Manic Fairing Disorder

We have somewhere around 100 hours in on the hull to this point. I actually got over it and wanted to put the glass on but Dan, one of the guys who has done plugs and molds before, said no way.  I think he's right.  It is going to be black afterall.  And yes, I think it is a disease!

This shot is after a good guide coat and the next is the same afternoon with more putty applied.


Did I mention I think we are a bit sick?

I do have to say that each time it gets puttied and then sanded, it looks better and better. 

In fact, I keep using our gage to check symmetry and that, which was pretty good to start with, is also getting better and better.

However,  we have already gone through two tubs of fairing compound and have a bit more to do.  Dan does think it will be ready for the glass the end of next week. 

Of course, that only means we start with the faring putty all over again!

The cassette boxes are in primer.  One more round of fairing on them  as well and then onto paint.

After which, we will make the sleeves they fit into for the hull. THe boxes themselves will serve as the molds.

I have already posted and will be adding to a pretty good detailed write up on making the rudders and the cassette boxes over at NA class Team Recovery Blog

That takes you to Chapter Four with Five being worked on and done soon.

And then there are the rudders themselves:

One had already been sanded and the first coat of "fairing" epoxy applied.  Now the second rudder has been sanded, the shape matched as close as possible to the first one and it has the first coat of "fairing" epoxy on it.

When you sand these things, they grow a bit of hair. (I did lay on a sacrificial 6 oz layer of glass so I wouldn't sand into the epoxy.)  Each coat of epoxy (I intend to leave the rudders natural at this point) smooths them as well as fills in the tiny little voids present here and there. It looks like three coats will do the trick. Then of course, a couple coats of clear urethane to finish them off.

Did you notice that everything we are doing at this point involves faring? And we are doing it in Florida in July without the help of air conditioning.  In fact, by 2:00 in the afternoon, it is between 97 and 101 in the shop with 90 odd percent humidity.

Manic Fairing Disorder - the only cure is to finish.