Silkspan on the outside is what seals your boat. Well, that and paint/dope over the silkspan. Silkspanning the inside makes it harder to bend over tight turns but might help with splintering. I've tried it both ways and it seems mostly to be more of a pain than its worth.
Silkspan on the outside is what seals your boat. Well, that and paint/dope over the silkspan. Silkspanning the inside makes it harder to bend over tight turns but might help with splintering. I've tried it both ways and it seems mostly to be more of a pain than its worth.
If you do a good job applying the silkspan, then there is no problem in silkspanning the balsa first, then sheeting the ship with silkspan inward. If, however, you don't do a good job silkspanning, then the silkspan will stick to the hull but the balsa will peel off. Because of this, some people choose to silkspan the outside of the balsa instead of the inside. In WWCC, we are allowed one layer of silkspan on the inside AND one on the outside (not sure about other clubs). I find that if you do only one or the other, silkspan on the outside tends to reduce the size of individual holes, while silkspan on the inside tends to limit splintering and prevent chunks. Doing both is more effort but gives both benefits. More important than silkspan, though, is your choice of balsa. you need to get the softest balsa you can. If you're ordering online, get the lightest-weight competition grade balsa. If you're going to your local hobby shop, pull out ALL the balsa they have in the correct thickness, and feel their flexibility, weight, and softness. Sort it out and pick only a few of the softest sheets available. Balsa that is too hard is tougher to penetrate, but once someone does shoot through it cracks and chunks horribly. It is also more difficult to sheet with.
Yeah I had to go to the local Hobby Lobby... although I was able to get 8 sheets of silkspan. The balsa isn't a rock but it isn't feather soft either, the hardest part was the upper peice at the bow. Everything else is pretty straight. The hardest part is NOT fiddiling with it while it dries. I only have enough room in the bow to do one side at a time, otherwise the clamps get in the way. I'd like to have the front half sheeted and sanded by the end of today. The stern will go quickly.
I'm wondering if I should put in a forum area for Big Gun Southeast. It seems that we are getting enough (5) people to call it a battling group.
I think so. We need to discuss what's legal and what's not, etc, given that there've been discussions here and there on the forums and at build sessions. I'm not going to clutter up Ian's build thread further. Sorry Ian!
Skinning is 2/3 of the way done, just have the sections from midships to the flight deck left. I should have it filled,sanded and ready for silkspan and dope in the tommorow. Question for the Vets: I am going to Dope (Full), Silkspan, Dope (50/50). Most How To's I have read say work in smaller sections and overlap. What do you find to be a "workable" size sheet to get laid down before moving on? Should have pictures once I get the last bits laid in.
On the long flat parts, big sheets aren't a problem. When you get to the stern and bow, have a pair of scissors ready to cut vertical (or diagonal) slits in the silkspan to convince it to hug the curves well. And shorter sections, maybe 3 or 4 frames long.
Enh, on the way to the yards..... I got picked up by the Captain (Morgan) so I maaaaay be delayed getting her sides on. Ya know when Eagles invite a man to the bar who is a simple LT to refuse?
I cut my silkspan to (over)size and work from one end to the other, usually bow to stern..one continuous piece....dope, silkspan, 50/50, squeegee, repeat, in 4-5 inch increments.
Huzzah! Lex will have a new home here come Thursday. We will be closing on the place I had up in the pictures back on page one and will have a ready pond avalible for fighting to any and all takers. As such work will have a slight hold put on it while we move but I made good progress during the time off over Christmas. She is sheeted, Silked, and after I get home later today painted. I will post up later once I get a few shots taken.
So this is the last you will see of her in this POS rental we have been dwelling in. But thanks to Stephen at Strike for actually reading up with my comments in the comment block on my order. The Arizona turrets (Closest I could find to the actual ones on the drawings) and other little bits and bobs should show up at my new place on Friday.
Just like my prom date, she looks better in bad lighting. Turrets came in the mail tonight. Boats getting real now. Just as soon as I get THIS mess taken care of and have somewhere to actually park the car I can get running full throttle on das boot.
