Matronics Email Lists Forum Index Matronics Email Lists
Web Forum Interface to the Matronics Email Lists
 
 Get Email Distribution Too!Get Email Distribution Too!    FAQFAQ   SearchSearch   MemberlistMemberlist   UsergroupsUsergroups   RegisterRegister 
 ProfileProfile   Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages   Log inLog in 

Gel Coated Fairings

 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Matronics Email Lists Forum Index -> RV8-List
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
gareywittich2000(at)yahoo
Guest





PostPosted: Sat Dec 15, 2007 11:55 pm    Post subject: Gel Coated Fairings Reply with quote

Greetings:

Have an "older" Emphennage Kit (circa 1999) that came
with Gel Coated F.G. Fairings.

1) Do the "newer" Kits from Vans still come with the
Gel Coated Fairings ?

2) My understanding from reading the Archieves is
that the Gel Coat is used over Polyester Resin F.G.
parts and not over Epoxy Resin F.G. Parts. Is this
true ?

3) Is it worth buying from Vans the "newer" NON Gel
Coated Fairings (assuming they come that way now) than
trying to work with the existing Gel Coated fairings
that I have ?

4) What is the purpose of the Gel Coat - mold release
?

5) What Grit / Method used - would you recommend to
take off the Gel Coat (and not digging into the F.G.
weave) ?

6) Is it recommended to remove ALL the Gel Coat down
to the F.G. weave so that any "flexing" of the F.G.
fairing will not crack any final Top Coat of paint in
the future ? [My Fairing on the TOP of the VS will be
removable for access to the VOR Antenna - should that
be necessary and could flex during removal and crack
the Top Coat of paint.]

7) Any helpful HINTS on getting a nice Fairing / Skin
edge line where the Fairing meets the Skin and still
keeping the Fairing removable ? [Will be using #6
Screws into Nutplates riveted to the F.G. Fairing]

Appreciate your helpful inputs,

Garey Wittich Santa Monica, CA

Be a better friend, newshound, and
know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ


- The Matronics RV8-List Email Forum -
 

Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:

http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?RV8-List
Back to top
Speedy11(at)aol.com
Guest





PostPosted: Sun Dec 16, 2007 7:25 am    Post subject: Gel Coated Fairings Reply with quote

Garey,
Yes to all.
I have a mixture of newer and older gel coated fairings. The newer ones from Vans are epoxy and are not gel coated. I wish they had never gel coated the old ones. I believe it was done to get a nice looking, smoother product, but it ends up causing a lot more work and aggravation. The gel coat also aids in mold release.
My old empennage fairing from Vans is not gel coated, but I bought a Fairings, etc empennage fairing anyway and did not use the Van's one. All of my tip fairings are gel coated and we're grinding off all of the gel coat and recovering with new glass and then sanding for hours to get something decent. We use a belt sander to remove the gel - grit about 60.
I don't believe you need to worry about the paint cracking on the VS fairing. That fairing is somewhat stiff and flexing shouldn't be much of a problem. I glassed in the trailing edge of all the tip fairings and that stiffened them up even more. My upper tip fairing is removable also.
You can see how I did the tip fairings on my web site at www.rv-8a.net. Go to the 2007 page and scroll down to 24-27 Feb.
If you'll pay for shipping, you can have my Van's empennage fairing.  It is new as I received it and is not gel coated.
Regards,
Stan Sutterfield

Quote:
Have an "older" Emphennage Kit (circa 1999) that came
with Gel Coated F.G. Fairings.

1) Do the "newer" Kits from Vans still come with the
Gel Coated Fairings ?

2) My understanding from reading the Archieves is
that the Gel Coat is used over Polyester Resin F.G.
parts and not over Epoxy Resin F.G. Parts. Is this
true ?

3)  Is it worth buying from Vans the "newer" NON Gel
Coated Fairings (assuming they come that way now) than
trying to work with the existing Gel Coated fairings
that I have ?

4) What is the purpose of the Gel Coat - mold release
?

5) What Grit / Method used - would you recommend to
take off the Gel Coat (and not digging into the F.G.
weave) ?

6) Is it recommended to remove ALL the Gel Coat down
to the F.G. weave so that any "flexing" of the F.G.
fairing will not crack any final Top Coat of paint in
the future ? [My Fairing on the TOP of the VS will be
removable for access to the VOR Antenna - should that
be necessary and could flex during removal and crack
the Top Coat of paint.]

7) Any helpful HINTS on getting a nice Fairing / Skin
edge line where the Fairing meets the Skin and still
keeping the Fairing removable ? [Will be using #6
Screws into Nutplates riveted to the F.G. Fairing]

Appreciate your helpful inputs,




See AOL's top rated recipes and easy ways to stay in shape for winter.
[quote][b]


- The Matronics RV8-List Email Forum -
 

Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:

http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?RV8-List
Back to top
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Matronics Email Lists Forum Index -> RV8-List All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Page 1 of 1

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You can download files in this forum


Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group