Building a hatch cover

[rjjr]

I've ordered my new boat kit and really like the style of boat except for the hatch cover. Is it difficult to make your own? How would you go about making one? Is fiberglass best? Do I need to make a mold?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Roger

[abx131]

Which boat are you refering to? Not all applications are generic but you may come across someone withthe same boat who did exactly what you are trying to do.

[rjjr]

She is the Enforcer Magnum 57. I'm not fond of the squared off look of the canopy and want to make a more smooth rounded flowing canopy.

I've never done anything like this before as I'm new to RC/Boats so any help about general fiberglass work would be helpful.

I've looked all about the internet and haven't found anything really to be of much help.


Roger Fagler

[abx131]

I personally cannot help you but there are many others who can I'm sure!!! My (troubled) experiences are with the Miss Crud.

[Hydro Junkie]

One option is to modify what you already have, Using bondo(not recemmended) or epoxy/microballoon mix(recommended), you can fill in areas on the top to smooth them out, or on the bottom as backfilling so you can sand the top down to more flowing lines. On the backfilling, be sure to include some glass mat to prevent the filler from falling out if the hatch is flexed. When you get it the way you want, you can either use it for a plug and make a mold for a new one or paint it and use it

[Rosati]

If you have fiberglassing experience, you can form a styrofoam "buck" in the shape you want then cover it with thin balsa then glass over it. Then dig out the foam.

[rjjr]

Thanks for all the responses.

When doing fiberglass work do you use the epoxy with woven roving or is there somthing special just for fiberglass?

[Hydro Junkie]

could you run that by us again? I'm not quite sure what you're asking

[abx131]

What you need is a basic fiberglass kit which includes two items:The fiberglass cloth and the two part setting resin. After you build the form as described above, you lay the fg cloth over the form and brush on the resin mix. While the cloth is wet with the mix you can add mulitiple layers of cloth to thicken up the cowl but the thicker you make it the more weight you are adding. Let the whole thing set up and dry for a couple of days. Pop out the form and finish sand and trim as needed.

[Rosati]

Keep in mind you will not get the smoothest finish just by applying the resins to the cloth. I like to wait about 30 minutes after the mix start to get warm and add a heavy coat of resin. This will allow you to smooth it out by sanding. You will sand into a few air bubbles so open them up good and use some epoxy and micro ballons to fill them in.