Posts

Showing posts from January, 2023

Weights

 I posted this on Face book a while ago… Thinking about weight of various bits of the IC as targets in build Hull ( sprayed but no fittings) 25kg Fittings 0.5kg Mast 5kg Boom 1.5kg Seat 8kg Carriage 4kg Foils 6kg Total 50kg Some tough targets there, are they about right? Hayden and Andy had some useful comments, 23kg for sprayed hull seemed to be a target with the savings going mostly into fittings… spray was about 3kg with undercoat so a target for the laminated faired hull would be 20kg. I had always thought 25kg was ok but that now seems a bit out. I have 8kg for seat, but that’s a finished weight so perhaps 7kg for laminated? 2.75kg for bottom moulding, 3.75 for top and 0.5kg for bulkheads and bonding, possibly bit tight?

Seat lower surface

Image
 Actually got to the point of moulding part of the seat…. Not the most calm evening.  Did the complete laminate in one go, should have done outer and core then called it a day. Tacky tape would not seal, so stripped it all off and used a softer one which luckily I had. These are all old bits and bobs so will be getting some new softer stuff for the next part. I think I would also benefit from trying infusion as I could set it up over a few evenings then go for it when ready. First thing will be to see if the moulds actually hold good vacuum, pointless trying infusion if they don’t…. Laminate was 1x 200gsm twill either side of 5mm PET foam for the main bottom surface. This part also incorporated the leading edge, x2 plies either side of 8mm pvc foam, returning 25mm top and bottom. No foam where the load will go through to the carriage, this had x4 plies of 300gsm UD 25mm wide the whole length of the seat.  I think this is similar to the layup I did for Dragonfly but don’t ...

More mould prep….

Image
 Since my last post I’ve been Ill with a virus, then we had Christmas, new year and COVID ( first time I’ve tested positive)  But some progress  has been made… The carriage mould is 800 m wide (designed orignally for Dragonfly) so for Monkey I’ve added a 15mm packer each side making it 830mm wide..side flanges now bolted and double sided tapped into place and filleted with soft wax. For Roobarb this will be 15mm inside as that will be narrower. Hopefully I’ll get Roobarbs made as well over the next few weeks, but making Monkeys first.