Brodhead Pietenpol Association

Original Posted By: "Jack Phillips"
I have thought about this long and hard before asking this question trying to avoidthe humility an obvious answer would cause me but here goes. Is there anyreason you cant use plywood for the turtle deck? It would seem that 1/16 plywouldn't be any heavier than 11 spruce stringers and without trying I also wouldn'tthink that bending 1/16 ply around the turtle deck supports would be impossible.I have not totally married myself to this idea but would just like theopinions of the experts who have all pulled there hair out during turtle deckconstruction before me.Thanks, Fred Kim Pittsburgh, PaRead this topic online here:http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.p ... __________

Original Posted By: owner-pietenpol-list-server(at)matronics.com
Fred,You could probably do it, but I doubt it would have the strength neededwithout the stringers underneath it. The turtledeck takes considerableabuse since you pretty much have to sit your butt on it to get into the rearcockpit. I think in order to have the necessary strength, you would end uphaving the stringers anyway, and that would be quite a bit heavier. I putsome plywood in that area on top of the stringers just to reinforce it forentry and egress from the cockpit. See photo below (you can see thescalloped plywood on top of the stringers just aft of the rear seat):It can certainly be done. I believe Dick Navratil's Rotec Radial poweredPietenpol has a plywood turtledeck, but it also weighs over 800 lbs (not aproblem when you have 120 hp available).Turtledeck construction is not difficult - it just requires a little thoughtbefore you start cutting spruce.Jack PhillipsNX899JPSmith Mountain Lake, Virginia-----Original Message-----

Original Posted By: "C N Campbell"
Good question, Fred. You'll get lots of answers. Here's mine:I think 1/16" plywood might be difficult to get the shape you want. 1mm ply isthinner, if my math's right, and probably easier to manipulate.I think the fabric covered turtle deck might be more durable. Stuff bounces offthat fabric. Stuff might not bounce off think plywood.I didn't find the turtledeck to be particularly traumatic. I suspect you're rightabout the weights being a wash.--------Kevin "Axel" PurteeNX899KPAustin/Georgetown, TXRead this topic online here:http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.p ... __________