Preparing to cover the right side horizontal stabilizer.
Fabric Covering
Stewart Aircraft Finishing Systems
We have heard good things about using Stewart Aircraft Finishing Systems (AFS), and have decided to cover the Highlander with this new revolutionary water borne system. We have used PolyFiber in the past, but wanted to stay away from the MEK solvent based covering systems for health reasons. So far, we have found that we love this new system. The CecoBond glue is a dream to work with and does not have the offensive smell and related dangerous fumes and by-products that are associated with the PolyFiber's PolyTac glue. CecoBond has a pleasant fruity smell, and is also much easier to work with. Clean up with water!. For more information on this covering system, check out the links listed below.
http://www.aircraftfinishing.com/fabric-aircraft.htm
http://www.supercubproject.com/afs.aspx
http://www.stewartshangar21.aero/AFS.htm
Note: If you are interested in giving this revolutionary system a try, please let us know, as we have a good business relationship with the Stewarts, and can likely get it for you at a competitive price.
Preparing to cover the right side horizontal stabilizer.
The fabric is glued to the
leading edge, and then makes a "clam shell" around the surface. There
is a one inch overlap glued seam on the trailing edge. I really can't
praise excellent qualities of the CecoBond glue enough! On a surface that is
normally viewed from above, the bottom side of the surface should be glued to
the trailing edge first, and then overlapped by the top surface.
This is the bottom side of one of the right side
horizontal stabilizers. The glued trailing edge seam should always be on the
bottom side of a surface that is normally viewed from above, and on the top side
of a surface that is viewed from below. This keeps the seam hidden from a normal
point of view. Even though the seams will be covered with a finishing tape, the
seam is always somewhat visible, especially to the trained eyes of a
"covering critic". The next step will be to apply reinforcing tapes to
the fabric along the ribs, and then rib stitch along the ribs to
mechanically fasten the fabric to the surface.
This is the bottom side of the left-hand elevator.
Notice that the bottom side was covered and attached to the trailing edge first.
The fabric was then shrunk at 225 degrees to tighten the fabric and allow a
smooth surface to attach the overlapping top side fabric to. Once the top piece
of fabric is glued to the bottom piece, the seams will be hidden along the
bottom of the control surface, and out of sight of the fabric covering critics.
Here is the left side elevator covered and shrunk to the
maximum 350 degree temperature.