mperegrinefalcon
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Jun 12, 2017
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A few months ago I got a Pemberton King Kraken and started work on it as a quick project for mid power flying. I got the fins cut out and set the project aside for a little bit.
Coming back to it, I thought I would try out some lamination with the fiberglass I got from someone cheap and rolled the fins with two layers of 6oz FG. They turned out great, I unfortunately can't find any photos from this stage since I am not in the habit of photographing my builds.
Doing this lamination inspired me. I really enjoyed doing it and it came out really well, so I thought I would take it up another notch. How ridiculous would it be to have a carbon fiber Kraken? I have a large roll of plain weave carbon that came with the fiberglass roll mentioned earlier and I went for it.
I used the only laminating epoxy I have, Duralco 4461. I picked up a gallon kit for some super high speed and high altitude flights and used this as practice for those laminations.
Laminating the main body tube. It got 2 layers of CF. That is perforated peel ply under it and some bagging film.
The ends were trimmed when it was at a leather stage, about 12 hrs. after mixing, and it was taken out of the peel ply after 24hrs.
It absolutely isn't perfect, but it looks good and I am very happy with how it came out.
Now the fins. They only get one layer. I used the same method I used with the fiberglass and just trimmed the excess when it was leather hard.
The ends are rough but can be cleaned up with a belt sander pretty quickly.
I am a total amateur with doing laminations so these aren't perfect but I am satisfied with how they came out.
If I were to do this again I would laminate the tube for the fins before I even cut out the fins, but this worked and looks good.
Next is to attach the fins and rail buttons. I will be putting the rail through one of the fins since that is the only way to use a rail.
More on the way soon.
Coming back to it, I thought I would try out some lamination with the fiberglass I got from someone cheap and rolled the fins with two layers of 6oz FG. They turned out great, I unfortunately can't find any photos from this stage since I am not in the habit of photographing my builds.
Doing this lamination inspired me. I really enjoyed doing it and it came out really well, so I thought I would take it up another notch. How ridiculous would it be to have a carbon fiber Kraken? I have a large roll of plain weave carbon that came with the fiberglass roll mentioned earlier and I went for it.
I used the only laminating epoxy I have, Duralco 4461. I picked up a gallon kit for some super high speed and high altitude flights and used this as practice for those laminations.
Laminating the main body tube. It got 2 layers of CF. That is perforated peel ply under it and some bagging film.
The ends were trimmed when it was at a leather stage, about 12 hrs. after mixing, and it was taken out of the peel ply after 24hrs.
It absolutely isn't perfect, but it looks good and I am very happy with how it came out.
Now the fins. They only get one layer. I used the same method I used with the fiberglass and just trimmed the excess when it was leather hard.
The ends are rough but can be cleaned up with a belt sander pretty quickly.
I am a total amateur with doing laminations so these aren't perfect but I am satisfied with how they came out.
If I were to do this again I would laminate the tube for the fins before I even cut out the fins, but this worked and looks good.
Next is to attach the fins and rail buttons. I will be putting the rail through one of the fins since that is the only way to use a rail.
More on the way soon.
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