Constructing your own fibreglass mold Page
3
By Tony Rogers |
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I
prefer to use “Polyester” resin system for all my aircraft.
It is much easier to use for the amateur, the mixing does not
have to be so accurate and it is much quicker to mix and set off
and is kinder on your health. If you prefer “Epoxy” that is
your choice most commercial kits are made with epoxy.
Once again
wax the mold thoroughly before you start. I use gel coat first
and then 2-3 layers of 6oz cloth to lay up the fuselage
depending on the size of the aircraft. Carbon fibre strips in
the stress areas make for a stronger airframe. Remember to trim
the excess cloth around the edges of each mold piece before it
goes totally hard, only experience will tell you the best time
to do this get it right and it cuts cleanly with a knife. Bolt
the mold pieces back together with the newly laid up fuselage
parts still inside and working through the holes at each end lay
2 strips 3” wide over the joins. This is the most difficult
part of the whole exercise. If it is more than 24 hours since
you laid up the fuselage parts thoroughly sand with 80 grit
sandpaper the areas where these strips are to go before bolting
it all together so you get a good joint. After it has all set
remove the bolts and if you waxed properly some small wedges at
the joints should pop the mold from the fuselage as in Photo # 9
Now
you can finish as a normal kitset. You will obviously have a
hole at the front where the steel tube ran through the middle
just a shaped balsa block glassed over fills this hole after you
have finished the joining of all the parts.
Because
the Vixen has quite a few compound curves it was necessary to
make a mold with this many pieces. If it was just a basic sports
model you can get away with just a 2-piece mold split down the
middle. One advantage of a mold like the Vixen is that I joined
the 2 tops together and the 2 bottoms and was able to make and
fit all the internal undercarriage supports, engine mounts, wing
retaining tubes etc before I joined the top to the bottom.
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