I've just looked at my wings (which were already done when I bought my part
built kit) and found the peel ply! Oh well, out with the power file!
Simon
504 G-BZTN
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com
[mailto:owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of Ian Swankie
Subject: Europa-List: Europa List: Peel Ply on Root Rib
Last Thursday was a Bad Day.
If Ron Parigoris felt a little foolish after wasting just 20 minutes scuff
sanding the wing root peel ply, imaging how we feel. After reading Ron's
report on Thursday we made a close inspection of our wing roots....and we
were shocked to discover there are several faint red lines visible under our
beautifully executed lay ups.
When we worked on the wing roots a couple of month's ago we read and re-read
the instruction to remove the peel ply. Like most XS builders, our only
experience of peel ply was the green stuff and there was no trace of any on
the wing roots, we just assumed this had been removed at the factory. It
just looked like a nicely finished lay up. We tried picking at the skin and
it all seemed sound. Although the red lines should have been a caution there
are plenty of parts with blue guide lines, and we just assumed they were the
same.
So we scuff sanded the area and did the root to rib lay ups....three plies
on each side and on each wing with loads of flox on the corners!
The implications dawned on us on Thursday and were confirmed by the factory
on Friday. Our only remedy (apart from transforming our project into a boat
instead) is to spend countless hours carefully grinding away the glass back
to this evil, almost transparent peel ply.
Ron, if you want to swap foolish feelings then we'll take yours any day.
I just wonder how many Europas may be flying with similarly camouflaged peel
ply, now concealed by a coat or two of white paint?
Ian Swankie
www.gchox.co.uk
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