Chapter Index
Status
Soap Box
Chapters 1-3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Pictures
Chapter 21

Strakes, Fuel & Baggage

Here are all the flat parts of the strakes getting the layer of glass on each side.  I did it per plans, laying up one side, peel ply, plastic, flip, 2nd side, peel ply, plastic, weights, all in one shot.  It worked, but I think it may have been easier to do it one side at a time.  Having both sides glassed at the same time made for a solid sheet that was a job to trim out.  1 layer BID cuts pretty easy, but where the micro bridged was another story.  A couple hours on the band saw and sander reduced the parts to final shape.

The plans method of starting the strakes has a lot of loose pieces fastened and curing together.  I prefer to have a few pieces fixed that I can clamp to, so here is how I did it.  I floxed the bulkheads to the spar using a string from the WL17.4 on the wings to the same WL on the fuselage.  This established the incidence of the bulkheads.  After they cured, then I could wedge the bottom into place and install all of the internal dividers per plans.  The photo on the left shows the bottom skin going on the strakes.

The filler block and leading edges are supposed to be made from urethane foam.  I chose to use the blue styrofoam for a couple reasons.  It allowed me to have a very consistant and correct shape on the leading edge, the material was surplus and easy to work with, and it finishes very nicely.  The downside is that it is not compatible with fuel.  Thus, if I have a fuel leak I will have hollow leading edges and trim  piece.  There is good glass in this area, and short spans, so I am confident that if there were a fuel leak it would not cause a structural problem.  I can always flush it and fll it with pour foam if necessary.