Matronics Email Lists :: View topic - Landing Lights Part II

Matronics Email Lists
Web Forum Interface to the Matronics Email Lists

Get Email Distribution Too! FAQ Search Memberlist Usergroups Register

Profile Log in to check your private messages Log in

Landing Lights Part II

Matronics Email Lists Forum Index -> Zenith-List

View previous topic :: View next topic

Author Message

demeo(at)sonic.net
Guest

Posted: Sun Dec 17, 2006 7:26 pm Post subject: Landing Lights Part II

Thanks for all the info in the first thread.  This weekend while working 

in an ice cold hanger I tried to bend the landing light lens into the 

wing for fitting and final assembly. SNAP!  It broke.  So, I am 

wondering what other material anyone has used in this application for a 

landing light lens.  The lens I broke was from LP Aero and appears to be 

acrylic (the sticker on the lens did not indicate material type and 

neither do the plans).  Any ideas what would be appropriate on the 

leading edge under all flight and weather conditions?  Other builders 

have told me their lenses are cracked and discolored in less than one 

year's use.   Would lycra or some other more pliable substitute be 

appropriate?



Brad



do not archive



-- 



The information contained in this transmission is attorney-client privileged and/or confidential information intended for the use of the individual or entity named-above as recipient.  If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution, or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. 



IRS circular 230 Disclosure: As required by U.S. Treasury Regulations governing tax practice, you are hereby advised that any written tax advice contatined herein was not written or intended to be used (and cannot be used) by any taxpayer for the purpose of avoiding penalties that may be imposed under the U.S. Internal Revenue Code.

- The Matronics Zenith-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?Zenith-List

demeo.vcf

Description:

Download

Filename:

demeo.vcf

Filesize:

264 Bytes

Downloaded:

117 Time(s)

VideoFlyer(at)aol.com
Guest

Posted: Sun Dec 17, 2006 8:12 pm Post subject: Landing Lights Part II

I think Lycra is another name for Spandex...a stretchy fabric.  Do you mean Lexan?   Lexan is a better choice (more pliable) than Plexiglass.

  

 Dave

  [quote][b]

- The Matronics Zenith-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?Zenith-List

bryanmmartin

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 1018

Posted: Sun Dec 17, 2006 11:24 pm Post subject: Landing Lights Part II

I built one of my landing light lenses out of acrylic and one out of Lexan. It took two attempts to make the acrylic one, the first one shattered when I tried to drill the holes for the mounting screws. On the second attempt I heated the tail end of a drill bit in a propane torch and melted my mounting holes in it. It was much easier to make the lens out of Lexan, the stuff cuts and drills abut like wood with no tendency to shatter. Lexan is not as scratch resistant as acrylic and I understand it wont tolerate exposure to gasoline and other petroleum solvents but those are not of great concern for a landing light lens mounted in the wing tip. I would highly recommend Lexan for this application.



On Dec 17, 2006, at 10:26 PM, Brad DeMeo wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		  Thanks for all the info in the first thread.  This weekend while working in an ice cold hanger I tried to bend the landing light lens into the wing for fitting and final assembly. SNAP!  It broke.  So, I am wondering what other material anyone has used in this application for a landing light lens.  The lens I broke was from LP Aero and appears to be acrylic (the sticker on the lens did not indicate material type and neither do the plans).  Any ideas what would be appropriate on the leading edge under all flight and weather conditions?  Other builders have told me their lenses are cracked and discolored in less than one year's use.   Would lycra or some other more pliable substitute be appropriate?

Brad

	






 -- 

Bryan Martin

N61BM, CH 601 XL,

RAM Subaru, Stratus redrive.

do not archive.

 



 [quote][b]

- The Matronics Zenith-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?Zenith-List

_________________
--
Bryan Martin
N61BM, CH 601 XL, Stratus Subaru.
do not archive.

goodings(at)yorku.ca
Guest

Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2006 7:26 am Post subject: Landing Lights Part II

For the curved lenses in wingtips, as others have said, Lexan seems to be

the way to go.  We used it successfully, with a thickness of 1/32 inch.

Lexan is one trade name for polycarbonate.  One drawback of Lexan is that

it clouds/discolours with almost any solvent.  Acrylic (aka lucite,

perspex) plastic is more solvent-resistent.  If you preheat it (somewhat

above the boiling point of water - the judicious use of a heat gun can be

satisfactory for relatively small pieces), it will bend and take a

permanent set into a curved shape.  However, you don't need heat with

Lexan.  One good tip:  both Lexan and acrylic can be polished and

protected very nicely with Nu Finish car wax in an orange plastic bottle,

sold in Canada in Canadian Tire stores for about $9.  It is much cheaper

(and much better, in my opinion) than Mirror Glaze and other aviation

waxes which I tried before someone put me onto Nu Finish.  It does not

discolour or cloud Lexan or acrylic, even after several years of use.



John Goodings, C-FGPJ, CH601HD with R912S, Toronto/Ottawa/Waterloo.

- The Matronics Zenith-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?Zenith-List

naumuk(at)alltel.net
Guest

Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2006 3:14 pm Post subject: Landing Lights Part II

Bill Naumuk

HDS Fuselage

Townville, Pa

---

- The Matronics Zenith-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?Zenith-List

naumuk(at)alltel.net
Guest

Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2006 3:18 pm Post subject: Landing Lights Part II

Brad-

    Contact Jeff Small. He used standard plexiglass but heated the blank to 

shape in his (Cooking) oven. Definitely thought out of the box.

Bill Naumuk

HDS Fuselage

Townville, Pa

---

- The Matronics Zenith-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?Zenith-List

Afterfxllc(at)aol.com
Guest

Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2006 3:59 pm Post subject: Landing Lights Part II

I made my lenses out of plexi. I put them in the oven and tested a piece to  see what temp worked best. When you find the proper temp you have to place the  plxi on something smooth because it will be soft and will pick up any impression  it is laying on. The best way to shape it is to make a piece of 0.25 the same as  the leading edge then use it to form the plexi around. the plexi will almost be  like taffy and won't be hard to form. You will need to make it  oversized because the gloves you are wearing WILL leave an impression  in the plexi. Let it cool and you are done. Don't try and cool it with water  just let it cool slowly and you will have a nice lens. The ones I made were  for the Vans RV-7 and they are still looking good to this day.

  

 Hope this helps

  [quote][b]

- The Matronics Zenith-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?Zenith-List

btucke73(at)yahoo.com
Guest

Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2006 8:05 pm Post subject: Landing Lights Part II

I used Lexan.  There is no reason I can think of to

use plexiglass for this application.  Lexan will not

break.  In fact, I screwed directly into the Lexan to

install.  I heated it in the oven to bend, and used a

heat gun for a little extra.  



R/



Brandon



N601XT HDS 40 hours



__________________________________________________

- The Matronics Zenith-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?Zenith-List

Display posts from previous:

	Matronics Email Lists Forum Index -> Zenith-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