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<fredfighter@spamcop.net> wrote in message
news:1150741529.945909.229740@y41g2000cwy.googlegroups.com...
>
> J.Kahn wrote:
>>
>> ...
>>
>> You might as well skin the entire wing in ply and use a minimal glass
>> layer as a protective coating. Either way you are going to end up with
>> a much heavier wing.
>>
>
> Having read his book, I think that is exactly what Bingelis did, with
> either the wing, or the fuselage, or both.
>
> The advantages were a smoother surface, though I daresay proper
> wood finishing technique would produce as smooth s surface
> with considerably less work and wieght, and improved resistance
> to the elements.
>
> I believe he said it added 10 to 15 lbs to the plane.
>
> --
>
> FF
I wonder if the thin glass skin, over the plywood, would eliminate the
sagging 'tween rib bays that a Pulsar builder experienced. He was skilled
at woodworking, IIRC, but complained about sagging 'tween rib bats in humid
weather. I do not know the details, unfortunately.
As I indicated in a previous reply to this thread, he routed out the plywood
and fabricated sheets of fiberglass/epoxy as a thin "skin" that he then
applied as if it was plywood skin material. No sagging and he liked the
result. I've no details about weight penalty, engineering changes (extra
thickness all around because of the plywood over the ribs, spar, etc.).
I'm trying to locate the Pulsar builder to see if his experiences could be
made available for this thread.
Michael Pilla
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Re: Fiberglass vs. Fabric
