Fiberglass for model aircraft. Drawing, description

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Fiberglass for model aircraft. Tips for a modeller

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The industry has long mastered the production of some body parts from thermoplastics. This is an interesting and promising method for manufacturing large series, however, it is of little use for single products - technological equipment is complex. But similar results can be achieved by using epoxy resin, which has long been mastered by modellers, in combination with glass and carbon fiber.

On the example of the manufacture of a split housing of the tail rotor gearbox of a helicopter model, you can get acquainted with the basic methods of working with fiberglass, with technological equipment. It should be noted that the case molded in this way worked on the model for two seasons and there were no problems with it during operation.

We will stipulate from the very beginning that it is very difficult to make fixtures for molding the case without a lathe.

In accordance with the drawing of the body, it is necessary to develop sketches of models of the external and internal contours of the part. When choosing materials for the model, keep in mind that it is desirable to machine the punch from metal, and any material, including wood, is suitable for matrices. Model blanks should consist of two halves, and they should be fastened so that after final processing they can be easily separated. To do this, the metal halves are glued together with epoxy resin, wooden and plastic halves are glued with nitro glue through a paper gasket.

All surfaces of rotation are machined on a lathe, with the closest attention to the centering of the workpieces relative to the parting line, the accuracy of the dimensions of the bearing seats and the correspondence of the diameters of the centering rods on the punch and the matrix.

If the part has protrusions, tides and other similar elements, then the models corresponding to them are cut out separately and glued to the punch. In conclusion, the surfaces are carefully polished to a high gloss. It remains to divide the model along the parting line, and you can start working on the matrix.

Fiberglass for model aircraft
Rice. Fig. 1. Part of the gearbox housing obtained by molding from epoxy resin: 1 - clamping metal ring, 2, 3 - right and left halves of the housing, 4 - lugs for mounting screws, 5 - screws

Fiberglass for model aircraft
Rice. 2. Mold design: 1 - punch, 2 - punch base, 3 - retainer, 4 - die, 5 - spacer, 6 - extrusion screw, 7 - die box

The base of the latter is a sheet of plexiglass with a thickness of at least 10 mm. Clamps are installed on it, then the model is attached to the base with a few drops of glue. The surface of the model is covered with edelwax parquet mastic and after it dries it is polished to a shine. Organic glass walls are attached to the base - this can be done using vinyl electrical tape or plasticine.

We proceed to pouring the model with epoxy compound. To do this, prepare an epoxy resin and add a filler to it - gypsum, cement, aluminum powder or even fine dry sand (30-50% of the resin volume). Pour the composition until its level rises by 10-15 mm above the most protruding part of the model. After the resin has cured, the base with the model is separated from the matrix.

It is time to separate the model and the base and insert the punch into the centering sockets of the matrix. Having smeared its lower part with glue, place the base on the matrix and, holding the resulting "sandwich" in a vice, let it dry for several hours.

Fiberglass for model aircraft
Rice. 3. Mold (punch and die) for forming half of the gearbox housing: 1 - punch base, 2 - centering rods, 3 - retainers, 4 - matrix

The molds are ready, now you can start molding the halves of the gearbox housing. As a binder, it is best to take plasticized resins, the filler is glass or carbon fiber.

Pasting order. The resin is poured into the matrix and the filler is laid. Next, the base is installed and the mold is clamped with a clamp to squeeze out excess binder. After the composite has cured, the mold is disengaged and the finished half of the body is removed from it. The other half of the part is formed in the same way. Depending on the housing configuration, the halves are held together with screws or rings.

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