Tag Archives: composite

Engine Cowling – Initial Trim and Fit

The composite engine cowling is one of the key contributors to the look of a Sling aircraft. I love the way Slings look. There are other models available from Sling Aircraft now, but it’s the Sling 2 that started it all. Now my Sling 2 is starting to look like it should.

There are a few pointers in the plans about the cowling, but mostly it’s up to the builder to figure out how to get the cowling to fit – properly and securely. I’ve complicated the process by introducing a custom spinner assembly. The factory-supplied spinner, while likely adequate, has to be built up from parts. The spinner I ordered through the propeller manufacturer – Whirlwind – is beautifully made from carbon fiber, comes finished and ready to paint. It’s a slightly different look, but still very, very Sling-like.

The 9.75″ Whirlwind spinner is notably different from the factory unit. The backing plate flange faces backward instead of forward. This will mean that the cowl will have to fit somewhat farther back on the fuselage than it otherwise would for the standard spinner.

To get the cowl aligned and with the proper setback, I’ve made a fixture that mounts to the prop hub extension. The hub extension is a standard part of the kit. Repeated fitting and trimming will hopefully arrive at a near perfect position and alignment. More to come on that.

Elevator – Counter Balance Skins and Composite Tips

Finishing the elevator was accomplished over a period of about 3 weeks. The composite tips needed repeated sessions of fitting, filling, sanding and priming to achieve a satisfactory appearance. The interface between metal and fiberglass part was dramatically improved from what it would have been, had I left the fiberglass parts untouched.

The fiberglass parts were built up, especially around the leading edge, with Poly-Fiber SuperFil epoxy filler to reduce unsightly gaps. It takes a day for the filler to cure before wet sanding with 400 grit 3M paper, followed by Rust-Oleum wet-sandable automotive (rattle can) primer and the better part of another day for that to dry. Patience is the key

Once I was happy with the fit of the tips, it was time to match drill the parts against the holes in the counter balance skins. That was quickly and easily done by hand with my lithium-powered hand drill and a #30 bit. I’d reviewed numerous discussions about how others attached their tips and decided to simply follow the construction manual, using the ordinary 3,2 x 8 mm domed rivets that were supplied with the kit. Done and done.

The elevator tips took a while to complete, but I didn’t get carried away. All-in-all, the results look rather nice – me thinks.