Scratchbuilding the Dove part 17

ESTABLISHMENT OF A 'NO-STICK' BARRIER

As with the cockpit-to-hull and wing-to-cylinder unions, I chose to use Euro-Soft filler to achieve a tight fit between vertical stabilizer and the top of the hull. The objective here is to get the filler to stick to the vertical stabilizer, adopt the shape of the hull, but not to stick to the hull. Of course this meant that I had to come up with some sort of 'mold release', a barrier if you will, applied to the hull, to protecting it from filler adhesion. I decided that the best means of protecting the work would be to employ aluminum foil.

As with the cockpit-to-hull and wing to cylinder unions, I chose to use Euro-Soft filler to fill any gaps between the vertical stabilizer aero surface and the top of the hull. The objective was to get the filler to stick to the vertical stabilizer, but not the hull. I employed aluminum foil as a physical barrier between the vertical  stabilizer/filler

Here we see the aluminum foil barrier. It was prepared by coating one side with 3M spray contact-adhesive. This is a low tack adhesive which would permit me to secure the foil to the hull without presenting any problem later striping off the foil once the root of the vertical stabilizer had been filled to shape. A piece of plastic,  with a notch cut in it, to control the placement of the vertical stabilizers forward tip as I matched it down after applying the Euro-Soft filler.

USE OF FOIL AND SPRAY ADHESIVE

I used common household Reynolds kitchen foil (available at most food stores). But, how to stick it down onto the hull without having the foils adhesive sticking to and possibly damaging the hulls surface?

3M spray contact-adhesive (3M Super 77 Spray Adhesive. 3M Adhesives Division, St Paul, MN 55144-1000. Call, 1-800-364-3577) on the contact side of the aluminum foil (normal practice with the 'contact' type adhesive is to apply it to both surfaces to be joined) is the way to go here. This low tack adhesive permits me to secure the foil to the hull well, yet when the work is done it permits easy removal of the foil off the hull. What 3M glue that remains on the hull is easily pulled off with masking tape with no problem or to damage the hull.

Here's an alternative for you: If you have the self-adhesive backed aluminum foil on hand, you are ahead of the game. I favor the self adhesive foil offered by Bare Metal Foil (Bare Metal Foil Co., P.O. Box 82, Farmington, MI 48332. Call, 248-465-4366). This very thin and flexible metal foil, by the way, is an excellent masking material for use around clear parts, such as cockpit canopies and the like.

USE OF ALIGNMENT AIDS

I had to first come up with a scheme to hold the vertical stabilizer in correct alignment atop the hull during the filler application and later pin-and-hole integration.

Note in the photos that to assist with alignment of the stabilizers longitudinal axis with that of the hulls I taped a scrap piece of plastic sheet atop the hull with a notch cut in one edge. The notch engages the forward tip of the stabilizer, securing at that point atop the centerline of the hull. At the trailing edge of the stabilizer it was a simple matter to line up its centerline with that marked on the hull. To assure that the stabilizer sat perpendicular to the hull I used a right angle triangle to check the plumb of the piece.

FILLING THE GAP BETWEEN STABILIZER AND HULL

As with the previously discussed wing/cylinder union tightening operation, I employed slow cure Evercoat Euro-Soft filler to build up a contoured 'skin' at the root of the aero-surface and the portion of hull it butts up against.

But, first, I rubbed a small quantity of mold release wax atop the aluminum foil, which had been burnished down onto the surface of the upper hull. The wax would preclude any significant sticking of the stabilizer filler to the hull.

A small quantity of Euro-Soft (part number #100408, Fibre Glass-Evercoat Company, Inc., 6600 Cornell Road, Cincinnati, OH 45242. Call, 513-489-7600) was catalyzed, applied to the root of the vertical stabilizer, and the stabilizer quickly mashed down onto the hull. Doing this as I checked to assure that the forward point of the stabilizer fit into the crutch of the forward alignment aid. All that as I checked for vertical alignment using the right triangle with the other hand. looking like a one legged man at an ass-kicking contest, I held the work steady till the filler had hardened.
 

Continued in part 18