Original Posted By: "Jon Botsford"
Here's a question for the colleective wisdom of this group. I'm about tomake the windshields for my Pietenpol (the last task before beginning tocover it!). I'm making the flat style three piece windshield rather thanthe curved type. Does anyone know what the typical design parameters arefor windshields? Should they come up as high as the pilot's eyes, or evenwith the top of the pilot's head? I believe the old Wacos reduced thewindblast effect somewhat by sloping the front windshield pretty severely,but that is not really an option with a Pietenpol due to the roll wiresbetween the front cabane struts. How tall have other folks made theirwindshields, and are they happy with the results?Jack PhillipsNX899JPRaleigh, NC________________________________________________________________________________
Pietenpol-List: Windshield
Re: Pietenpol-List: Windshield
Original Posted By: "Jack Phillips"
I made the curved type from the print. Why not make a cardboard mock-up ofthat one (I assume you got the print in your plans) and hold it up and seehow tall it is. Make the square one just as high. In my three and a halfhours on mine , it seems just right.walt----- Original Message -----
I made the curved type from the print. Why not make a cardboard mock-up ofthat one (I assume you got the print in your plans) and hold it up and seehow tall it is. Make the square one just as high. In my three and a halfhours on mine , it seems just right.walt----- Original Message -----
RE: Pietenpol-List: another windshield Q
Original Posted By: "Kent Hallsten"
I have already cut my lexan from a template. Now I would like to heat form it.Does anyone have ideas of heating required and methods for bending? I donthave much scrap left to play with.Dick N.________________________________________________________________________________Subject: RE: Pietenpol-List: another windshield QDate: Fri, 21 Feb 2003 15:35:13 -0600
I have already cut my lexan from a template. Now I would like to heat form it.Does anyone have ideas of heating required and methods for bending? I donthave much scrap left to play with.Dick N.________________________________________________________________________________Subject: RE: Pietenpol-List: another windshield QDate: Fri, 21 Feb 2003 15:35:13 -0600
Pietenpol-List: Result of Pietenpol-List archive search for "Lexan"......:
Original Posted By: "Michael Conkling"
Match: #34 Message: #11342
Match: #34 Message: #11342
Re: Pietenpol-List: Windshield
Original Posted By: "Jack Phillips"
Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: WindshieldPieters,Having read the net today I feel I should ground N41CC as I did not do any of these good things you are discussing.First. I used Lexan for my two windshields. After making patterns from poster boards and fabing my five attaching clips I bent, drilled and bolted it down without heat, peanut oil or any other aids you talk about. SHE FLIES.Second. On the fire wall thing. I used a sheet of .032 Stainless steel cut to shape of firewall without any crimping or flanging. I did make it in two parts, the lower part removable for maintenance on fuel system and cut off valves etc and access to the front rudder pedals. They say this thing is experimental and boy did I experiment. SHE FLIESHope this is not too offensive for you purists.Corky in La with 4 ribs completed on N84CC________________________________________________________________________________
Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: WindshieldPieters,Having read the net today I feel I should ground N41CC as I did not do any of these good things you are discussing.First. I used Lexan for my two windshields. After making patterns from poster boards and fabing my five attaching clips I bent, drilled and bolted it down without heat, peanut oil or any other aids you talk about. SHE FLIES.Second. On the fire wall thing. I used a sheet of .032 Stainless steel cut to shape of firewall without any crimping or flanging. I did make it in two parts, the lower part removable for maintenance on fuel system and cut off valves etc and access to the front rudder pedals. They say this thing is experimental and boy did I experiment. SHE FLIESHope this is not too offensive for you purists.Corky in La with 4 ribs completed on N84CC________________________________________________________________________________
RE: Pietenpol-List: Windshield
Original Posted By: owner-pietenpol-list-server(at)matronics.com
Pretty good idea, Walt. Now if I can just find that windshield pattern thatcame with the plans seven years ago ...Jack -----Original Message-----
Pretty good idea, Walt. Now if I can just find that windshield pattern thatcame with the plans seven years ago ...Jack -----Original Message-----
RE: Pietenpol-List: another windshield Q
Original Posted By: owner-pietenpol-list-server(at)matronics.com
Hi Dick,Years ago I did some heat forming of Lexan. It doesn't take muchtemperature - maybe 200 deg. in your wife's oven. It will be very pliableafter a few minutes in the oven and can be draped over a form to cool. Toget really slick, make your form of aluminum with tiny holes drilled on 1"squares and a plenum chamber on the back side connected to a vacuum (like ashop vac). Put the softened lexan in place, turn on the vacuum and it willquickly take the shape of the form.Be careful with Lexan. Lexan is a polycarbonate and is highly susceptibleto a phenomenon known as "stress-cracking". What happens is that whilepolycarbonate is very strong, in the presence of some solvents it losesstrength very rapidly, to the point that any locked in stresses (such as thestresses applied by the bolts holding the windshiedl in place) can causecracks to develop. Unfortunately, one of the solvents that causes this isgasoline. If you have any stresses in the windshield and spill a little gason it, it will likely begin to crack around the screw holes. I once saw aLexan windshield on a Starduster Too get some 100 octane splashed on it andthe whole thing just crazed and shattered right before my eyes. I wasworking the line at the airport and certainly was glad that the owner hadfueled the plane, instead of me being responsible. Acrylic (plexiglas) isnot as strong as polycarbonate, but is not so susceptible to stresscracking.Jack -----Original Message-----
Hi Dick,Years ago I did some heat forming of Lexan. It doesn't take muchtemperature - maybe 200 deg. in your wife's oven. It will be very pliableafter a few minutes in the oven and can be draped over a form to cool. Toget really slick, make your form of aluminum with tiny holes drilled on 1"squares and a plenum chamber on the back side connected to a vacuum (like ashop vac). Put the softened lexan in place, turn on the vacuum and it willquickly take the shape of the form.Be careful with Lexan. Lexan is a polycarbonate and is highly susceptibleto a phenomenon known as "stress-cracking". What happens is that whilepolycarbonate is very strong, in the presence of some solvents it losesstrength very rapidly, to the point that any locked in stresses (such as thestresses applied by the bolts holding the windshiedl in place) can causecracks to develop. Unfortunately, one of the solvents that causes this isgasoline. If you have any stresses in the windshield and spill a little gason it, it will likely begin to crack around the screw holes. I once saw aLexan windshield on a Starduster Too get some 100 octane splashed on it andthe whole thing just crazed and shattered right before my eyes. I wasworking the line at the airport and certainly was glad that the owner hadfueled the plane, instead of me being responsible. Acrylic (plexiglas) isnot as strong as polycarbonate, but is not so susceptible to stresscracking.Jack -----Original Message-----
Re: Pietenpol-List: Windshield
Original Posted By: ZigoDan(at)aol.com
Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: WindshieldCorky,To each his own, that's the great thing about homebuilts.Dan________________________________________________________________________________
Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: WindshieldCorky,To each his own, that's the great thing about homebuilts.Dan________________________________________________________________________________
Re: Pietenpol-List: another windshield Q
Original Posted By: "Jack Phillips"
Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: another windshield QJack,I know what you mean, my Hipps Reliant has a Lexan windshields and is cracking right around the filler neck area where gas has splashed on it. Makes me wonder if this is the reason most certified windshields are made from Plexiglass?Dan________________________________________________________________________________
Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: another windshield QJack,I know what you mean, my Hipps Reliant has a Lexan windshields and is cracking right around the filler neck area where gas has splashed on it. Makes me wonder if this is the reason most certified windshields are made from Plexiglass?Dan________________________________________________________________________________
RE: Pietenpol-List: Windshield
Original Posted By: owner-pietenpol-list-server(at)matronics.com
Not offensive at all, Corky. My only reason to comment on Lexan was to bevery careful not to spill gasoline on it, or you may not be very happy withthe results.Jack -----Original Message-----
Not offensive at all, Corky. My only reason to comment on Lexan was to bevery careful not to spill gasoline on it, or you may not be very happy withthe results.Jack -----Original Message-----
Re: Pietenpol-List: Windshield
Original Posted By: del magsam
Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: WindshieldThanks Jack,We should, and do, learn something everyday. I hope and Pray that I don't find out something TOO LATE so keep that good stuff acomin.Corky, ready to fly when this rain stops________________________________________________________________________________Date: Sat, 22 Feb 2003 07:43:58 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: WindshieldThanks Jack,We should, and do, learn something everyday. I hope and Pray that I don't find out something TOO LATE so keep that good stuff acomin.Corky, ready to fly when this rain stops________________________________________________________________________________Date: Sat, 22 Feb 2003 07:43:58 -0800 (PST)