Hi All:

If you remember, I imported some fancy carbon front wings from the UK. There were (!) very nice, however I really botched the install. Please see

here and
here

I tried to design the stays based on what Sylva did with their striker, however the cutouts are HUGE. Besides looking horrible, it really weakened the wing. My fear is that at speed, the wind resistance will actually force the leading edge of the wing into the tire. Very bad news.

So, to remedy this embarassing mistake, I'm considering a couple options.

1.) have a nice, four fancy aluminum covers CNCed to cover up the botched cutouts. I haven't quite come up with a design in my head yet...

2.) put a layer of carbon on the inside of the wing, then cutout as best I can small pieces of carbon to cover up the botched cutouts, then smooth over with bondo. If I do this, I can paint just the inside of each wing, leaving the top and outer edge to expose the CFRP.

If I go with #2, will the bondo hold up to the vibration to which the wing is exposed or will it begin to crack and chip off? That would look very bad.

If anyone can offer any advice on this, I'd would be greatful.

--Thanks, Chris

[Edited on 25/1/06 by chrisf]

I'd go with some sort of Ali cover if it were me...will look mouch better than a home made attempt to cover it up....Oli.

Take a could of the wing using glassfibre then make new wings...

Stephen

PS Bondo would chip - be better taping over it and putting some gelcoat on and then sanding that down...

I agree with Oli...

Try and fabricate some stainless or aluminium covers for them - make it look like they were supposed to be on there :-)

If you get really stuck - perhaps Triton could knock you something up to fill the gap? He's the resident ACE on all matters fibreglass and Carbon.

In fact - don't touch anything - give him a U2U first - he'll know exactly what to do ;-)

Good luck!

Murray

I think I'd do with an ali pannel, made to go around the existing wing support, following the contors of where the wing was. I would probably put one on the inside and outside, then bolt through all three layers using button head stainless screws, and glue the two plates in place to the carbon with flexable adhesive (PU? don't know if it sticks CF though). Should put some strength back in it, and not look to nasty..

my wings are held on to the metal says by fibgreglassing underneath so not need for bolt holes.

bit of a disaster he? nevermines, some ali or stainless steel side plates that cover the cut out and then bendtop continue under the wing fibre galsses into place would be whaqt I would do, not saying it iis best soliution but.....

I would try and repair it. Carbon or glass but use gel on the outside.
Wont look pretty but you could spray the edges and leave the center clear.

If you are not comfortable using composites then probably better to get metal bits made up. Pricey i would've thought.

It is a bit late to say this but you should have cut a hole into the wings and slid the bracket in rather than cutting a slot.

You could laminate some GRP to the wings to make a mould then lay up some CFRP in the mold to make a piece to fill the slot. You then laminate the back with CFRP to hold in place and restore the strength to the part.

Gents:

Thanks for the advice. Yep, I now realize I should have done things much differently. I do feel comfortable with composites, but perhaps I’ll take the advice and make up some ali/stainless brackets to look like they belong there.

--Many thanks, Chris

Would it be worth folding a thinish sheet of metal over the edge like edging and riveting it around the hole. Might look a wee bit wierd but done right could look ok ish.