I agree with Mark this is definitely not boring. I recently looked at some gelcoat cracking along the fuselage join on a PW5. The cracking went for around 1.3 metres down the centre of the fuse aft of the wing with other short cracks further forward. The gelcoat I think is meant to be T35. In general the gelcoat on this gilder is not very good and the post moulding gelcoat is of a different colour in many patches. The gelcoat when sanding off around the cracks had a very distinctive smell different than what I have been used to. Once I got into the moulded gelcoat the familiar smell came back. This glider is about 5 or 6 years old and does not get regular polishing or waxing. However may even be a year older than that as I suspect that they had some sitting around for a while before they sold them. Regards [EMAIL PROTECTED]
----- Original Message ----- From: "Mark Morgan" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Thursday, October 25, 2001 5:09 PM Subject: [aus-soaring] T35 gelcoat > I was reading Roger's write up about the T35 on his glider. > Roger is right about the scratches, they are in line with the sanding > scratches. I'm more than convinced this is what they propergate from. > I'm not sure but I think the factories still hard wax polish the gliders. > This would be why they still look so shiney. > The hard waxing melts wax into the finishing scratches filling them up with > wax. They dissapear and the surface is smooth and appears shiney. > When the wax wears off the dirt then gets into the scratches and makes them > easier to see. > Most repairers sand finish to a much finer finish, we use 2000 to 2500 > grade wet and dry and then polish with a gelcoat designed polish and sealer. > The scratches in the gelcoat before polishing are much finer and maybe not > such a problem. > > Another thought about the problems along the joints maybe the factory > accelerates the cure of the gelcoat on the joints and this has known to > cause problems after some time. > > Maybe fine sanding the joints while still relatively new is a possible > remedy for the problem. > > just my 2 cents worth to the throng of facinated readers. > this is definately NOT BORING. > Regards > Mark Morgan > Waikerie Glider Maintenance > Po Box 320 Waikerie > SA 5330 > ph. 08 8541 2644 > fax 08 8541 2761 > > -- > * You are subscribed to the aus-soaring mailing list. > * To Unsubscribe: send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > * with "unsubscribe aus-soaring" in the body of the message > * or with "help" in the body of the message for more information. > -- * You are subscribed to the aus-soaring mailing list. * To Unsubscribe: send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] * with "unsubscribe aus-soaring" in the body of the message * or with "help" in the body of the message for more information.
