First part of the job is putting copper tape in a grid pattern around the whole tank.
I found the best technique with the tape was to pull quite hard on it (towards you) with one hand while sticking down with the other hand. This way you avoid any air bubbles or wrinkles forming in the tape. Works well going round the corners too.
After that you have to solder all the joins otherwise the sticky part of the tape would not make a good contact with the section of tape underneath it. Be careful with the soldering iron not to burn a hole in your tank. I found it better to make a connection quickly then go back and tidy the solder up with the iron afterwards.
You don't want the solder sitting up too much as the tank needs to bond into the wing later and a mound of solder would make a void between the tank and wing.
Finally an earthing wire must be connected to the grid. This will be connected to the earth on the engine mount much later on.
The other work I did over the weekend was taking some more peel ply off the flaps and rudder plus bonding some 40mm fiberglass to one of the aileron control pushrods (more about that later).
I won't be posting again for a week or so as I am off to Belgium for the Formula One Grand Prix at Spa this weekend.
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| One tank and the panel of parts for both tanks |
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| Make lots of pencil marks for the tape and make sure to avoid the fuel cap area |
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| One tank taped with copper |
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| All joins soldered and the earthing wire in place ready to be joined |
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| Both tanks done |
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| Peel ply removed from both flaps and rudder |
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| Aileron control pushrod bonded with fiberglass tape |
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