Refinishing a Nobler

I have an old Nobler that is flying better than I can fly it. However, the silkspan is cracking in the open unsupported area between the ribs and along the rear fuselage sides. It needs to be replaced. I'd like to remove only the silkspan over these open areas and recover with a modern adhesive type film- say monokate, polyspan etc. Can this be done? I am open for all suggestions. Thanx in advance.

I had the same problem with my last plane Louis, ended up recovering just the open areas with Polyspan. More work than simply ironing on some plastic film but I think the extra effort will be worth it.

With enough filling, sanding and feathering you can't tell where the silkspan stops and the Polyspan starts. Now I don't worry about the open areas becoming brittle. I've read that Polyspan is able to withstand the 'screwdriver test' but have not performed this test myself. Bill

http://stunthanger.com/smf/index.php?topic=13946.0

>I had the same problem with my last plane Louis, ended up
>recovering just the open areas with Polyspan. More work than
>simply ironing on some plastic film but I think the extra
>effort will be worth it.
>
>With enough filling, sanding and feathering you can't tell
>where the silkspan stops and the Polyspan starts. Now I don't
>worry about the open areas becoming brittle. I've read that
>Polyspan is able to withstand the 'screwdriver test' but have
>not performed this test myself. Bill
>
>http://stunthanger.com/smf/index.php?topic=13946.0

What does a screwdriver, a drink made of Vodka & Orange juice have to do with a Polyspan strength test?

>>
> What does a screwdriver, a drink made of Vodka &
>Orange juice have to do with a Polyspan strength test?
>

If your covering fails "The Screwdriver Test" then the only thing left to do is prepare a Rusty Nail:

1 1/2 oz. Scotch

1/2 oz. drambuie

a lemon twist

Vodka, OJ,Milk of Magnesia.
A Phillip's Screwdriver.

I would use Dads Stripper to remove the silkspan and dope. Randy Ryan posted this a while back with pictures, and it looks like it works very well.

I once stripped a plane using Jasco stripper. It's caustic, so you have to use gloves. Really removes everything, and doesn't seem to affect the balsa.

Floyd
AMA 796
SAM 188
LSF 020

How did you clean up the balsa before starting the new finish?

Dave Hull
LA_Flyer

"Screwing up new airplanes, one finishing job at a time...."

>I have an old Nobler that is flying better than I can fly it.
>However, the silkspan is cracking in the open unsupported area
>between the ribs and along the rear fuselage sides. It needs
>to be replaced. I'd like to remove only the silkspan over
>these open areas and recover with a modern adhesive type film-
>say monokate, polyspan etc. Can this be done? I am open for
>all suggestions. Thanx in advance.

I had built a Ringmaster .19 for a friend. After 35 years I got it given back with hardley a run on it but it was old and not pretty. Hardley flown so no oil damage. It never was pretty but I thought recovering was the answer. I removed the covering dry. I ended up with such an ugly fix I took it apart for patterns and trashed it. I wish I hade just fixed the few spots and let it's humble history shine through the repairs.

I used PolySpan to recover my original Sterling Yak-9 It had only a few flights in over two decades. [photo not recovered: sipcof.gif] The hanger damage was minmal and the structure straight. That PolySpan is great stuff. I made the mistake of removing the old silkspan dry Sand! & Sand! & Sand! & Sand! but the end results was worth the effort. [photo not recovered: sipcof.gif] Next time I'm using paint remover, if there is a next time.

Louis,

Go buy a gallon of acetone and a roll of paper towels. Cut some towels into quarters and soak with acetone. Start wiping and soon you will have all the paint off. The covering will become soft and you can lift it off with NO damage to the structure. Then you can prepare it for whatever covering you want to use. I'd suggest POLYSPAN too. One caution; it won't go around corners.......at least not for me!

Good luck, Jerry

>I have an old Nobler that is flying better than I can fly it.
>However, the silkspan is cracking in the open unsupported area
>between the ribs and along the rear fuselage sides. It needs
>to be replaced. I'd like to remove only the silkspan over
>these open areas and recover with a modern adhesive type film-
>say monokate, polyspan etc. Can this be done? I am open for
>all suggestions. Thanx in advance.

Don't Belive a word of it
Louis flies much better than his Nobler.
The engine noise he makes is fairly accurate although he grunts when hooking the lines to finger nails!!!


Louis
Hope you wait until after this weekend to refinish that pumpkin