Champ Fuselage recover method

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Eric Brown

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Belle Plaine, Mn
Does anyone NOT use the envelope method for recovering their fuselage ?? Has anyone tried using the blanket method with 72" width fabric ? If you have, could you offer some tips ?
 
Eric,

The fuselage is done at the factory with a blanket along the bottom and then two side panels stitched down the middle. You can buy the side panels stitched together from ACA, I'm not sure what they charge.
 
Eric Brown said:
Does anyone NOT use the envelope method for recovering their fuselage ?? Has anyone tried using the blanket method with 72" width fabric ? If you have, could you offer some tips ?
Click to expand...
Without an envelope of some sort you'll have to find a covering method that allows making a seam over a non-structual member like a stringer.
Otherwise the distance from right longeron to the left longeron over the top of the fuselage is just too far away...
Chris
 
stewart systems' adhesive allows a 1" overlap seam without supporting structure under it. i believe this would work to join the two side panels on the top/middle of thw fuselage but i am guessing that seam would be a challenge to transition into the leading edge of the vertical stab.
 
Well guys, here's what I'm going to do. Yes, ACA sells their sown together blanket for $472. A bit more than I had anticipating on spending, but to avoid complications and compromises, I'll spend the money.
Thanks for your input.
 
I typed this before your decision, so ignore - but use care to hide those seams.

Might check with the factory. If they use lapped seams on stringers, you can, too.
I have never understood why a seam on a longeron is ok, but not on a non-structural stringer. I have only covered Cubs and one Taylorcraft, and all I can tell you is I avoid sewn seams except for repairs in the propwash. Really difficult to hide seams.
 
IMO it is an experience thing. If you have done enough of these to figure out your own method, then go for it. But if you are new to it, probably worth the extra dough to use the factory materials and methods. They have had plenty of practice and should know the most foolproof approach.

I'm going through the same logic on my project. Considered saving a few hundred bucks and cutting my own formers. But ultimately decided it was worth buying the factory formers. One less variable.
 
My original plan was to glue the fuselage side blankets to the lower longerons and the upper wood stringers, shrink the side blankets without distorting the stringers then lay on the top blanket and attach to the side blankets with a 1" overlap and 3" surface tape and continue to shrink as needed. In essence creating a doped on large blanket .
Technical problem: ............ If you are recovering "in accordance with" the Ceconite procedure manual 101, as required by the STC, you may only glue to a structural member. We sure wouldn't want to be in violation of the STC, now would we.
 
Yes, but doesn't the Ceconite manual let you use factory attachment as a basis? If the factory covered using stringers as a seam point, you can too.

Opinion, since I am not looking at the manual.
 
Factory service manual for 72-79 Bellanca Decathlon:

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I believe Bart has posted the ACA covering process elsewhere on this forum, and it has the same specification.
 
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