RC India

Has anyone used fibreglass for building their models? I am planning to build my design which is presently in foam (here is the link : http://www.rcindia.org/self-designed-diy-and-college-projects/scratchbuild-fighter-jets/) from fibreglass. I will be getting it moulded.
Met a fibreglass moulder today & showed him my work.
Fibreglass is heavy for my present power system for the same airplane size. I will be going for 1mm thick, but will change the wing sections to hollow (airfoil) rather than keeping them flat (which is at present).
Share your experience if anyone has build a model with fibreglass. It will be quite interesting.

go with some know plans for starters, with FB you will require large wing area for lift, the foam aeroplane i think has some serious design issues. i can send you some plans if you wish

I badly need fiberglass. What kinds of stores usually sell fiberglass (or FRC sheet)? You mean there are exclusive stores selling fiebrglass work?

Local hardware store?  Everytime search ends here and whenever i go and ask for something like this they stare at me like i am an alien.

ya please mail the plans at calmvik11@gmail.com

He doesnt sell fibreglass, he is a manufacturer of clocks & other timing instruments. He uses fibreglass to make the body of its products. & he also does contract work of fibreglass moulding. Apart from his own product he takes contract work & gets the moulding done for you.
Even i havent come accross any store that sells fibregalss sheet. Still searching.

Timing instruments ....... So a few odd stores sell that. I need search in Hyderabad.

When it comes to composite materials there are many points you need to know prior to build !
1) how much experience you have in composites.
2) you need to decide which type of FB and epoxy should be used(again it comes with experience) .
3) Cheapest materials source .
4)and finally lots of waste and dirty job.

usually a very good FB used for construction of full size aircraft or model aircraft for weight concern and strength ! this kind of FB is very rarely found in India!

To build normal aircraft wing or fuselage i use 50 gram/m2 to 300gram/m2 !

to help you out i will give rough list of materials

1) FB       roughly 15-40$ per 5 to 6 yards (depending upon weight)
2) Epoxy resin with hardner            for wing construction i use ly5052 araldite cost me 1500/- :Rs: per kilo (and again it does not come in 1kg tin comes only in 50kg tin)
3)vaccum pump (if you want good finish and air bubble free) again its optional.
4) and other ingredients like PVA,Alcohol,wax polish,cup ,mixing sticks, etc

at last you need lots of patience

Thanks Praveen for all these useful information!!
Actually I am not going to build this at home, I will be getting it moulded (the complete model) from a manufacturer.
I have not even thought of building with FB model at home.
But from your information it seems it can be made at home.
Would you please show me a video/pic of your plane which you built with FB?

well even i don't build much models in home reason being cost for raw materials n time!
recently i built one delta wing (yet to be finished) and fully fiberglassed easyglider with extra FB pylon (as avionic bay) and canopy for some college project!

nice build!
Is the Fly UAV's wings (used FB?) made solid or hollow?
& what is the weight of this model?

well empty weight without any electronics is 1 kg and with electronics ,battery and payload 3kg ! wing is not hallow ! its just elapor covered with 300 and 50 gr/m2 FB for strength and better wing loading! wings are attached to each other with MPX connectors and unilocks.Fuselage is totally fiberglass!

Well if you want to build hallow wing ! it will look like something like this!

nice airfoil.
this is what i am thinking to make with fibreglass. thanks for sharing the pics.

Making this one and up to this quality in India not possible! this is what we make in our company! nothing in this materials are local ! everything is imported from Europe and US.starting from FB to Gel coat.