H. Stabilizer doilies & tape

We create fabric doilies for added protection at the points where the flying wires will attach to the horizontal stabilizers.  This may be overkill since we already have finishing tape at those points, but we added them anyway.  We pre-shrunk a section of fabric, then traced circles out with a compass, and cut them out with pinking shears.  The doilies were about 3.5" in diameter.

Doilies cut from pre-shrunk fabric

Doilies glued in place (2 on front side, and 2 on back)

We also glued one of the longer horizontal perimeter tapes (at the leading edge) to the horizontal stabilizers.  Ran out of time so will glue on second long tape (hinge side) another day.  Hours: 2.5

More Horizontal Stabilizer Covering Work

We continued to work on our horizontal stabilizers.   We used pencils to mark the area that needed adhesive applied.  Tape was added to make the application of glue easier and cleaner.  Three coats of the U500 adhesive was applied to the outer perimeter and left to dry.  Hours: 1.5

Adding Glue to the perimeter

Finishing Tapes on Horizontal Stabilizers

After completing the top and bottom fabric attachment on the horizontal stabilizers, next up is to attach 2" tapes over the metal support areas to strengthen the areas due to possible rubbing.  The center of the supports were identified and then a 2-1/8" band was drawn centered on the metal supports.  Three coats of the 2:1 thinned U500 adhesive was brushed on the stabilizers making sure we stayed within the drawn lines.  Once the adhesive was allowed to dry, the tapes were added.  The tapes were first attached with adhesive in the center and then worked outward from there toward each end.  Both the top and bottom surfaces were done this way.  Where tapes would overlap, we considered how the air would be passing over the surface and overlapped the areas such that the air stream would not peal up an area.  Hours: 3

Laying out Glue areas in Pencil

Working on Finishing Tapes

Horizontal Stabilizer fabric

Attached 2nd sheet of Superflite fabric to the other side of the two horizontal stabilizers.  The fabric was glued and shrunk using the same process as described in a previous blog entry.  Hours: 3

Horizontal Stabilizer Covering continued

We decided to buy new irons for our covering.  After some research, we decided on the two Toko T14 Waxing Irons.  They get high praise from other builders.  With the new irons, on low heat (250F) we went back over the previously adhered fabric removing all bubbles and glue buildup.  We then shrunk the fabric with temps of 300F and 350F.  It was very rewarding seeing the fabric tighten up.  We then marked the the fabric where we needed to apply U500 adhesive.  Finally we added two coats of  thinned U500 adhesive up to the previous applied marks.  Hours: 1

Horiz Stabilizer Covering Cont.

We finished attaching pieces of Superflite fabric to one side of each horizontal stabilizer.  We had previously attached the fabric to one edge, so finished attaching to the other 3 perimeter tubes of the horiz. stablizers.   The fabric was wrapped around the tubes (which had 2 coats of U500 adhesive applied), and then another coat was applied to the fabric surface which soaked through the fabric and ensured good adhesion.  We went slow since these are the first 2 plane pieces we are covering, and didn't want to screw it up.  The process is a little tricky, but with practice we should get better.  Irons were used to help tame wrinkles and get the fabric to lay nicely against the tubes.  Hours: 2.0

Fabric attached to one side of horizontal stabilizers

Officially Started Covering

We re-calibrated our irons which took a bit of time.  We plan to cover the horizontal stabilizers first.  We first cut the fabric.  Four pieces was cut from the Superflite SF102 fabric.  Next we applied three coats of the U500 adhesive to the outer members of the horizontal stabilizers.  Finally we trimmed and attached the fabric to the rear edge of the stabilizers.  Small bubbles were removed with a iron at 250F.  Hours: 4

Started working on the horizontal stabilizers