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Yellow Dragonfly Construction Log

Chapter IX - Wing Tips


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WINGTIP1.JPG (17813 bytes)

The first step I took in adding wing tips where the wheel pants once were,  was to remove the foam core back about 1-1/2".  My thinking here was that I did not want a splice in the foam,  in the same spot as where the glass ended.  I've since been informed that this step was not necessary,  so although I did it,  I don't recommend it since it took an extra hour per side to remove the foam,  and to contour the blank to fit inside it.

The next step (not shown) was to belt sand the upper and lower skins for the new glass to bond.  I tapered the built-up glass to a sharp edge,   to form the substrate for once again,  a scarf joint in the glass.    The glass is very thick in this area,  due to all the additional glass used to attach the wheel pant to the canard.

 

WINGTIP2.JPG (21637 bytes)

After I shaped the foam to fit snugly into the cavity I formed,   I put a liberal amount of micro on all the internal surfaces,  and all the mating surfaces on the blank.  

 

WINGTIP3.JPG (23049 bytes)

My goal was to make the bond secure,  with out any internal voids.

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After forcing the blank into the cavity,  I held it there with masking tape.

 

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Another view,  same wing tip.

 

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After the micro had cured,  I used a rasp to carve the shape.  Other than measuring from center span of the canard to ensure that both wings were the same length,  all shaping was done by eyeball.

 

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After all the shaping was done,  I glued a block of foam where the elevator faring will be replaced.  I have no photos of the shaping or glassing of this area,  but it's a fairly simple task to accomplish.

WINGTIP5.JPG (15711 bytes)

In some of these images you can see a 1" wide white line in the elevator faring area.  This is where I ran my router and hogged out a slot to run the conduit you see sticking out of the end of the wing.  This was placed for future lighting needs.  When the final glassing was done,  the area over the white strip was glassed with 2 layers of 6oz tape.

 

WINGTIP9.JPG (31483 bytes)

The blank was carefully shaped to an eye pleasing form.   When that was complete,  the foam was filled with micro,  and covered with glass.

 

WNGTIP10.JPG (29297 bytes)

Since there was multiple compound curves,  I opted to use 10oz bid. 

 

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I laid 2 layers at 45 degrees,  and one at 90

 


Esse site foi ideia de Patrick Panzera de Hanford California EUA.

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