flyingwings.co.uk Venturi FPV and laminating

[krikey]

I've received my Venturi FPV and very excited to get building. I have searched ebay for carbon fibre vinyl and theres plenty of it out there, question is what type should I get? Can anyone recommend a good supplier?

[Andy Sayle]

I've just bought a few metres of stuff from a place called MDP supplies.  The price was pretty good, and the film is meant for vehicle wrapping (means it has little tiny grooves int he adhesive to let out airbubbles over time, and is designed to be used outdoors etc).  The stuff I have is on the top of this list:

http://www.mdpsupplies.co.uk/vwcarbonfibre.asp

Andy

PS.  just be aware that the stuff I bought on the top of the list is polymeric vinyl, and therefore will shirnk slightly over time.  This will keep it nice and tight as a covering, but don't forget to allow a few mm in the seams!  If you buy cast vinyl, it is less likely to shrink, but is more expensive!

[marcin]

Don't bother with carbon vinyl krikey ,but proper laminate film 75microns and use that !.
You do FPV ,it must be good flyer,strong and stiff ,no looking good...LMO

[Ratty]

Agree with Marcin. Better have a battered wing that flies great than a pretty brick that flies crap.

The clear "proper" lam is a lot better and stiffer than the vinyl.


EDIT: Small bits on carbon vinyl here and there can make it look great, but its not as good to use it as the main way of covering for stiffness.

[Andy Sayle]

That's a good point.  I put my carbon down on top of proper laminating film.  It adds a fair bit of weight, so for a functional machine that doesn't have to look pretty, you can save a bit of weight (which means longer flight times!)

It does look pretty though...

[Ratty]

It does look pretty though...

Cant argue with that, its looks awesome.  ;D

[Andy Sayle]

What we need is a carbon effect laminating film!

[Teamftp]

I am just in the process of "restoring" my Zephyr Z2 and have laminated and carbon wrapped it.

I did the following:

1. Covered all the spar cut outs, leading edge and bottom centre section with weave tape.
2. Laminated the whole wing both sides.
3. Bought some 3D Carbon look, NO AIR BUBBLE, vinyl of eBay.
4. Cover each 1/4 of the wing seprately in carbon wrap, puling it tight and rubbing it on with a rag to ensure it is nice and wrinkle free.

It looks bloody awesome even if I do say so. It has not added that much in the way of weight to it and I am sure it is now hard as nails and ready for some abuse in the sky!!!

Will pop up some pics later.

Simon.

[M6TPV]

I've received my Venturi FPV and very excited to get building. I have searched ebay for carbon fibre vinyl and theres plenty of it out there, question is what type should I get? Can anyone recommend a good supplier?

Try puffin models in Bristol... They do Carbon Fibre Oracover and go over the top of the 3mm Laminate.  The later adds strength and rigidity to the wing and I think the added oracovering weight will be negligible really.

http://www.puffinmodels.com/category.php?dept=239

Just checked website and they don't have the carbon listed, just give them a ring, I am sure they'll get it in for you..

[Flyn]

Should see my ZII, it's been beat to shit but still flies like a missile! ;)

Love it

[krikey]

Flyn, have you laminated yours or just covered in vinyl?

[Brucey]

Mine is lam'd and vinyl'd. Just be aware that it puts more weight on the tail.
Can't wait to see a formation of Venturi's flying!

[krikey]

In the instuctions it mentions a CofG at "CENTRE OF GRAVITY  180-190mm BACK FROM THE NOSE POINT". as this is the FPV model, do I draw an imaginary line following the leading edge to where the point would be and measure 180mm back from there?

Or do I simply measure 180mm back from the blunt nose of the GoPro box?

[Brucey]

Good question, and one that I never got to the bottom of! I measured from the tip of the leading edge (the bit that sticks out either side of the centre section.)

[skyscraper]

Good question, and one that I never got to the bottom of! I measured from the tip of the leading edge (the bit that sticks out either side of the centre section.)

Sounds like someone should mail flyingwings to clarify where to measure C.G. from with a diagram in the instrucations.  C.G is quite important!

regards
Andy