Scale Soaring UK

Hi all
I am building Chris Williams 1.4.2 Topaz and the top ply is quite a tight bend the tail plane area, what is the best way to bend 0.7 ply without it splitting?

Regards

Rob

Steam.......

Rob,
Wet the ply with a moist cloth & then slowly iron it into position using a hot covering or household iron. Turn the iron temperature up to hot & the heat will boil the surface moisture to produce steam as the iron passes over it.
Iron will be hot enough when application instantly generates steam. Too hot will scorch un-wetted wood.
I regularly use this technique to bend 0.6mm ply wing skins, usually in parallel with bonding skins to structures using the PVA wood glue re-activation technique.
Have a look at John Greenfield’s video tutorial on skinning large scale models - LMA site & I think also on here somewhere in a useful tips section.
https://scalesoaring.co.uk/plywood-panelling/

You can pre-bend using steam from a kettle spout, else dribble boiling water over inside of surface whilst using pressure to promote curvature.

Hope this helps,
Peter

Thanks Peter,
Will give it a try later

Regards
Rob

Ply sheeting tutorial video can be found here :-

http://www.ghostsquadron.co.uk/ply_shee ... plete.html

AEB

Thanks for the help, it worked a treat.
Regards
Rob