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Model Forum / Radio Controlled / Air Models / December 2009



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Sheeting foam wing cores

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Robert Scott - 20 Dec 2009 22:19 GMT
I have a Wing Mfg. A-26 Invader short kit and wood pack that's been sitting
in the shop for several years now, mostly due to the fact that I've never
built a model with sheeted foam wings.

In doing some web searching, I found plenty of discussion on choices of
adhesives, but I wasn't able to find a really good tutorial on exactly how
to go about the task.  I don't know whether I need to cut out all the servo
holes, channels for the Gold-n-rods, install the leading and trailing edge
pieces, etc., BEFORE I sheet, or if this is all best done later.

Does anyone have a favorite thorough reference on foam wing construction
(book or website) that would be a good primer for me?  I really want to put
this model together at some point.  ;-)

Thanks for any help,
desmobob

--

"Medicine is the keystone of the arch of Socialism" -- Vladimir Lenin

"Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the
gospel of envy.  Its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery."
--Winston Churchill
Martin X. Moleski, SJ - 21 Dec 2009 03:26 GMT
>I have a Wing Mfg. A-26 Invader short kit and wood pack that's been sitting
>in the shop for several years now, mostly due to the fact that I've never
>built a model with sheeted foam wings.

>In doing some web searching, I found plenty of discussion on choices of
>adhesives, but I wasn't able to find a really good tutorial on exactly how
>to go about the task.  I don't know whether I need to cut out all the servo
>holes, channels for the Gold-n-rods, install the leading and trailing edge
>pieces, etc., BEFORE I sheet, or if this is all best done later.

>Does anyone have a favorite thorough reference on foam wing construction
>(book or website) that would be a good primer for me?  I really want to put
>this model together at some point.  ;-)

I see lots of tutorials here:

<http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=sheeting+foam+wings&sourceid=navclient-ff&r
lz=1B3GGLL_enUS358US358&ie=UTF-8&aq=0&oq=%22sheeing+foam
>

I don't have a favorite among them.

I use vacuum bagging myself.  I've only done a couple of wings, but
it is a nice system.  I'm using epoxy resin for now.  When it runs
out, I may consider some of the alternatives.

                    Marty
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Six_O'Clock_High - 21 Dec 2009 17:01 GMT
>I have a Wing Mfg. A-26 Invader short kit and wood pack that's been sitting
>in the shop for several years now, mostly due to the fact that I've never
[quoted text clipped - 21 lines]
> gospel of envy.  Its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery."
> --Winston Churchill

Sorry for the following book, but you asked!

Marty's way is probably the best when used with ProBond, but it presupposes
equipment, knowledge of what you are doing, and some friends to help you
learn new and different tricks.  :)

That being said, the first part of the direct answer to your question is
that this link probably gives the closest to what you want and need:

http://www.nasascale.org/howtos/pro-bond.htm

To resolve the question about adhesives, I will report the substantive
differences between epoxy and ProBond that I have noted in use.

EPOXY:

I have had epoxy wings delaminate (probably because I was in a hurry and
did something wrong) but more importantly the adhesive bond between epoxy
and the foam substrate is weaker than the bond between ProBond and the foam.
With the epoxy the only adhesion is where it actually touches the foam bead
and it does not penetrate the foam (which allows delamination under extreme
conditions).  Many try to improve that bond by adding enough epoxy to get
down between the surface layer of foam beads, which works to a point but
also adds unnecessary weight.

ProBond (or any urethane glue):

I have managed to break a couple of wing sheeted with this stuff and what I
found was very interesting.  As the link I provided suggests, edge gluing is
not needed and when the wing broke (don't even ask what I was doing to cause
that to happen!) I got a good look at how urethane glues work in our
environment and was impressed.  The glue penetrated almost 1/2 inch INTO the
foam.  When you add the fact that ProBond sheeted wings weighed
substantially less than wings skinned using epoxy there is a winner.  I love
the results, less work, better adhesion, less weight!

Now for the secondary parts of your question.

Cut all the servo wire channels (fill them with waxpaper wrapped rods) and
servo holes (measure their location and write it down) before you sheet and
install leading and trailing edges after sheeting.  Trying to install those
prior to sheeting only complicates the process for me, others may have a
different approach.

Jim Branaum
AMA 1428
icerinkdad@gmail.com - 21 Dec 2009 22:43 GMT
You do not need to vacuum bag with probond or the other poly glues but
be sure to use wax paper between the outside surface of the wing and
the shucks that you will eventually throw away... (dont ask me how I
know this....)   As the glue expands it finds any microscopic holes in
the balsa and can also bond the shucks back onto the wing... use lots
of weight to keep the foam from expanding the sheeting and foam
apart.   Probond is not a good glue if you cannot clamp the parts
together somehow.   Make a test setup with some scrap foam and balsa
to get the feel of what you are doing.   Also it takes very very
little glue to get a good bond... I scrape almost all of it off the
wood (till there is only a slight sheen) and that has always been more
than enough.
Bob Furr

PS  If you ever decide to cut your own wings do a google search on
"foam wing cutting".   It really is much easier than most folks
realize.
Six_O'Clock_High - 22 Dec 2009 15:33 GMT
> You do not need to vacuum bag with probond or the other poly glues but
> be sure to use wax paper between the outside surface of the wing and
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
> "foam wing cutting".   It really is much easier than most folks
> realize.

ONE WORD OF WARNING!

Do NOT use any of the poly glues as a purely structural adhesive.  You know,
bulkhead to skin or framing up things.  None of them have the small point
strength of any of the adhesives we use but almost all of them are the best
for very large surfaces.  The link I provided from Marty's list is one of
the best write ups I have seen about how to use a poly glue to skin wings.

I had an acquaintance that build up one of those giant scale Ace Seamaster's
with a poly glue.  When the forward bulkhead slipped out of the glue the
bird went in.  It was recovered and you could see where the glue had foamed
up all around the missing bulkhead.
Robert Scott - 23 Dec 2009 00:25 GMT
>> You do not need to vacuum bag with probond or the other poly glues but
>> be sure to use wax paper between the outside surface of the wing and
[quoted text clipped - 27 lines]
> the glue the bird went in.  It was recovered and you could see where the
> glue had foamed up all around the missing bulkhead.

Noted.     Thanks for the info.

Merry Christmas,
desmobob
icerinkdad@gmail.com - 24 Dec 2009 15:05 GMT
> > <icerink...@gmail.com> wrote in message
> >news:11efc45d-b802-446d-ae5b-8777c52a2323@j19g2000yqk.googlegroups.com...
[quoted text clipped - 36 lines]
>
> - Show quoted text -

Poly glues approach the strength of epoxy but ONLY if you can clamp
the surfaces together till the glue completely cures and have a good
mechanical joint to start with.
ve7eje@gmail.com - 21 Dec 2009 19:45 GMT
> I have a Wing Mfg. A-26 Invader short kit and wood pack that's been sitting
> in the shop for several years now, mostly due to the fact that I've never
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
> Thanks for any help,
> desmobob

This is about the best tutorial I have run across.
http://mackrc.net/patternwings2/index.htm

-Rob-
Robert Scott - 22 Dec 2009 02:04 GMT
You guys are the greatest!  My fear is gone.  Instead of being nervous about
the process,  I'm now very interested and looking forward to trying it.  I
can put the model into the building line-up at some point.  :-)

-> This is about the best tutorial I have run across.
> http://mackrc.net/patternwings2/index.htm

Great stuff!  Lots of good info and lots of photos; very thorough.   He has
a neat way to install the aileron hinge points and cut out the ailerons.
Thanks for that link, Rob.

Thanks again to everyone.

Merry Christmas,
Bob
 
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