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How to Make a Model Airplane Wing With Fiberglass

Fiberglass is lightweight and durable. These qualities make it ideal for making model airplanes with. If you plan to fly the aircraft, you need to make the wings from foam or wood and then cover them with fiberglass, since fiberglass wings alone lack the interior strength to withstand the rigorous demands put on them during flight. If your model is going to be static, you can lay sheets of fiberglass cloth over molds of the wings and remove the molds once the fiberglass cloth has cured.

Things You'll Need

Molds
Craft knife
Fiberglass cloth
Fiberglass resin
Paintbrush
Sandpaper
Paper towel
Alcohol

Instructions

- 1
  Make or purchase wing molds for the type of model airplane you are building. These are available from specialist model stores.
- 2
  Cut pieces of fiberglass cloth to the shape of the wings. Allow sufficient material for at least a 1-inch overlap all around the pieces you cut. Use one sheet for the top of the wing and one for the underside.
- 3
  Brush fiberglass resin liberally over both sides of your fiberglass cloth piece and apply it to the top side of the wing mold. Start at the tip of the wing and press down carefully, smoothing out any wrinkles and creases as you go. Ensure the piece overlaps the edges and sticks smoothly to the underside of the mold. Allow this to cure completely, before adding the cloth to the underside.
- 4
  Turn the wing mold over and apply a piece of the fiberglass cloth to the underside, in the same manner. Once the fiberglass cloth has cured and hardened, the overlaps and seams should not be visible.
- 5
  Sandpaper the wings and clean with a paper towel and alcohol prior to painting them.

Aviation