---------------------------------------------------------- RV8-List Digest Archive --- Total Messages Posted Fri 08/08/08: 4 ---------------------------------------------------------- Today's Message Index: ---------------------- 1. 06:42 AM - Re: Consensus On Finishing Back End Of Fiberglass Tips... (BRUCE GRAY) 2. 07:36 AM - Re: Consensus On Finishing Back End Of Fiberglass Tips... (manuel weber) 3. 08:46 AM - Re: Consensus On Finishing Back End Of Fiberglass Tips... (Heath Cherneski) 4. 06:53 PM - Re: Consensus On Finishing Back End Of Fiberglass Tips (Speedy11@aol.com) ________________________________ Message 1 _____________________________________ Time: 06:42:40 AM PST US From: BRUCE GRAY Subject: RE: RV8-List: Consensus On Finishing Back End Of Fiberglass Tips... Matt=2C I would use this small task of fiber glassing as testing the waters. You wi ll eventually have to warm up to it. The wing tips were a bit of work if yo u want them to come out nice=2C sometimes requiring to split the T/E and re glassing. Dan Checkoway's sight explained this task. And last but not least if you have some special words you save for special occasions wait till yo u get to the canopy skirt. If that don't tickle you enough you still have t he windscreen and over the top roll-over bar lay ups to do. Take it slow and it all starts coming to you. You pull the stuff out=2C get the scale=2C mix it up and go to town. Get to it now while the weather is still warm. Winter sucks for this stuff. Cure time double when its 30-40 de grees out. First trick-Go to the hobby store and get some light balsa wood. Shape it =2C with-out side pressure/check it on the assembly. Fit it in the tip cap about 3/16" below the cut line. Second- Get your cloth and cut some patterns a little over the size of the tip opening=2C about 3ea. Third- Mix your epoxies(West Systems) wet the area with acid brushes and la y the first layer=2C then second=2C & third. Wetting each layer. Then prop it up so the lay-up is flat. Once cured=2C remove the balsa plug=2C however and sand the inside a bit(scuffing w/60-80 grit). Mix up some more resin a nd do 2 lay-ups inside but this time put bigger patterns inside to go up th e side of the cap a bit to lock the end cap lay-ups in. After this you may sand and fill the outer portion to the desired shape to nestle the rudder cap. This may sound like a lot for a stupid little cap but the airplane isn't go ing to fly tomorrow. You have time. Do it and you'll be happy with the out come. Good Luck and have some fun with it. That's what these airplanes are about. Bruce Gray RV8 Fuse Finishing=2CWiring=2C& WindscreenP.S. I forgot=2C make the balsa plug long on the bottom=2C a tongue if you will. This will be the portion that runs d own to the top of the fin rib. You'll shape this slowly to your desired fit as you fit this to the assembly.ans that it is kind of up to the builder w hether to put a cover on > the back of it. My first question would have to be why the f*** > isn't there one already molded on it like on the front of the rudder > tip? But=2C hostility aside=2C what's everyone's thoughts on finishing > these? I'm just thinking that my patience for fiberglass layups > hovers around zero and I can just see taking a totally sweet tip > insta llation and mucking it royally. But=2C I will if I must. I would > really l ike the back end finished off rather than gaping open like > that=2C but it might be something I could live with...> > Thoughts?> > Matt Dralle> RV-8 #82880 _________________________________________________________________ Get more from your digital life. Find out how. http://www.windowslive.com/default.html?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_Home2_082008 ________________________________ Message 2 _____________________________________ Time: 07:36:30 AM PST US From: manuel weber Subject: RE: RV8-List: Consensus On Finishing Back End Of Fiberglass Tips... Also Matt, - Closing this area will help prevent birds or wasp nests from being built in that area.- Also may help aerodynamics a small amount. --- On Fri, 8/8/08, BRUCE GRAY wrote: From: BRUCE GRAY Subject: RE: RV8-List: Consensus On Finishing Back End Of Fiberglass Tips.. .. #yiv1274184803 .hmmessage P { margin:0px;padding:0px;} #yiv1274184803 { FONT-SIZE:10pt;FONT-FAMILY:Tahoma;} Matt, I would use this small task of fiber glassing as testing the waters. You wi ll eventually have to warm up to it. The wing tips were a bit of work if yo u want them to come out nice, sometimes requiring to split the-T/E and re glassing. Dan Checkoway's sight explained this task. And last but not least if you have some special words you save for special occasions wait till yo u get to the canopy skirt. If that don't tickle you enough you still have t he windscreen and over the top roll-over bar lay ups to do. Take it slow and it all starts coming to you. You pull the stuff out, get t he scale, mix it up and go to town. Get to it now while the weather is stil l warm. Winter sucks for this stuff. Cure time-double when its 30-40 degr ees out. First trick-Go to the hobby store and get some light balsa wood. Shape it, with-out side pressure/check it on the assembly. Fit it in the tip cap abou t 3/16" below the cut line. Second- Get your cloth and cut some patterns a little over the size of the tip opening, about 3ea. Third- Mix your epoxies(West Systems) wet the area with acid brushes and la y the first layer, then second, & third. Wetting each layer. Then prop it u p so the lay-up is flat. Once cured, remove the balsa plug, however and san d the inside a bit(scuffing w/60-80 grit). Mix up some more resin and do 2 lay-ups inside but this time put bigger patterns inside to go up the side o f the cap a bit to lock the end cap lay-ups-in. After this you may sand and fill the outer portion to the desired shape to nestle the rudder cap. This may sound like a lot for a stupid little cap but the airplane isn't go ing to fly tomorrow. You have time. Do it and you'll be happy with the out come. Good Luck and have some fun with it. That's what these airplanes are about. - Bruce Gray RV8 Fuse Finishing,Wiring,& Windscreen P.S. I forgot, make the balsa plug long on the bottom, a tongue if you will . This will be the portion that runs down to the top of the fin rib. You'll shape this slowly to your desired fit as you fit this to the assembly. ans that it is kind of up to the builder whether to put a cover on > the back of it. My first question would have to be why the f*** > isn't there one already molded on it like on the front of the rudder > tip? But, hostility aside, what's everyone's thoughts on finishing > these? I'm just thinking that my patience for fiberglass layups > hovers around zero and I can just see taking a totally sweet tip > installation and mucking it royally. But, I will if I must. I would > really like the back end finished off rather than gaping open like > that, but it might be something I could live with... > > Thoughts? > > Matt Dralle > RV-8 #82880 Get more from your digital life. Find out how. =0A=0A=0A ________________________________ Message 3 _____________________________________ Time: 08:46:39 AM PST US From: "Heath Cherneski" Subject: RE: RV8-List: Consensus On Finishing Back End Of Fiberglass Tips... Finishing the tip is really no problem. Foam is your friend as it is very easy to cut and form into the back of the tip and then glass over. Microbaloons mixed to the consistency of peanut butter works really well to get exactly the shape you want and then sand to finish. I would close the hole, and I think probably the reason it is not is the clearance between control surface and stabilizer. You want to ensure that with a little flex there is still no chance of contact or binding between the two surfaces and every airplane clearance is going to be slightly different. Filling in the end of the cap is really no problem. I used blue tivex insulation I got from Lowes and then the above tecnique. I think it's half inch or something. This stuff also works very well for holding control tubes while you rig down the road and for keeping the wingtip expanded while you drill for nutplates etcetera. Obviously, make sure you have removed the foam from around all control tubes before final assembly. Heath Cherneski RV8 N818HC 52918 -----Original Message----- From: owner-rv8-list-server@matronics.com [mailto:owner-rv8-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of Matt Dralle Sent: Thursday, August 07, 2008 10:02 PM Subject: RV8-List: Consensus On Finishing Back End Of Fiberglass Tips... Dear Listers, Here are some pictures of my recently finished Fin and Rudder fiberglass tips, specifically highlighting my notion of mounting the VOR/GS/LOC antenna on the top of the Fin. It came out very nice I think and gives full access to cabling and antenna mount for maintenance. But here's my question. Look at that last picture of the back end of the Fin fiberglass tip and note the gaping hole. I gather from the plans that it is kind of up to the builder whether to put a cover on the back of it. My first question would have to be why the f*** isn't there one already molded on it like on the front of the rudder tip? But, hostility aside, what's everyone's thoughts on finishing these? I'm just thinking that my patience for fiberglass layups hovers around zero and I can just see taking a totally sweet tip installation and mucking it royally. But, I will if I must. I would really like the back end finished off rather than gaping open like that, but it might be something I could live with... Thoughts? Matt Dralle RV-8 #82880 ________________________________ Message 4 _____________________________________ Time: 06:53:49 PM PST US From: Speedy11@aol.com Subject: RV8-List: Re: Consensus On Finishing Back End Of Fiberglass Tips Matt, I couldn't find your photos to view them. I'm assuming you plan to make the fin fiberglass piece removable for replacement or repair of the antenna. Doug's idea to add wood and glass over it will work. I used a piece of slightly curved aluminum hot glued to the tip and laid the glass on the inside. See _http://www.rv-8a.net/2007.htm_ (http://www.rv-8a.net/2007.htm) and scroll down to 24 Feb 07. I made mine removable and added glass to cover most of the gap. I'll likely add a bit of RTV to keep water out. Stan Sutterfield _www.rv-8a.net_ (http://www.rv-8a.net) Dear Listers, Here are some pictures of my recently finished Fin and Rudder fiberglass tips, specifically highlighting my notion of mounting the VOR/GS/LOC antenna on the top of the Fin. It came out very nice I think and gives full access to cabling and antenna mount for maintenance. But here's my question. Look at that last picture of the back end of the Fin fiberglass tip and note the gaping hole. I gather from the plans that it is kind of up to the builder whether to put a cover on the back of it. My first question would have to be why the f*** isn't there one already molded on it like on the front of the rudder tip? But, hostility aside, what's everyone's thoughts on finishing these? I'm just thinking that my patience for fiberglass layups hovers around zero and I can just see taking a totally sweet tip installation and mucking it royally. But, I will if I must. I would really like the back end finished off rather than gaping open like that, but it might be something I could live with... Thoughts? Matt Dralle RV-8 #82880 ________________________________ Message 4 _____________________________________ Time: 08:42:31 PM PST US From: "Doug Ritter" Subject: Re: RV8-List: Consensus On Finishing Back End Of Fiberglass Tips... Cut a wood plug to size apx 1/4" thick, epoxy in place and cover with one layer of glass cloth. Sand and paint. **************Looking for a car that's sporty, fun and fits in your budget? Read reviews on AOL Autos. 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