To Cover or not to Cover.....

[les2097]

Guys... I need some advice...

I have a G&L Laser 200 33% and I'd like to try a pair of Lanier Laser 200 wings on it... ... by doing so... I'd save 3 pounds of weight... the G&L wings are foam and were sheeted then glassed... and weight over 3 pounds each...

The Lanier wings are stripped... and are balsa open bay construction...

What I need some advice is can I try the Lanier wings by only covering the open bays... everything else on the wings is balsa sheeted.... with no covering...????

Thanks

Larry
les2097@hotmail.com

[sensei]

Yes, my 33% Laser wings were open bay and covered complete with Monokote, they weighed between 1.25 and 1.5 LBS. each finished and ready to fly.

If you lose the aft .25"x.25" hardwood spar caps, purchase medium density 1/16" sheeting, and are real careful with the Pro Bond you can be closer to the 1.25 LB. per wing panel.

Best of luck

Bob

[les2097]

Thanks Bob... but what I wanted some advice on is whether I should cover the entire wing or could get away with JUST covering the open bays... Just for testing the Lanier wings... Covering the entire wing as a finished job would take many hours and the covering is expensive...

I want to fly the plane with only the open wing bays covered.... just for performance testing...

Whacha think Bob....???

Larry

[Edge 540]

It's a 33% plane... only covering half of it isn't the way to save money.

[mflander]

What sensei said after me...

[sensei]

	Quote: Originally Posted by les2097
	Thanks Bob... but what I wanted some advice on is whether I should cover the entire wing or could get away with JUST covering the open bays... Just for testing the Lanier wings... Covering the entire wing as a finished job would take many hours and the covering is expensive... I want to fly the plane with only the open wing bays covered.... just for performance testing... Whacha think Bob....??? Larry

You could do that; but I would be very careful because your edge of covering would be directly in the possitive pressure slip stream on both top and bottom of your wing panel, if just a little high pressure air worked it's way under, it would blow the covering off the wing and most likely cost you the aircraft....

Bob

[SleepyC]

Bob (as always) leaves you with some very solid advice.

I'd take what he says and put it in the bank!

[Zee]

Cover, both sides too.What is cheeper, few yards of covering or whole airplane?
Zee

[alec taylor]

cover with silk. dope, then paint . cheap and no bloody wrinkles in the sun. and its light in weight. alex

[BOSSIER_ROB]

Buy some cheap towercoat or something similar. When you get done testing and want to slap a good covering job down, it should peel off easily, and you can use quality covering for the final finish. Then your only out $20-$30 if that much. I'd rather tear off and trash some cheap covering then to throw a whole plane in the trash. Covering the bays only is playing with fire and most likely will not last for many flights, if it even stays on for one. Don't do it man.

[shogunmst]

Les,
You might as well take the time to cover the wings, you never know when you are going to need another set. I think I would just go ahead and cover them to match the plane, I sure wouldn't trust just flying it with part of the wing covered. Good luck with the project and hope to see yall at the field soon.
Later
Shawn