<HTML><FONT FACE=arial,helvetica><FONT SIZE=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" FACE="Arial" LANG="0">In a message dated 4/29/2003 9:45:42 AM Eastern Daylight Time, johnferrell@earthlink.net writes:<BR>
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<BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px">Subj:<B>Paint.wings? </B><BR>
Date:4/29/2003 9:45:42 AM Eastern Daylight Time<BR>
From:<A HREF="mailto:johnferrell@earthlink.net">johnferrell@earthlink.net</A><BR>
Reply-to:<A HREF="mailto:discussion@nsrca.org">discussion@nsrca.org</A><BR>
To:<A HREF="mailto:discussion@nsrca.org">discussion@nsrca.org</A><BR>
<I>Sent from the Internet </I><BR>
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While we are talking painting how about a little discussuion on painting the<BR>
surfaces we normally monokote?<BR>
<BR>
It looks like it is a given that paint weighs more than plastic, but how<BR>
much more?<BR>
<BR>
How much surface prep is enough for paint?<BR>
<BR>
I have felt that every painted wing I have seen was way tougher than it<BR>
needed to be?<BR>
Any chance of trading some of this strength for a little less weight?<BR>
<BR>
I find the biggest problem with painting in general is that of setup/clean<BR>
up. If I could just paint it all,<BR>
covering would be easier...<BR>
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IS THERE a better way to do wings than skinning them with balsa?<BR>
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I don't like ironing any more that my wife does...</BLOCKQUOTE><BR>
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John,<BR>
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I generally glass and paint my wings. <BR>
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The heaviest wings for a 2 meter plane have weighed as much as 24 ozs each RTF. This was a little larger original design Enigma, (mine was b4 the ZN Line bird BTW), right at 1240 sq in total. All balsa construction<BR>
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The lightest have weighed in at 14.5 ozs RTF (no retracts, just aileron servo and linkage) for a 1010 sq in wing. Honey combed foam and balsa construction<BR>
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BTW, the difference in flying ability and general handling is huge, as expected<BR>
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Matt Kebabjian</FONT></HTML>