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Foam veneer wing repair
- Dean M
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- Wind turbines. I'm a big fan.
The veneer has lifted slightly, this I have already cut away, the foam core has a slight ridge/crease running from leading edge to tailing edge.
It doesn't look to difficult or a lengthy repair, however I have no experience of repairing foam wings any tips would be greatly appreciated
Somebody called me 'pretentious' the other day.
I nearly choked on my latte.
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- Eric
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So, as you have cut the veneer away (you should have left it, if it wasn't damaged!), try gently warming the foam core with a hair dryer - NOT a paint stripper!! - and see if the crease will expand itself out. If it is right at the tip, within an inch or so, don't even bother with that! Just use your covering iron, and iron it straight(ish), then it's just a case of re-sticking the veneer, and covering it again.
If you have discarded the veneer, see if a piece of cornflake packet is the same thickness, and use that.
Bond the veneer/cornflake packet to the foam with pva glue, and tape/strap/tie knots in bits of string/use elastic bands and clamp it down, then leave overnight at least, to dry, making sure the wing hasn't twisted.
When it is definitely dry, it is just a case of re-covering with your preferred medium, heat-shrink film, tish, etc. If you use tish and dope, be warned, cellulose dope eats polystyrene, so if there is the tiniest gap in the join in the veneer, there will be a hole underneath it, after you have applied the dope!
p.s. Check your lateral balance when you have finished!
Repairing the root end of a panel is a very different matter.
if you are calm and collected when all about you are going berserk - you've missed something important!
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- alan cantwell
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i have 2 sides
no you dont,
yes i do,
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- Dean M
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What can I use as a veneer?
I would guess it is about 6-7" in from the wing tip
Somebody called me 'pretentious' the other day.
I nearly choked on my latte.
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- Dean M
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It just peeled off so easily, went to far I think! Will neaten up all the edges and squeeze some PVA between the remaining veneer
Somebody called me 'pretentious' the other day.
I nearly choked on my latte.
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- THE BLACKBIRD
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I would step joint it to the veneer, just cut 1" x 1/2" steps in the veneer be stronger than a straight joint
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- Phil Wood
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That reminds me, one of our members wants some sheet foam, I must look up who it was & get the stuff off to him, he'll be thinking I'm an ignorant bar steward.
I just own the forum .... you guys make it great thanks.
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- Dean M
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Sorry if I'm being a bit of a thicko, but do you mean rather than having a straight edge running fom LE to TE cut it so it is stepped?
So it would look like this dodgy picture I have drew!!
Somebody called me 'pretentious' the other day.
I nearly choked on my latte.
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- Dean M
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Somebody called me 'pretentious' the other day.
I nearly choked on my latte.
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- Phil Wood
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If you want to have a play at cutting your own, just let me know.... I can send you a cutter FOC if you have a suitable battery or PSU.Dean M wrote: Thanks Pol I will need help with this as I have never done a repair on a foam wing before!
Pol.
I just own the forum .... you guys make it great thanks.
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- THE BLACKBIRD
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The best way to do it is cut the steps in the balsa first then lay it on the wing and mark the veneer from it, cut to the lines and you get a perfect fit
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- Dean M
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Thanks Blackbird that makes perfect sense.
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- Klipkopwildlife
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Do it now, you may never get another chance
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- Eric
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As Klippy said, the leading and trailing edges look cracked, and need mending, because they form most of the strength of a foam wing. All the foam really does is hold the veneer in shape!
Regarding what to use as veneer, I did put - try a piece of cornflakes box, to see if that is the same thickness.
if you are calm and collected when all about you are going berserk - you've missed something important!
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- THE BLACKBIRD
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