[WWI] Solartex

[Bruce Boldner]

Tom,

I assume Balsa Lok is something like Coverites 'Balsarite' (not sure 
whether they still make it) though from the way you describe it, 
Balsa Lok sounds like a sealer rather than a heat activated adhesive?
I'm not sure whether it's available here, but will enquire.

I note that you use an iron to glue to the ribs, then a heat gun. As 
the latter is very hot, I imagine you would hold it quite a distance 
from the fabric so as to not apply so much heat that the glueing to 
the ribs gives way?
Sounds like very carefully is the way to approach this exercise!
Thanks for your advice.

And yes, the last time I flew was 1985, so I expect I'll be a little 
rusty!  My old Kraft radio has been mothballed and I've bought myself 
a new Futaba 6EX on 2.4GHz (no need for a frequency board key, I 
can't quite believe it!)  I'll start off by flying my old Ugly Stik, 
both to reacclimatise myself with flying and to make sure the old K&B 
61 that used to be in the Fokker DRI still runs reliably. If not, 
I've got an unused Super Tigre bluehead 61 that should fill requirements.

When I get to the Camel, I'll wait for a dead calm day. I remember my 
first flight with the Triplane and how it turned sharp left 
immediately on lift off (because I was too slow with the rudder). But 
it didn't matter because there was no wind to become a tail or side wind.

I'll be shaking like a leaf though and if I spear the Camel in I may 
be inclined to give up flying for another 20 years!

Regards,

Bruce.



At 09:59 PM 6/7/2009, you wrote:

>May I throw another question at you?  How do you get heat shrinkable
>fabric to remain glued to the undersides of wing ribs on an
>undercambered airfoil?
>
>Bruce, on a Wright flyer I first used balsa lok on the surface to make sure
>the wood was sealed and not covered in balsa dust.
>
>I used the iron to seal the fabric to the ribs, starting in the center of
>the wing panel, working that one rib, then moving one rib inboard then one
>rib out board until the whole under surface was bonded to the ribs finally
>doing the edges all around the wing.  Then I used the heat gun to gently
>remove any remaining sag.  But not enough heat to make the glue on the ribs
>let go.
>
>Since  you've been away from RC for a while, do  you intend to brush up with
>a trainer before  you fly that Camel?
>
>MrT