.018" Phenolic sheet stock

Not really any progress yet.. but I wanted to show some pics of this material.. and share some more design thoughts.




It's quite flexible.. and should be strong enough "alone".. to form a leading edge.


We use this material at work to "skin" gondola frames for paint. It is .018" (.46mm) in thickness and one side is of paint-grade smoothness.

This experiment is in building a small (22" span-110 sq.) monocoque fully symmetrical constant-chord wing.. and I will begin with building a full-span spar, which will adhere to the phenolic sheet and establish the thickness of the airfoil. The spar will be slotted for a bell-crank and pivot pin and will utilize only 3 ribs; a "central" rib for support inside the profile-fuse wing cut-out.. and tip-ribs, with the inboard one containing an adjustable lead-out guide. The outboard end of the spar will have a plastic tube for a weight-box, secured to the backside of the spar and threaded internally at the exposed end for a shortened nylon screw/cap.

For an idea of the weight.. this rolled sheet measures 317 sq. in. (22.25 x 14.25)



That's 3.2 oz. and shows the "smooth" side of the sheet. Since it will require approx. 250 sq. in. to skin a 110 sq. in wing.. I'll have to design the spar as light as possible. It's only function(s) will be to provide a bell-crank mount, establish the thickness of the airfoil and provide an attachment point for the 3 ribs used. Once secured; the phenolic skin should provide all of the strength in this monocoque design. The trailing edge skins will extend 1/2" rearward of the ribs.. and be joined either with thin d/s tape or CA glue. A conventional slot for the pushrod will be cut in the skin. 

I figure that if this experiment fails.. (excess weight.. warping.. problems with skin adhesion etc.) I'm not out a whole lot other than my time invested.

I am interested in acquiring some of this material

Do you have enough to slip two or three sheets in large envelope to me

I use a lot of 1/64 ply for elevator doubler and other structural strength on combat planes

Of course I would compensate you appropriatly

fredvon4 wrote:I am interested in acquiring some of this material

Do you have enough to slip two or three sheets in large envelope to me

I use a lot of 1/64 ply for elevator doubler and other structural strength on combat planes

Of course I would compensate you appropriatly

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