JaJo Posted December 11, 2022 Share Posted December 11, 2022 Wonder if I'm at the right place for my question. Have build the Swenson Storch many moons ago and has flown many times,( not electric ) but some times things can go wrong like my last flight, result a crash. Fuselage broken. She is back in one piece again, but the windshield broken, is there anyone out there that can help me, I need a new wind shield, can some one help please, what ever the cost. Thank you Joop jarens @casema.nl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kc Posted December 11, 2022 Share Posted December 11, 2022 Welcome to the forum. You have not mentioned the size of your Storch - is it the 95 inch one shown on the Outerzone plan? It is possible that the original kit maker still has the mould. I believe the kits were made in Spain at one time and also in another European country but it wasn't England as far as I know. Canopies and windscreen mouldings can often be obtained from Vortex Vacform and they may be able to form a special one from your mould. Many British plans from RCME etc had the canopies supplied by either Vortex or Sarik. There are lots of articles on moulding canopies and some simple techniques using hot air guns to form plastic bottles etc to make canopies. The Storch appears to have fairly flat panels so perhaps it might be possible form a complete panel or just the broken part with a simple mould and a hot air gun. Saving the damaged windscreen, whatever the condition, might assist to make a mould for a new one. Some people have used the old canopy or cowl filled with plaster to make the mould for a new one. Others make a balsa shape for mould. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kc Posted December 11, 2022 Share Posted December 11, 2022 Somewhere on this forum there is some info on using soft drink bottles to mould windscreens using a hot air gun. I think they used 2 litre lemonade bottles. As the material is free you could experiment a lot! You might also see the expert way to make the windscreen and the over wing part in Danny Fenton's Auster thread which seems to use flat plastic just bent to shape using lots of patience. The material used seems to come from DB Sport & Scale Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Walby Posted December 11, 2022 Share Posted December 11, 2022 Don't forget SLEC have a range of canopies and cowls, might be worth giving them a call. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EarlyBird Posted December 12, 2022 Share Posted December 12, 2022 7 hours ago, Chris Walby said: Don't forget SLEC have a range of canopies and cowls, might be worth giving them a call. Also Clear Rigid PVC (slecuk.com) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JaJo Posted December 12, 2022 Author Share Posted December 12, 2022 Thank you Gentleman for you advice, I have just mailed "Vortex Vacform " about the windshield, the model was supplied by Swenson is 95”, the problem is that Swenson does not exist any more and I don't know if any other company that sell the same size Fiesler. JaJo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JaJo Posted December 12, 2022 Author Share Posted December 12, 2022 Vortex, no succes, same for SLEC, waiting for other advice please. Joop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Fraser Posted December 12, 2022 Share Posted December 12, 2022 (edited) I'm in a similar situation. I'm planning on finishing this airframe for next summer and need the front windshield and the cowling. I'll probably end up making a mould next year. Marty Edited December 12, 2022 by Martin Fraser Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kc Posted December 12, 2022 Share Posted December 12, 2022 Marty. Looks like you could have a customer for another cowl if you can get Vortex to produce a couple from your mould! ( note that Joop seems to be in Holland from his email address ) Problem solved? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Fraser Posted December 12, 2022 Share Posted December 12, 2022 10 minutes ago, kc said: Marty. Looks like you could have a customer for another cowl if you can get Vortex to produce a couple from your mould! ( note that Joop seems to be in Holland from his email address ) Problem solved? Not yet! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin Fraser Posted August 2, 2023 Share Posted August 2, 2023 (edited) Hi folks, I’ve had this Storch hanging over me for quite a while now and I thought it was time I needed to do something with it on behalf of my late friends widow. Last year, I had thought of making some moulds to form a cowling and windscreen. However, it’s a bit smaller than the Swenson’s 95” model being only 85” span. I looked everywhere in my friends hangar for a plan or kit box but found nothing to identify it. Also, I have developed a very severe reaction to epoxy resin so moulding is now a no-no. So I’ve formed a cowling out of light ply and the windscreen is from 0.5mm PETG. First I made a card template and then cut the PETG to shape. Using a heated piece of steel I creased it to form the main facets. The top triangle is a separate piece bonded on using Shoo Goo. The Storch is not far off from flight testing but I’m wondering if the motor is man enough. It’s an Overlander T50/45 860w. On 6s and a 14x6 prop it makes a fair bit of wind but will it haul 4.4kg of aircraft aloft? Cheers, Marty P.S. Apologies if I cant offer a windscreen to Joop. Edited August 2, 2023 by Martin Fraser photo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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