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  • Developer
    Mark Colwell June 20, 2010 at 10:59am
    NS, Mine is nice EPP foam!
    Manufacture is now packing new SkyWalkers with old EPS plane parts, busted up to fit around rudder & tail boom.
  • 3D Robotics
    Chris Anderson June 20, 2010 at 10:33am
    NS, Hooks was referring to the first version of the plane, which was made with EPP, which as you note is inadequate. The plane is now made with much superior EPO. Practically unbreakable in my experience.
  • Dan Smithson June 20, 2010 at 10:32am
    I sure like to purchase a set of these...
  • Rana June 20, 2010 at 10:23am
    Hi Hooks !
    EPS is certainly not very good foam and that is for such a big airframe Skywalker.
    How much it will cost in Elpar ?

    EPS:
    This foam is easy to cut, fairly easy to sand, fairly rigid, fairly brittle (cracks easily) and not very durable. If you press your fingernail into it, it will leave a permanent crease. If you hold a very small piece over a match, it will just collapse and dissappear. Regular CA glue will melt this foam, as will some types of spray adhesives and spray paints.


    EPP (Elpar):
    EPP is flexible foam that is used as a packing material for delicate electronic parts. It is also used in the bumpers of some automobiles. It is a rubbery material that is light in weight, yet very durable.

    EPP is available in 1.3# and 1.9# densities. EPP is used in the modeling world for combat gliders that need a high degree of durability. Since EPP is not a rigid foam, most all EPP gliders use fiberglass, carbon fiber, or spruce spars for stiffness.
  • Moderator
    Robert Krogh (hooks) June 20, 2010 at 9:30am
    Mark I think it's a great way to modify the bird.

    I'm looking on the possibilities to make the belly pan from Vacuum moulding in 2mm ABS. This should cut the price.
  • Developer
    Mark Colwell June 20, 2010 at 9:10am
    Hooks these are beautiful upgrades, but price is the issue for me, I will add carbon spar in rudder post and wrap with nylon fabric then coat with WSPU,
  • Moderator
    Robert Krogh (hooks) June 20, 2010 at 3:19am
    Hi all
    @ Chris I'm glad you like it.

    I'm not sure factory will ever make the reinforcement for the Skywalker. :-( and if they will produce it, it would be in same material as the PVC canopy. Not just what I expected.

    Making this reinforcement in FG or Kevlar takes some work and afford. So if I'm not going to make it in numbers it would probably cost around 60-80 UDS. (NO one would pay 60 USD for a little painted FG or Kevlar).

    I sold a few to costumers for 35 $. (but I can't produce these covers and at the same time have a little profit) sorry.

    @Rena Yes I made a complete Mold from the EPS foam (first version) but I'm not going to make any full FG copy ;-)

    You can make it your self feel free to ask any Questions.

    Hooks
  • Teejay June 20, 2010 at 12:27am
    Wow! And my Skywalker just arrived at the post office. ;)

    Looking forward to this nice add-on.
  • Admin
    Morli June 19, 2010 at 9:34pm
    Two complete halves will defeat the purpose of foam body. Instead you might buy a FG fuselage it self if some one makes it.
  • 3D Robotics
    Chris Anderson June 19, 2010 at 9:25pm
    Remember, there's a large carbon fiber rod going down the middle of the fuselage to the tail. I think it's pretty solid as it is.
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