No! Steve!, No!  Never! {:>).  Actually, I have come a ways since I made my first horrid attempt at fiberglass work.  I used to spend a week on the mold, Paint it with mold separator, wax it, etc.  Then mainly because of the shapes ended up having to destroy the mold to get the product.  First breakthrough was use of duct tape - but still ended up with foam mold mainly destroyed. So know I use a type of "tan" foam that epoxy does not destroy, carve the shape with rasp and a brush with stiff brass bristles and slap the fiberglass directly on the foam.  For ducts, its nice because then I can shape the foam internally to get  exactly the curve I want.  Fiberglass does have advantages in many cases.
 
But, don't think a large scale composite project is even on the distant horizon {:>)
 
Ed
 
 

    ----- Original Message -----
    From: Steve Brooks <mailto:prvt_pilot@yahoo.com>
    To: Rotary motors in aircraft <mailto:flyrotary@lancaironline.net>
    Sent: Thursday, May 05, 2005 7:04 AM
    Subject: [FlyRotary] Re: Duct Nearly Finished

    Ed,
    It sounds like you're becoming quite handy with fiberglass.  You
    may be ready to start a composite project.
         Steve Brooks
     
        -----Original Message-----
        From: Rotary motors in aircraft
        [mailto:flyrotary@lancaironline.net]On Behalf Of Ed Anderson
        Sent: Wednesday, May 04, 2005 9:44 PM
        To: Rotary motors in aircraft
        Subject: [FlyRotary] Duct Nearly Finished

        Got the new duct nearly finished.  Just need to pop rivet the
        hinge halves on it, sand some of the worst bumps off, paint it
        and put it on.  Then ready to go fly and try out the new duct
        and engine.  Took two days, to make the mold, fiberglass the
        outside and contour the inside for that trumpet shape - it
        would have taken me two weeks 5 years ago - but still prefer
        metal {:>).
                 Now just have to whip up a combination filter holder and
        Plenum and I'm done with mods for the summer (I think).
                 Tracy got the apex seals for analysis but just headed out to
        Colorado like he had planned rather than postpone his trip to
        play with the seals - just don't know about some folks {:>).
                 Sure makes me wonder why airline builders use all of those
        expensive circuit breakers rather than cheap fuses - must be
        something I'm missing.  Fortunately, we have the right to make
        the choice that suits our preferences (and pocket book).
                 Ed
                 Ed
        Ed Anderson
        Rv-6A N494BW Rotary Powered
        Matthews, NC
        eanderson@carolina.rr.com <mailto:eanderson@carolina.rr.com>