[BillFromPerth]

I have a secondhand yak55sp 2.6m, that i am about to start getting ready to fly,
I have removed the old canopy and am about to ordr a new 1,
The airframe isnot damaged however it dose have a few chips in the paint,
I'm about to go get some touchup paint for it,
there is a couple of holes cut in the side where the battery monitors were fitted as i'm fitting the battery monitors inside the fuselage i need to fill the holes i was thinking about maybe using some balsa to fill the holes then skim with filler and repaint, I was just wondering what is the best filler to use on a compy for this repair and also the stone chips etc.
any advice would be appreciated.
regards
Bill

[BillFromPerth]

Its the colour scheme in my avitar.

[Funboy]

I had the same plane- lots of work needed done.

Covering your switch/ monitor holes is no big deal- glue in some 2mm or ~1/8" balsa as you said, tape around the outside for protection and sand flush. I usually put some thin like 1oz fiberglass over the reapair. Then I use Ultimate Bondo for filler- it's blue, and weighs less than normal bondo. if you follow this link you will see it in action over the next few pages. :http://www.teamflyingcircus.com/forum/f10/funboy-flight-log-vii-1266/index102.html It sands easily, dries quickly, and it's great for airplanes. Here is a link to the Yak being freshened up http://www.teamflyingcircus.com/forum/f10/funboy-flight-log-vii-1266/index56.html . It's not perfect, but it'll do for whoever owns it now. I used spray paint from the local hardware store- it was close enough for me- better than spending $150 to have matching paint shipped from Indonesia!

After all that work I did I never even flew the goddamn thing! What a freaking waste...

[aussiesteve]

Hey Bill
I will give you some scraps of 3/4 Oz woven I have for covering the hole repairs.

Glue some balsa (or better still some ply) with a decent epoxy paste inside the hole, sand to final shape (you are doing some paint touchups anyway) then glass over that with some cloth then add filler last to get the final "Curve". It will be stonger than the original laminate.

For the epoxy, Use some Aeropoxy (If Brian has it available in his shop yet) or some Hysol or have you discovered "Techniglue" yet? It is available from Fibreglass and Resin Sales in Kewdale, St Gobain RF in Canning Vale or pretty much any of the other fibreglass suppliers in Perth - (long story but I know that product well as I used to own the company that invented the mix).

For the Filler, If you are ever in the Midland area during the week, go to S&S Industries in Rothschild St Midvale and ask them for the light weight Septone filler (I don't remember the product ID of it off the top of my head). For stone chips in the paint - get some "Blade Putty" from the same source. If you aren't near Midland, go to an automotive paint supplier - others may stock the K&H "Pedigree" filler which can also be used for the smaller chips.

Alternatively you can get some microballoons from the fibreglass suppliers mentioned above and mix them with some epoxy for the filler.

Steve

[BillFromPerth]

Steve i work in midland so shouldn't be a problem getting in there I have used the septone products before, I have hysol here But i'm upto trying the other stuff too.
There is a company in cannington called auto paint tools and equipment i'll go and see them for the paint they can 100% colour match any colour I'll just take in 1 of the stabs and the cowl for them to colour match. I want it too look brand new when i finished without putting too much weight onto it.

Also thanx Funboy for your post.
When i start the rebuild i'll do a rebuild thread on it. My first job will be to take the JR stickers of the wings and remove all the graphics, I hope to contact DA Australia soon so i can get a new canopy sent. and some spats.

Regards Bill

[aussiesteve]

Hey Bill
S&S can also color match the paint (Including into spray cans. Alternatively, Autopaints in Cannington could also supply the fillers. Either way it is a win:win for you as you only need to go to one place.

I saw you had your vinyl cutter back up and running so I expect to see some huge graphics on this plane when you are finished

If you ain't doing anything on Sunday. I wil be at Whiteman most of the day - gonna take some glow planes out for a blast - Partly because they haven't been flown for a while and partly because the son of one of the guys who works in my office is coming out (He should sit his Bronzes on Saturday at WARMS - I am not actually sure of his name) if he has the right attitude, I will give him the planes to take home as I want to make some room in the shed and he is struggling to get up and going past his trainer. Will also be taking out some Gassers too.

[BillFromPerth]

Hey steve yeah still sorting out the correct cutting speed and depth of the cutter but will be good when i get it going, My next purchase i will be looking for an industrial colour printer so i can also do printed graphics and maybe even a cnc machine to do lazer cutting, I want to put my cad skills to good use, I'm also at looking at an external drafting course so i can maybe get work as an asistant draftsman then do an online uni qualification and become a qualified draftsman.
The young guy that's going flying with you tommorow will proberbly need a new airframe after doing his bronse wings at warms.
I'll see how i go getting out there tommorow I have a rent inspection on thursday and have a fair bit of cleaning to do here, and worked today so didn't get much done today, Also still havn't had a chance to do my bronse wings yet had to work all weekend, Should be going to whitfords next sunday with my excelleron and my 50cc 330 and do my bronse wings then and also get the gasser certified.