Comp Arf fix

[AirMcNair]

Here is my comp arf I have been working on for the past week. The landing gear was tore out on a dead stick. Since I was already glassing and painting I figured I would fix all the parts I did not like from what comp arf did. One major issue to me was the seam line on the bottom of the bird. So its smooth now!! I also made a split cowl. I still have to add the blind nuts but it worked out perfectly!! Here are some pics, I will post more later.

[AirMcNair]

more

[youngflyer]

dude im sure theres many people out there who would pay you to fix there comp arf!!!

[AirMcNair]

	Quote: Originally Posted by youngflyer
	dude im sure theres many people out there who would pay you to fix there comp arf!!!

!!! Send them this way!!! So far I have added .85 oz with all repairs. You should have seen the crunch....

[Dennis C]

What did you use to do the repair ?

Looks good

[Biff]

Nice work Chris! Sheesh,you got skills man.

[AirMcNair]

Thanks Dennis and Biff! The Basic process for this particular fix was this.... Since the Glass was crushed and the fibers were no longer bound I had to peel off the parts of Gel coat that had de-laminated from the glass. I then took thin CA and used it to hold the individual pieces that were deforming the fuse, This allowed me to get the fuse shape back without any templates. I then masked the outside of the bird to cover all of the broken parts of the bird. I then went in from the inside and sanded away! Dremmel, sand, dremmel, sand. you get the pic. Once completed I took acetone and cleaned the surface very well. This is where the fun starts!!! I used two pieces of 2oz cloth and doubled it up on Bias.(Cross grain) I cut them to the desired sizes and proceeded on wetting out the glass. I then applied the glass to the bird. Once completed with drying I went back in and sanded away. The trick here was turn the Jelly bottom into a new solid piece. Once that was done and I had a solid structure to work with removed the masking tape on the bottom and sanded everything smooth. I then picked and dremmeled any small pieces of glass or gel coat that may not bond well. Once this is complete I clean the fuse again with acetone. Then comes the Micro Balloons. The Micro Balloons I used are basically shredded up glass particles turned into powder. I use a Polyester resin to mix with the micro balloons. I then fill and sand until my arm feels like Popeye the sailer man. The time consuming part is obviously the final sanding, These pics are prior to final sanding. I will post more pics tomorrow. Sorry about the bad camera shots. My Camera got stolen at EAC this weekend........

Later Chris Mc Nair

[Fearless Flyer]

very clean work, looking good

[AirMcNair]

	Quote: Originally Posted by Fearless Flyer
	very clean work, looking good

Thanks Bro!!

[Kiwi]

Chris,

Nice job mate. I have had to make a few small repairs to mine and actually find the glass shells as easy if not easier to work with than wood. I wont claim to get the same result as you have but I'm certainly not paranoid at trying to fix them any more.

Shama about the camera mate. Hope it was insured.

Kiwi

[Vortex]

just a little bondo, right

[AirMcNair]

	Quote: Originally Posted by Kiwi
	Chris, Nice job mate. I have had to make a few small repairs to mine and actually find the glass shells as easy if not easier to work with than wood. I wont claim to get the same result as you have but I'm certainly not paranoid at trying to fix them any more. Shama about the camera mate. Hope it was insured. Kiwi

Thanks Kiwi!! Yes I would rather fix fiberglass then wood but that all a matter of opinion. Wood is easier to fix and make look good. Glass takes a tone more work but in my opinion looks better and is far stronger then wood. For size and weight to durability Glass has wood beat. But... You can make a wood bird lighter. Just tends to break in the air for me Little rough on them......... The camera was insured but I dont think the 700.00$ camera is worth the increase in isurance price.... If I see any of the Pics I took from this event around there ass is mine!!! There are about 250 pics on that bad boy with a 2gig stick in it...... Later Chris