Cessna 180 Group Build

[Phugoid]

Now the part needs to be held down flat but above the board to allow the air to get underneath so that the part dries easily and evenly. I have some aluminium blocks for this, but anything will do, so long as the height of the pieces is the same. The small blocks can be anything you can find, or pins set at angles can be used instead. It has to be said that metal pieces are good as the parts (even when covered with dope as later) do not stick to it and are not affected by water.

[Phugoid]

The following pictures show the fin at various stages of drying over a 15 minute or so period:
After 5-6 minutes:

[Phugoid]

After 9-10 minutes:

[Phugoid]

After 12-13 minutes:

[Phugoid]

Leave the part as long as you can (an hour or two if possible) then you can remove it.

[Phugoid]

There are lots of options to seal the tissue. I use a light non-shrinking dope called “banana oil” which I mix 50/50 with cellulose thinners. There are other less smelly options including thinned PVA etc. Use whatever you can get or are happy to use. Avoid shrinking dopes as they can be to harsh and will warp thin and light structures.

Coat both sides of the part with a nice large soft brush, you will notice the tissue go saggy again. Hold the part flat again as per the previous shrinking stage, until the part has dried, then remove it and coat again. You will find that the first coat will soak in, and the second coat will sit more on the surface. Hold the part flat again leaving it overnight if possible to allow the part to dry fully

[Phugoid]

This is the fin all dry and ready to go, all nice and flat:

[Phugoid]

Similar pictures for the tailplane, firstly being shrunk.

[Phugoid]

With dope:

[Phugoid]

And finished:

[Phugoid]

Hi Alex,

Yes I will try and take some pictures of the glue, it really doesn't matter how much you put on within reason, that's the beauty of sealing the wood.

One favour, if you could ask. I write all of this out in word often a week or so after I've done it, then furiously cut and paste it onto the forum to try and make it as continuous as possible. Therefore if you could just hang fire on questions when it looks like I'm halfway through a sequence that would be good, otherwise it will look bad for future reference.....

Happy 1000 posts from me......

Cheers

Andrew

[ADW 123]

Sorry. It seems like a pain to have to start a new reply every time just to attach a picture. cant you attach multiple images?

[Phugoid]

No problem Alex, it just leaves your question and the answer somewhat disconnected.....

I'm not sure about the multiple pictures thing, but it works ok for me doing the one picture one reply sort of thing, it sort of naturally breaks things up too.

Andrew

[StefanJ]

Wonderfully detailed tissuing example. Keep them up!

[cutter]

Ready for test flight. 3.4 grams of nose weight added. 31.6 grams AUW