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Originally Posted by FeatherFam
ALJO and schrederman, have either of you done anything to seal your units (roof, cap, wall/roof seams, windows . . .)? Any other effective techniques with laminated walls?
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So far I've done nothing extra on the outside. I did look over all of the outside sealing/caulking... very carefully... I've used 2 cans of spray foam to seal off the inside from the outside. The thing I do that helps the most... in my opinion... is to keep it in covered storage, completely out of the sun and rain.
I'm a structures guy... not that I've studied them heavily, but there's a lot of common sense applied there. The laminated wall structure is made up of 4 components... none of which is strong. The aluminum tube frame would be stronger if they'd weld it instead of just tacking it together... Then comes the foam pieces that they put into the frame. Next are the "fiberglass" skins. And finally the glue. None of these are strong by themselves. Put it all together properly with ample time for the glue to cure, and it's stronger than a goat's breath...
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Some have spoken about the high percentage of delamination. I am pretty sure that the percentage of aluminum siding pieces loosening up because of missed staples, partially missed staples, staples that didn't get put there at all, etc... is just as great. It's a heck of a lot harder to see, but it's there. And unless there is a better way of putting the wood wall framing in than I've seen, that's no better than the tack welds for the aluminum frames in laminated walls.
Done correctly, my money's on the laminated wall. So far I've been completely satisfied with this kind of construction. I build model glider wings of balsa wood and a little carbon fiber. 1/16" balsa will easily crumble between your fingers. Once assembled correctly, these wings will bend 7/16' steel rods that join them and break 240# line on launch...
Have fun!
Jack
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Jack and Delores, Weatherford, Texas
2016 White Hawk 28DSBH TT, 2014 Ram 4X4 2500 CTD