Schleicher ASH31 4m

[MartinE]

Elevator now ready for top coat.

Couldn't resist installing it onto the fuselage.

[MartinE]

Further steps on the right-hand inner wing section;

Spar cap filler sanded to the correct profile.
160gsm reinforcements added to each end and left to cure.
(annoyingly, pictures won't post!)

Then the foam is cut out where the joiner boxes will go (no going back Now!!)

Wing joiner/end cap bonded in.

[MartinE]

Oh and servo wire slot cut (with hot wire)

[Kenneth Paine]

Oh and servo wire slot cut (with hot wire)

Excellent progress Martin.

Regarding the servo wire slot, I recommend you put a sturdy tube there and fill any cavities around it, other the vacuum will collapse the core around it.

Kind regards,

Kenneth

[MartinE]

Hello Kenneth,

Yes the wire channel is something needing some thought. I have got away with it on previous wings, but this one is bigger & nearer the surface.

It does bring us back to the Mylar discussion, as this would bridge the gap to a degree, with just a dip in the skin likely to be left, after bagging.

Regards

Martin

[Kenneth Paine]

...It does bring us back to the Mylar discussion, as this would bridge the gap to a degree, with just a dip in the skin likely to be left, after bagging.

The Mylar will not remove the dip entirely and you have the cost and inconvenience of having to use Mylar. I routed out my servo wire channel with a radiused bit, lay down a plastic tube, applied splooge to fill the gaps around the tube and capped the channel with foam sanded flush. See here starting post #92: https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthr ... st43908949

[MartinE]

Good suggestion Kenneth, I mulled over using carbon tubes, but have ordered some styrene ones, as recommended.

I've now applied the LHD inner wing reinforcements and then bagged.

[Kenneth Paine]

Very nice Martin, however, it is important that you know that you cannot get a good structural bond onto a cured epoxy laminate unless:

• You have used peel ply which you tear off the surface just before bonding to it or,

• You sand the surface to a dull finish before bonding

You don't want to be sanding carbon because it is toxic and extra work so in future I suggest:

• You lay up all your layers together in one session or,

• You use peel ply between layers if you want to do one layer at a time.

My 2p for what it is worth.

Kenneth

[MartinE]

I sand the surfaces between applications, using a 3m mask & dust extractor.

I don't believe the dust is toxic, but can get deep in yours lungs, so continued exposure is certainly not good for your long-term health.

[MartinE]

Both inner wing-joiners are attached and the inner wing sections slide nicely onto the wing joiner & into the fuselage.

I had already applied a single coat of 'build' primer, to the fuselage, to identify any areas needed filling. It's not bad, just a couple of small areas.

The area around the wing will need to be blended (into the wings) before that is painted.