Without your in-depth understanding of the process I too concluded the
factory finish was something else, hence my use of quotes around the term
"gel coat" in my 26 September message in this thread. Thanks for the
details.
Best regards,
Rob Housman
A070
-----Original Message-----
Behalf Of Gary McKirdy
Subject: Re: Finishing XS Wings
Gelcoat eh?
In case any of you are still in belief of the so called "Factory Gelcoat
Finish", I can enlighten you as to how it came about.
Ivan invited me to display a real gelcoat finish of a Europa wing at
Cranfield 1997 next to the Europa Stand. The grass around my demo wing was
better worn than that around the main stand and next came the factory
gelcoated parts! Never miss the buzz word marketing opportunity.
In the big scheme of marketing this had to be one of the longest nose claims
ever made since those of you in the know, i.e. glider pilot Europa owners
(please note self included) know that a gelcoat glider finish is a)White
b)Mirror finished and polished c)Totally devoid of optical defects and d)
very scratch resistant (i.e. not a yellow sandable filler). You may also
notice the word FINISH suggests some kind of END, not just the start of the
beginning.
Go ahead and flame me out for pointing this out what do I know after all ? I
just got out of nappies in what there is to learn e.g. trained in
re-inforced plastics as recently as 1984, consultant to Seawind, Cirrus, and
the Express in America, now Quickie dealer, I've just bought a Rutan Defiant
in Cyprus and flown it back , finished gliders for members of the British
team, composite insurance repair specialist who also flies (1700 hours all
on composite aircraft including cross country gliding) and if I needed to
advertise you might even of heard of me.
If you are still reading then here is the point, I spent hours selflessly
detailing how to finish your own Europa Classic which I am assured is still
in the archive. I lectured at a couple of Europa seminars I have just
finished FINISHING the 8th Europa for a friend who understood the reasons
and justification for the 10K price tag and all that I said in the article
is still valid. I even read it myself sometimes to remind me of what I have
forgotten.
Gary McKirdy
Now Kudos Composites
Enstone
Tel 01295 788526
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