aviator_edb

hrmmm, many good thoughts. thanks. I'm using the regular 2" chip brushes from AS&S. I wondered if some of my problem could be the slurry and maybe I was just seeing pure expoy all the way to the foam. It would explain why stipling didn't do anything. IF this is what they are then structurally they aren't really a problem are they? It's just some added weight in epoxy? Dave, yah, I noticed the VERY overwet areas after cure. I've already made note to pay better attention. For this pracitve layup I was concentrating on bubbles more than anything else. Thanks for all the ideas fellas.

Ok. I am still getting these "bubbles" in my practive layups and it's starting to make me insane. If you zoom in on the photo and look about the ruler you'll see what I am talking about. Are these dark spots air bubbles? I've got a very small number (less than 0.5 in^2 TOTAL) of other bubbles that I'm sure ARE air. They are much lighter in color. Sorry for the large size. It's the only way to really see what I'm talking about..

what about the first ply going on foam/slurry?

Thanks for the tips on my earlier question on the flox fillets. I have another issue. I'm still wrapping up the seatback (actually, my second seatback) and am still having troubles with small bubbles showing up. I did the 2 ply UNI layup on the front and wetted things out. then went about working out bubbles. I "thought" I had them all but this morning I went to look at my handywork and found a lot of tiny bubbles all over the place. I think I'm still within the inspection standards but I'm a little concerned. I really took extra time to "get them all" and thought I had. Either I went blind during the layup or these bubbles came up after I stopped. My shop temp stayed pretty constant at about 75F throughout the night. I did not use 'plastic peel ply'. My plastic is too thin and stretchy. I need to get some thicker stuff from the 'Depot'. I was wondering if the problem is my micro slurry prep on the foam. Would a too thin mix cause something like what I'm seeing? Call me frustrated in Massachusetts.

Just talking about the 1/4" or so for the flox corner.

What is the best way to prep a flox or micro outside corner. I had to really work at it to get all the foam off of the cured glass on the seatback. What are others doing on this?

Yup, I just rewatched my copy.

This extra piece may be a blessing in disguise. I recently completed my seatback and discoverd the backside (BID) had several issue. Including a serious number of air bubles where the two BUD piece are overlapped. I'm not 100% sure what I did wrong but I have several theories. Anyway, I'm going to attempt a repiair but to save my sanity if it gets a bit overwhelming I may just use that extra piece a call mulligan...

well, depsite my seatback being more bubbly than champagne at least I changed gloves often enough.

Is it better to mix epoxy and our it all onto the glass and brush/stipple it out or to bush/stipple from cup to glass as you go? or something in between?

Rick, duh! I hadn't thought of the product sheet. Maybe I'm being anal but +/-3 != +/-2. I can tweak it a bit to get it closer. Thanks.

Ok, so I'm trying out a new Michael Eng variable ratio epoxy pump. I'm using MGS 285 and slow hardener. It supposed to be 100:50 by volume and 100:40 by weight so I set the epoxy pump up for that volume ratio. (Actually, it came set for 2:1 but I double checked it.) Here's my question. After priming the pump I went to test the ratio by weight. Using a fairly accurate scale I come to 100:43 by weight. I'm a little rich with the hardener. Do I need to get it closer to 100:43 or should I quit worrying and build some airplane parts?

Jerry, reading about first flights is the kind of thing that motivated early builders. Congratulations!

what a bizarre design. Opposing cylinders?

Marc, do you work for Scaled Composites or the US Govornment? That's gotta be some of the best obfuscation I've ever read.

Ours goes to 11....

even watching it on video was pretty sweet.

Marc, is that you in the new video of the recent Spaceship 2 rocket test firing? http://www.space.com/common/media/video/player.php?videoRef=SP_090528_rocket-test

Not trying to start a big debate or anything here. Chapt. 4 Page 1 Fig. 5 shows a section A-A that looked like it was showing that the sides get glassed. It consufed to me a bit and that made me wonder if I was reading the plans right. Then, last night, I was re-re-re-re-reading ahead to Chapter 6 and noticed another drawing that clarifies. Chapt. 6 Pg. 2 Fig. 7 show the detail of the joint between the seatback and the fuselage side. It's definately got the sides glassed with back side rounded and a flox corner. The pretty much answers the question about my interpritation of the plans. As to why Nat called for that I guess it doesn't matter. I'm going to follow the plans and build an airplane. thanks guys!

Why are the left/right sides of the seatback glassed and not the other bulkheads? Is it because of the thicker foam or just becuase this is the first part we make and Nat wanted to cover a lot of different techniques? or, is it a different answer I'm totally missing?

Len Johnson went down Wedensday. He survived (thank goodness) http://www.ky3.com/news/local/33907724.html

I've used the Sporty's Sp-200 and the Vertex VX-220. I prefer the Sporty's personally but the Vertex is smaller and lighter and the 220 is com only. The more expensive Vertex units have NAV as well but I haven't tried any of those.

I like what Wayne Hicks did with his fuel valve. The Andair valve is purdy. He mounted is up forward of the throttle quadrant on the center console.

I hear Moller was going to use Innodyne turbines.

jebus, w-t-f.