IMG_0031.jpg Sanding things off my UH-18 in preparation for taping.
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IMG_0033.jpg The stick stays. It protects the hull on the point.
IMG_0034.jpg A bottle of my addiction resting on top of my dementia.
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IMG_0036.jpg Splitters still hanging by the clamps.
IMG_0037.jpg A dirty camera lens does this.
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IMG_0039.jpg Took the air nozzle to the camera lens and started cutting tape. I got some rolled fiberglass tape of varying widths because I hate cutting fiberglass. This made this job into a one-day job instead of two, and made me itch a lot less. There are several rolls of 9-oz "standard" tape, which has a selvedge edge. There's a single roll of some lighter stuff that's cut off a larger roll so there's no selvedge edge, for smoothing the whole thing up.
IMG_0040.jpg If you do this tape thing you'll spend a little bit more for your project and get things done twice as fast. WAY worth it to me.
IMG_0041.jpg You need to lay this stuff out in reverse order of putting it on. I cut the outside "finish" layer first, if I put one on a particular seam, then the layer under it and so on, so the first layer available during the epoxy session is the one you want on first.
IMG_0042.jpg Arrange the corners so there's plenty of glass and so the layers don't interfere with each other in the layup. This takes a bit of planning. It's not really advisable to change the order after you start with the epoxy.
IMG_0043.jpg OK, I'm done. This took a VERY long time altogether, it was a very long day for me and I was barely able to move afterwards. I had the forethought to get two pairs of scissors, one good set for cutting dry cloth and one "no stick" pair for when things are wet. Do this. You'll need it, or you'll keep buying scissors when the good set gets covered with epoxy so bad they won't cut anymore.
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IMG_0045.jpg The duct area is not epoxied or glassed yet.
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IMG_0048.jpg The back section here is inside the bag. It'll get epoxied but not taped.