes scuff sanding the wing root peel ply, imaging how we feel. After reading Ron's report on Thursday we made a close inspection of our wing roots....and we were shocked to discover there are several faint red lines visible under our beautifully executed lay ups. When we worked on the wing roots a couple of month's ago we read and re-read the instruction to remove the peel ply. Like most XS builders, our only experience of peel ply was the green stuff and there was no trace of any on the wing roots, we just assumed this had been removed at the factory. It just looked like a nicely finished lay up. We tried picking at the skin and it all seemed sound. Although the red lines should have been a caution there are plenty of parts with blue guide lines, and we just assumed they were the same. So we scuff sanded the area and did the root to rib lay ups....three plies on each side and on each wing with loads of flox on the corners! The implications dawned on us on Thursday and were confirmed by the factory on Friday. Our only remedy (apart from transforming our project into a boat instead) is to spend countless hours carefully grinding away the glass back to this evil, almost transparent peel ply. Ron, if you want to swap foolish feelings then we'll take yours any day. I just wonder how many Europas may be flying with similarly camouflaged peel ply, now concealed by a coat or two of white paint? Ian Swankie www.gchox.co.uk ________________________________ Message 2 _____________________________________ Time: 10:07:16 AM PST US From: "david.corbett" Subject: Europa-List: Mini U2 - landing lights --> Europa-List message posted by: "david.corbett" Dave, I cannot help with this problem, but will await the postings with interest hoping that UK Europa's will get permission to fly at night at some stage in the future. More importantly, seeing the photo of you, Mini U2, and the real thing (large U2!) in the September factory newsletter, reminds me that I never congratulated you on the most excellent website you have set up with all your photo's and accompanying descriptions. Brilliant! David G-BZAM UK 265 ________________________________ Message 3 _____________________________________ Time: 10:41:59 AM PST US Subject: Europa-List: peal ply @ roots From: "Fred R. Klein" --> Europa-List message posted by: "Fred R. Klein" Hi All, Thanks for the frank discussion of discerning the presence of peal ply. I'm one who opted for the accellerated tail kit to avoid the intensive labor and epoxy exposure involved in these extensive layups...I also avoided the learning process and experience with peal ply. I recall construction tips suggesting that when using peal ply, always leave a "dry" end to grab on to in order to facilitate removal; this is not done with the factory layups of the control surfaces which require the removal of 1" of foam at the ends, some double faced tape, and peal ply applied to the inner surface of the skins. After merrily removing the foam with my trusty Stanley knife, I wasn't making much headway using the knife to remove the double faced tape, so I used my Dremel sanding drum to remove the tape and (I believed) peal ply. After overdoing this in a small initial area (sanding through the FG skin which was subsequently repaired) I was left with a matte surface which I presumed was the scuffed-up inner surface of the FG skin...NOT! Thanks to reading the on-line discussion re: peal ply @ root rib, last night I inspected all my control surface ends and poked around with my knife and I found a few threads which I grabbed with needle nosed pliers. Lo and behold, they pealed back to reveal a virgin FG inner skin surface. Since my aggressive Dremel work seriously degraded the integrity of the peal ply (which was white, not green, with nary a red thread to be found), it has only come off in bits and pieces after several hours of effort, but I'm breathing easier and will approach embedded peal ply with care in the future. Fred, A194 ________________________________ Message 4 _____________________________________ Time: 04:18:01 PM PST US From: "Ronald J. Parigoris" Subject: Europa-List: Aeropoxy 30 minute and 2 hour hardner? --> Europa-List message posted by: "Ronald J. Parigoris" Curious, anyone use either the 2 hour or 30 minute hardener for the aeropoxy epoxy? What operations did you use it on on your kit? Europa supplies 1 hour hardener. The specs look like they are all about the same strength, and use the same resin. I purchased a can of 30 minute i have yet to try. There is many a time where where the 1 hour is kicking off and therefore need to mix accordingly. Seems like the 2 hour may be a nice thing? Like where you are fooling with many detailed lay-ups, like Flap root closeout, where it is nice to lay-up wet on somewhat wet. Any input welcome. Potential negatives, if humid, perhaps it is more likely to blush? Ron Parigoris