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#1

Howdy,

I’m relatively new to fiberglass/composites but I have a project that I would like to work on and use fiberglass to accomplish it. I am looking to build myself a flight simulator originally this would be an all wood construction but I think fiberglass gives me a lot more benefits for shapes and things like that. Originally I was considering doing just the canopy in fiberglass but I have been considering doing an entire shell. However at the moment I think the way I wan to build the canopy will be much more benefical to my overall design.

So I guess my question is relating to the materials. I want to perhaps start small with something to test it and get used to it practice a few times, but practice with the material that I want to use to make the canopy. Anyone have an recommendations as to what type of weave, and resin that would be good?

If you’re interested here are my initial plans that I drew up in autocad. http://www.futuredroids.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=435&PN=1
The Red box is the computer monitor box, the Yellow thing is the chair, and the pinkish thing behind it is the computer. And the canopy would sit over the top of the Monitor and the rest of that area.

Thanks,
Dd

#2

Why?
I mean what will you do with this once it’s built?
Is it just for yourself or are you gonna manufactue them?

#3

build your skeleton out of mdf. Staple 80% polester blend fabric to it to form a skin in contoured areas. Soak it with polyester resin. Layer it with 3 layers of 1.5 oz fabric. then cover it with a 70/30 mix of bondo and resin, harden with the mekp. It acts as a self leveling glaze, but as strong a glassing and sanding. once all smooth cover with evercoat slicksand polyester primer. If you do not put the milkshake mix over the whole thing then you will have to spray one layer of primer let harden all the way and then the next layer for fill. sand with 400 wet paper Then paint.
For the caonopy:
use hvac tape (from lowes or homedepo used in ducting work for heaters) since the glass will not stick to it around the opening. Cover the rest of the structure with painter’s paper or plastic so resin doesn’t go all over. on the area where the canpoy will be layout .5" dowel rods every 3". superglue those inplacethen staple fabric down again and repeat layering process. once completely smooth and primered then make a mold with hi temp resin and tooling gelcoat. either find an oven big enough or make a heat chamber and heat form a sheet of plexiglass into the mold. If you want to you can use a male and female mold set and pour in liquid plexiglass and form the canopy. After cured for a day pull out formed part and drill holes for the hinge and struts. I just use trunk struts from advanced auto.

Form the interior the same waywith the skeleton and glass methond. If you make molds of the entire setup make sure the parts produced are at least 10 oz. thick to support the climbing in and out. The more withut overdoing it the merrier.

I do simulators for arc aero, they program flight and driving simulators. The first one will be the hardest but shortly after it will be cake.

#4

where do you get liquid plexiglass?

#5

I think that Crystal Clear casting Resin (PER) is reffered to Liquid Plexiglass in some audio DVD’s that I have recently bought.

But I could be wrong…not the first and not the last time…

#6

yes basically its casting resin although i get the epoxy by polytek. Its crystal clear and strong for its type of product. Don’t go making real plane canopies for out of it…But for this application it will work.
GGrop what dvd set did you get? I recommend the glassman dvd set get all including the newest vol. 8 and you will triple your custom audio installs within the year. Not to mention additional knowledge on products and usage.

#7

I have recently bought:
www.freemansupply.com Excellant!
www.CarAudioHowTos.com v6.0 (4x DVD’s) and another version 4 or so…Good for some different techniques like using a Home Depot job site water drinking barrel (?) for a vacuum degassing chamber with a shop vacuum.
Also a student loan me www.caraudiohelp.com video #3 Fiberglass Fab 1 & #5 Fiberglass Fab 2 which are were good for a beginner as it goes over the tools and supplies needs!

I also bought a $50.00 video that sucked!

I’ll have to check out the Glassmans site too as I might be using the fiberglass audio / speakers boxes to pull in more High school or younger students into the programs for next year…

#8

Awsome guys thanks for the help.

Doogie:

I was actually going to produce this for myself. I had thought about maybe if I did a good job doing a mold or something like that and sell them on the side. However I am definately not ready for that.

Krymis:

Thank you for the info this will really help me out a great deal. I had bought some wood already but I think that MDF would probably be a bit better or at least something lighter to get my skeleton. I never knew about liquid plexiglass, I think for now I’ll probably stick with fiberglass what I was thinking was to do a simple dome/canopy structure perhaps out of chicken wire or something like that to fit to the wooden base. But since you’ve given me some other ideas about it my design will probably change again :slight_smile: What is Arc Aero?

Anyone have any recommended or perfered suppliers that you order your stuff from? Was looking at Fibreglast.com but wanted your opinions first before I order anything to test with.

Thanks,
Dd.

#9

use US compodsites (shopmaninc.com). just remeber the closer the skeleton is to perfect the less glassing you have to do so buy the extra mdf and make the arches around teh cockpit nail the dowels to. If you need more help just aim me (sportaget)…as far a arc aero its a division of some simulator company and they do driving and flight simulators. they usually have an order of like ten peices for their parts and its inside and out construction so i get to destroy new joysticks and control pads all the time. Basically using tips from auto industry, carpentry, and mobile audio. The last simulator i did used a touch pad and a computer screen much like that seen on a laptop computer pad. It was pretty cool.

#10

I’m thinking I might get myself a DVD or video or something so I can see it being done.

Anyone have recommendations on good beginner DVD/Videos that I can order online? :slight_smile:

#11

Since you didn’t add in your bio where you might be at… :evil:

It would depend on what you want to do. I think I posted somewhere on here a thread listing good and bad DVD’s / Videos…

#12

Oh, I’m in Virginia :slight_smile:

I’ll go hunt around see if I can find the DVD list.

#13

Thank you for adding your state as others in your area MAY help you along.

Just scroll down the page or: http://www.icancomposites.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=597

#14

Lots of places around the country.
closer is going to be cheaper.
If you can find somplace local that would be a good start.
Do a yahoo maps search. I love that feature. Look up your hometown on yahoo maps. then to the right of the map and down near the bottom, you will see a feature called more nearby.
hit that and then fill in plastics distributor or resin supplier, or fiberglass supplies. it should give you something near you.