Today's Message Index:
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1. 06:23 AM - Re: fuselage fabric for Firestar (Stuart Harner)
2. 08:32 PM - Re: fuselage fabric for Firestar (Jay Dub)
Message 1
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| Subject: | Re: fuselage fabric for Firestar |
Think about it this way:
If you cover the bottom and wrap the tubes, that piece has extra
adhesion on both edges. Then you put the sides on and wrap the top tube
but have to lap joint at the bottom. That piece only has the extra
adhesion at the one edge.
If you use one piece and wrap the tubes at all the edges, the entire
piece has the extra adhesion.
I am quite sure that properly glued lap joints are just as secure as the
wrapped edge, but if you don't have to mess with the lap you don't have
as much to deal with when ironing flat and installing the tape. Plus it
will go faster (maybe).
I probably could have gotten the fabric all the way to 350 if I had left
it just a little more loose to start with. I was being extra careful not
to have too much that 350 wouldn't properly tighten it.
I don't know if the Firestar uses heavier materials in the wings and
tail feathers but the Firefly is pretty darned lightweight.
The covering was one of the most enjoyable parts to me. I like seeing
the wrinkles come out and the final shape take place.
Glad the website helped. Sometimes I wonder if any one ever looks at it.
I haven't done any updates in years. I really should work on getting the
hangar/camper project photos added.
On 1/28/23 23:58, Jay Dub wrote:
>
> Hi Stuart,
> I'm thinking the 1 piece makes it easy but in the back of my mind I wonder if
the reason for it in the plans was because you have fabric glued around the bottom
tubes. Next you have the fabric glued around the top tubes then you make
your overlap. That gives you 2 spots you are anchored to tubes all the way around
the perimeter: one high and one low. If I do one piece I will only anchor
at the top. I don't know that it makes a difference so that's why I ask.
>
> I was able to take the fabric up to 350F on my wings and 320F on everything else.
I'll do 350F on the fuselage too as I can't see that distorting. At 320F
my elevators bowed just a little bit but I was able to straighten them back.
>
> When I was making a covering list, I looked over your website and saw you ordered
30 yards for a Firefly and I know the Firestar has longer wings and a longer
fuselage. Aircraft Spruce had an ultralight estimate of 25 yds Uncertified
light fabric, 3 rolls of 2" pinked tape, 1 roll of 3" pinked tape, plus all the
Polyfiber stuff. By the time I ordered the material I knew I was going to do
the weinerdogaero latex method so I didn't need to order polyfiber liquids.
Anyhow I ordered 35 yards of Superflite 104 uncertified, 3 rolls of 2" tape (only
used 1 1/2 of them), and I did use some of the 3" tape on the wings. You had
about 1 yard left over. I am not short on my fabric but I also do not have
any length left over, not even 6". Sure I have a box of cut scraps but they are
all cut offs. I'm glad I was careful when laying out my parts as I almost was
short. When I cut the fabric for one elevator I made a mistake and it was too
long so there was a little extra scrap there.
>
> Thanks for keeping your website up as that was a big help when I couldn't find
any lists for how much a Firestar 2 needed.
>
> Jay
>
>
>
> Sent:Saturday, January 28, 2023 at 9:08 PM
> From:"Stuart Harner" <stuart@harnerfarm.net>
> To:kolb-list@matronics.com
> Subject:Re: Kolb-List: fuselage fabric for Firestar
>
> One would think that if you have one piece big enough to do it all that
> would be the way to go.
>
> Easier to install and fewer lap joints to come up later.
>
> For the Firefly, I ordered two yards more they specified and didn't
> waste much. When I was done there was only about a yard left. Glad I got
> the extra up front.
>
> I don't think the welded fuselage would care which technique you use. It
> is the only part of the airplane that I used full heat of 350 though.
>
>
Message 2
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| Subject: | Re: fuselage fabric for Firestar |
Long story short, you can't do one piece of fabric for the Firestar fuselage. The
compound curves and angles give you a bunch of fabric in the middle. I did
per the plans. First, I marked a center line in 4 spots of the 72" fabric to center
the fabric on the bottom stringer. I then cut both sides off from the bottom.
Then I wrapped and glued the bottom and shrunk it. Then Iglueda tape down
the center stringer on the bottom in case I land in some pasture with weeds.
I also got the leftside nearly glued on.
It's hard to describe why you have to do it per the plans but that's the only way
it will work for shrinking. Soooo....that answers that.
Jay
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