REFLECTOR:Old Standard Velocity Fuel Strakes.

richard at riley.net richard at riley.net
Thu Jun 10 23:48:37 CDT 2004 

That's the saddest thing I've seen this month.

OK, it's repairable, but it's going to be very hard.  Do one piece at a 
time, two plies of BID glass tape inside and outside, tapered.  I'd find 
someone in your area with structural fiberglass experience - preferably 
airplane or boat experience - to help.  Getting the inside tapes on the 
last piece is going to be very hard - doable, but hard.

Since the strakes are "open" at this point I'd think about coating them 
with Jeffco's tank sealant.  Not mandatory, but it helps prevent 
leaks.  Coat the inside tapes with Jeffco as you proceed.


At 11:31 AM 6/10/04, you wrote:
>Here are the pix as promised:
>
>http://www.velocityelite.com/highrez/strake1.jpg
>
>http://www.velocityelite.com/highrez/strake2.jpg
>
>http://www.velocityelite.com/highrez/strake3.jpg
>
>http://www.velocityelite.com/highrez/strake4.jpg
>
>http://www.velocityelite.com/highrez/strake5.jpg
>
>http://www.velocityelite.com/highrez/strake6.jpg
>
>http://www.velocityelite.com/highrez/strake7.jpg
>
>I think I am going to just do the repair and see if it is airtight. If 
>not, then I will
>look at removing and starting over.
>
>Richard
>
>"Richard J. Gentil" wrote:
>
> > Joe, Al, and Pat,
> >
> > Thanx again for your interest and insight. Here is the reply I had from 
> Brendan.
> > (Duane gave me the same response.)
> >
> > "Richard,
> > It is fixable. What is your background with working with fiberglass? It
> > isn't a difficult fix but I wouldn't want to take a fuel tank fix like this
> > on as my first project without having someone who has previous experience
> > near by. A Cozy ,Long-EZ or Velocity builder would do. Take the piece of
> > strake that was cut off. Cut the bottom part of the strake piece off along
> > the leading edge. Glass the bottom section of the strake piece in place
> > using a 2 bid layup on the outside and on the inside. Reinstall the baffle
> > that was cut and glass in place. Recoat all the joints with EZ-poxy to seal
> > like the original tank was sealed. Make a 2 to 3 bid flange all the way
> > around the opening. This is so you have something for the top to seal to.
> > Make a flange also down the leading edge where the top and bottom meet. 
> Bond
> > the top piece in place as the strake was originally bonded in with EZ-poxy
> > and flox or milled fiber. Glass the outside with 2 bid as well. That's it.
> > Again if you don't have previous glass experience and what I have written
> > above sounds like Greek to you than you need to get some experienced 
> help to
> > tackle this repair.
> >
> > Brendan O'Riordan"
> >
> > I was wondering what the benefits of the old vs the new Strakes, since 
> depending on
> > what they were, would greatly influence whether I repair now and see 
> what happens or
> > just skip it and remove both Strakes and start over with the new Strake 
> design.
> >
> > I will post the High Rez Pix to my website shortly and I will send out 
> the link.
> >
> > Thanx again,
> >
> > Richard
> >
> > Joe wrote:
> >
> > > Welcome Richard,
> > > I am just about to finish my first strake.  It will be a tick over 3 
> weeks
> > > when I am finished.  That was starting with new parts and not having to
> > > remove the old structure.  Unless the structural or fuel containment
> > > integrity is in question, I would think long and hard before deciding to
> > > replace the strakes.  Cost may also be a consideration, I had to buy 
> 2 new
> > > strake halves, 1 due to delamination and 1 for physical damage from the
> > > previous owner - they cost $180 each.   Below is a cost estimate of 
> building
> > > new strakes, add shipping and/or sales tax and it will end up being 
> between
> > > $1500 and $2000. ( and a lot of hours)
> > >     $ 720 - Strakes 4 x 180
> > >     $ ??? - Wheel Wells 2 x ???
> > >     $  55 - Foam
> > >     $  80 - BID
> > >     $  80 - Structural Epoxy
> > >     $ 200 - Jeffco Epoxy
> > >     $ 200 - Fuel caps, tubing, supplies, contingencies.
> > >
> > > Joe
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: "Richard J Gentil" <richard at naples-air-center.com>
> > > To: <reflector at tvbf.org>
> > > Sent: Tuesday, June 08, 2004 6:27 PM
> > > Subject: REFLECTOR:Old Standard Velocity Fuel Strakes.
> > >
> > > > Hey Gang,
> > > >
> > > > I am new to the Reflector. I recently purchased Travis Young's Project.
> > > > He had a Standard Velocity RG that he converted to the Elite Doors. So
> > > > what I have is the old style Fuel Strakes with the Elite Doors. (I do
> > > > like that there is extra room for the door arm rest.)
> > > >
> > > > One thing Travis did was he cut badly into the left Fuel Strake with a
> > > > hacksaw, in order to get the fuselage to fit into a self storage unit.
> > > > (I do have pictures, but I did not know what the policy was for
> > > > including attachments in Reflector Emails.) I have to decide whether to
> > > > repair the damage or just put on a new Strake.
> > > >
> > > > My question is, does the old style Strakes vs the new style Strakes 
> make
> > > > any difference in fuel capacity and cruise speed? (Since if I was going
> > > > to start over on the one side, I could also do the other side so they
> > > > are the new style Strakes.)
> > > >
> > > > Thanx,
> > > >
> > > > Richard
> > > >
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