Making fairings for struts

[gizmos]

I am going to make my struts covers from blue foam covered with 3.8 oz fiberglass cloth. I made my hot foam cutter from "e" guitar string, small spring, 1x 4 pine wood for the bow. I am using a old DC transformer from a train set. Here is my bow and I will post photos as I go. I used an ihook and a rivet on the other to hold the string(metal)

Here is the foam. I used heavy speaker wire between transformer and bow. You can use 12 or 14 gauge house wiring

[Geowitz]

I am planning on the same. I think this is the ticket for light weight fairings!

[n85ae]

That's exactly how I did mine, and with a couple layers of glass cloth, using
West Systems epoxy.

Took almost as long to make as building the rest of the plane ... (When you
factor in the sanding, and filling that is.)

They came out nice.

Good Luck!
Jeff

[gizmos]

Here is my first cut, I used my leftover lexan from windscreen for pattern, flormica works best. Trick is to move bow slow and don't bend wire, I used a 12 battery for power

[gizmos]

My test piece , think it will be ok. Just tuck a little time to cut all the parts. I cut the inside tube with hot wire cutter. Take a little practice to get the right speed

[gizmos]

I made enough for a couple sets, still have to cut tubing slot

[Av8r3400]

What about covering with fabric instead of fiberglass?

[gizmos]

I like to glass them. It make them stiffer than fabric and will not dent. I use west system epoxy, I have made numerous r/c plane molds. I made a 110in long sr71. The trick is to keep it light by using paper towels to dry excess resin off.

[gizmos]

One strut ruffed in

[gizmos]

Foam on, first coat filler