What do YOU want for Xmas?

Jay Honeck wrote:
If the faceplate is plastic, you can repair it yourself. We
repaired all the interior cracks in our Cardinal with ABS plastic

I've repaired it -- twice. When the temperature gets down to near zero, it
just cracks again...


Hmm, did you reinforce the cracked area with fiberglass fabric? It is
needed to provide structural strength.

Hai Longworth

Hmm, did you reinforce the cracked area with fiberglass fabric? It is
needed to provide structural strength.

No. We're talking about an area the size and thickness of two quarters, in
spots.

I might try laying in a few strands (if I ever try this again), just to see
if it helps. Maybe I'll try embedding a couple of reinforcing strands
taken from a piece of heavy duty packing tape...
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Jay Honeck wrote:
Hmm, did you reinforce the cracked area with fiberglass fabric? It is
needed to provide structural strength.

No. We're talking about an area the size and thickness of two quarters, in
spots.

Maybe this is the reason why the patched area cracked again. We put
a layer of fiberglass fabric soaked with ABS cement on all cracked area
big a small then either add more ABS cement or a small piece of thin
ABS on top depending on the size of the cracks. Both the fiberglass
cloth and ABS cement were quite cheap ($5 or less - we got the cloth at
automotive store and ABS cement at Lowe). Cracks tend to occur at
high stress areas (screw holes etc.). The fiberglass is quite
essential to prevent future cracks.

Hai Longworth

Try a hobby shop where they sell products for MODEL aircraft.

Fine , light weight fiberglass cloth,-- ask for fiberglass
tape for reinforcing wing center sections..

I use CA glue to layer the cloth in place after roughing the
surface...

Dave


On 18 Dec 2005 17:09:55 -0800, "Longworth"
wrote:


Jay Honeck wrote:
Hmm, did you reinforce the cracked area with fiberglass fabric? It is
needed to provide structural strength.

No. We're talking about an area the size and thickness of two quarters, in
spots.

Maybe this is the reason why the patched area cracked again. We put
a layer of fiberglass fabric soaked with ABS cement on all cracked area
big a small then either add more ABS cement or a small piece of thin
ABS on top depending on the size of the cracks. Both the fiberglass
cloth and ABS cement were quite cheap ($5 or less - we got the cloth at
automotive store and ABS cement at Lowe). Cracks tend to occur at
high stress areas (screw holes etc.). The fiberglass is quite
essential to prevent future cracks.

Hai Longworth

Dave,
CA glue works but not as good as ABS cement. It appeared that
previous owner(s) had used CA glue to patch some ABS plastic cracks in
our plane. In some areas, the old CA glue cracked (probably due to
thermal expansion mismatch with ABS which eventually caused fatigue
cracking). Patching ABS plastic with ABS material eliminates this
problem. Areas with thick globs of CA glue did not crack but turned
brownish yellow and looked pretty ugly. If only a small amount is
needed, one can make ABS cement by dissolving small ABS shavings in
MEK. For bigger repair job, the premade ABS cement can is the way to
go.

Something that burns Jet-A !!!

One engine or two.


--
Matt
---------------------
Matthew W. Barrow
Site-Fill Homes, LLC.
Montrose, CO