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(Original Articles by Phil Sensibaugh and Tim McCarty, edited by Bill Pickl)
There are four things to accomplish to prepare a fiberglass hull for R/C Combat:
2.1.1 Step 1 - Compare the hull to the plans.
First you will need to attach a hardwood caprail to the inside of your hull. Before you proceed I recommend you check two things from your plan set for your ship. First does the hull have the correct total height? If it is a little short or a little too tall you can compensate through the placement of your caprail. Second does the hull have the correct width amid ships? Fiberglass hulls tend to spread and you may need to use a large clamp to pull it back to the correct width.
2.1.2 Step 2 - Install the caprail.
Grind away the finish coat (note homemade hulls will not have a finish coat) on the inside of the hull where the wood is to be glued (a ½" down from the top of the hull assuming a correctly sized hull) since epoxy will not stick to this finish. I use a dremel tool with a sanding drum attachment for this purpose. When the finish is sanded off the fiberglass will look white. Wipe off all powder sanding dust with a damp rag, then allow to dry.
You will need some 30 minute epoxy glue since it is stronger and less brittle than CA glue when dry. Once you have sanded your hull and have cut sections of 3/8" square hardwood, get your wood clamps ready and mix some epoxy. I'd start with a 12" to 18" section of wood centered along the length of the hull. As you work your way out towards the bow and stern you will need to use progressively shorter pieces of caprail to accommodate the curve of the hull.
Apply the epoxy to the fiberglass first and work in with your finger and a gloved hand. The working in, or rubbing, of the epoxy into the fiberglass is an important step to ensure bonding. Likewise, work the epoxy into the surface of the wood to be glued, then install the wood in place. Note the wood caprail should be placed 1/8" below the top of the hull to allow for the deck to set on top and be flush with the hull. Next install the wood clamps to hold the cap rail in place while the glue dries make sure the hull is at the correct width amidships since once these initial sections dry they should hold the hull at the desired width. A cross support can be added later (once all equipment is installed) if you still need to pull the hull into spec. Be sure not to over tighten the clamps since you could distort the shape of the hull. If a few gaps are present between the wood and fiberglass don't worry about it. After the glue dries you can apply more glue or epoxy putty to these areas to fill the voids.
Make sure the caprail is in the proper position before the glue sets. Also, before the glue sets wipe away all excess glue with a rag.
(Continued on page 16)
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