How to make new spats

[tnowak]

I have two fibre glass spats on my Piper Vagabond but they are very heavy. They weigh 8 lb each.
I want to make new lightweight replacements and can use my existing spats for mould purposes.

I have no experience regarding modern composites and what would be the best materials to use.
I suspect that carbon fibre would be the lightest and strongest but suspect the construction techniques would be beyond my capabilities etc.

Where do I start? Any good references books (or experts) available?
Tony

[Ian Melville]

Barry Conway would be the man I would make a bee-line for.

We have the same spats on our PA17 (prob 90 off the same mold) I've left them off for now, partly because of the weight.

[Richard Mole]

Hello Tony,

you have posted some helpful replies to some of my earlier posts so it's great to be able to reciprocate.

On YouTube you will find Mike Arnold's 'Moldless low-drag wheel pants'.
Its about an hour long and a wonderful primer on making wheel spats.
I gather you have some old spats so perhaps you won't need all the tips and techniques that Mike shows for the moldless approach - but actually all of the video is really inspiring and motivating.
Of course its only one source of information and no doubt others will be needed to help with carbon rather than glass fibre.

PS I used this video when making G-TREK's fibre glass spats over two decades ago when, like you, I had pretty much zilch experience of composite work.

PPS Mike made a few videos and they are all of the same high standard.

[tnowak]

Hi Richard/Ian,

Thanks for the replies. I will have a look at the YouTube video and see what is involved.
Tony