REFLECTOR: From Dennis Martin

["Brian K. Michalk" <michalk@awpi.com>]

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> Date: Sun, 24 Jan 1999 21:10:07 -0700
> To: reflector@awpi.com, "James F. Agnew" <Jim_Agnew@ibm.net>
> From: dmartin@cougar.netutah.net (Dennis Martin)
> Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: Propellers and prop extensions
> 
> Jim:
> 
> Good talking with you this morning.  Still no messages from you, so I'll
> hope for something to stream in tomorrow.  I am getting messages from the
> reflector, however.  I just pulled in three new messages before sending
> this one.
> 
> I read the stuff on Nat Puffer again, and there's no doubt he really has a
> strong technical background on props and spinners.  I've spoken with Clark
> Lydick twice, and have pretty much decided to have him cut me a Performance
> prop.  I'll try to get Nat's opinion before I make the final commitment.
> 
> BTW, call me before you dig into the cuffs of your elevators.  You'll
> discover that when you cut away the excess 21 inches, you'll have to finess
> your new leading edge to make it join seamlessly with the top and bottom of
> your elevator surfaces.
> 
> If your elevator is like mine, it will have maybe 1/4" to 1/2" of foam on
> the front edge.  I suggest you leave as much foam as possible, but it will
> probably crumble out in a few spots.  Paint it with epoxy, then let it sit
> as long as possible to almost curing stage.  Next, fill it with a very
> thick mix of balloon and micro glass.  I had to put in a bit of cabo to
> make it more stable (thixotropic I think you call it).  The idea is to get
> the mix to stay put, and of course it really wants to run and sag.  I had
> to do it twice.
> 
> Of course, once cured you can sand this micro to a perfect leading edge.  I
> used a two foot straight-edge to match my new leading edge to what remained
> of the leading edge.
> 
> Once shaped perfectly, I added a layer of fine bid.  If you've got fine
> carbon fiber, use that.  Trouble is, you really need something thin to lay
> down nicely and make a seamless joint with the elevator surfaces. None of
> my carbon fiber would lay down nicely.  Alan told me to use fine bid.
> 
> Before adding the fine bid, I used my Harbor Freight rotary sander to
> remove the white primer about a half-inch or so backward on top and bottom.
> I exposed about a half-inch of carbon fiber.  Of course, the carbon
> provides a nice, strong surface for adhering to the fine bid.  My fine bid
> was cut to fit right to the edges of the carbon fiber.  And, you MUST use
> peel ply to get it to lay down good and flat.  I really nailed it.  The
> fine bid meets the primer so nicely that my new elevator leading edge is
> seamless with the rest of the elevator.
> 
> All the best,
> 
> 767 Delta Golf  (N767DG)  For Dennis and Gayle
> 
> 


-- 
Brian Michalk  <http://www.awpi.com/michalk>
Life is what you make of it ... never wish you had done something.
Aviator, experimental aircraft builder, motorcyclist, SCUBA diver
musician, home-brewer, entrepenuer and SINGLE!