Cockpit skin material EU

[Hansolo]

Hi Guys,

 

Does anyone have a good supplier of cockpit skin material in EU/Northern Europe? Need to be app. 3mm thick and should be relatively easy to bend in cold condition. Yet at the same time strong enough to hold itself in shape.

I have two curves, one with a radius of R635mm and the other R560mm. Sheet size is about 2x1.5meters.

 

Cheers

Hans

[Boltz]

Hi Hans. I have tried two methods so far.

 

First was on the forward sides and I used 3.6mm plywood with standard woodscrews. It is nice and strong but sometimes quite difficult to bend and requires quite a lot of support and regular screws. No fancy heat or water used, I just worked it around one part at a time. For this I tried to follow the panels of the original jet and it looks nice but if you use larger sections then it could be a nightmare to work with. here is a pic:

 

For the sides over the consoles I used 3mm hardboard with a melamine facing (simply because it was the only stuff my local supplier had) also this time I used nails and drilled 2mm holes through the hardboard at regular intervals and then worked upwards bending it a little at a time. Each nail was knocked in with a hammer and over 200 after both sides were done.

I made a mistake though here of trying to use wood filler to cover the nails. The surface has ended up with a lot of variations with the filler, melamine and hardboard inside. It's really quite a mess now and will require using a thick oil-based primer which will the have to be sanded and then I can spray a top coat over the top.

The dark grey is just some spray I was using to help sand the surface.

If I was doing it again then I would use the hardboard but definitely not use wood filler with it. I think countersunk screws would rip through so I would use nails again and just put up with them being there. Would add a bit of texture to the sides. Also hardboard comes in standard 4x8 ft sheets (1220x2440mm)

I know Gadroc used 3mm hardboard as well and it worked out for him too. Just requires a lot of fixings to spread the load, or you could glue if there is a way to clamp the parts in place.

 

Another option is PVC sign material but I do not know how you would fix that. My guess is screws and cup washers to prevent them ripping through.

Not sure when I will have this painted since I have a canopy frame to make and more curves to add. All these curves are a nightmare so good luck with however you over them.

[bnepethomas]

HI Guys

 

From the left of field, I've used 3mm mdf on the F16, and as boltz called out, sometimes it can be hard work. I'm being a little more lazy with the A10 and using Coreflute, reasonably rigid and light as:

http://www.bunnings.com.au/2440-x-1220-x-2-2mm-black-corflute_p0390164

 

Cheers

 

Peter

[LynxDK]

Hey Hans.

 

Check this link:

 

https://eshop.silvan.dk/vare/hvid-traefiberplade-2

 

They Are incredible easy to work with, i rebuilded The entire interior of my caravan with these.

 

Easy to bend and easy to cut.. And you Can get a cheaper version which isnt painted.

And If you dont wanna use screws, you Can easily glue Them with "no more nails" they just needs to be kept in place While it dries.

If u want pictures i Can send later, cuz atm im at holiday, in that Exact caravan

[Hansolo]

Thanks a lot guys for the input. Highly appreciated :thumbup:

 

I think I will give LynxDK's suggestion a shot since it's local and actually very cheap.

 

Cheers

Hans

[LynxDK]

Glad i could help.

 

And the one without paint is accually half price of what i linked you.