See Thru Handplane / Flexible Hull.

General Discussion
1

Alpha build, still obsessed with flexible hulls.

[IMG]http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s225/SURFFOILS/The%20FLYING%20V/March2012027.jpg[/IMG]

2 sticks of wood.

[IMG]http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s225/SURFFOILS/The%20FLYING%20V/March2012029.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s225/SURFFOILS/The%20FLYING%20V/March2012038-1.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s225/SURFFOILS/The%20FLYING%20V/March2012041-1.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s225/SURFFOILS/The%20FLYING%20V/March2012042-1.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s225/SURFFOILS/The%20FLYING%20V/March2012044-1.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s225/SURFFOILS/The%20FLYING%20V/March2012046.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s225/SURFFOILS/The%20FLYING%20V/March2012047.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s225/SURFFOILS/The%20FLYING%20V/March2012052.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s225/SURFFOILS/The%20FLYING%20V/March2012064.jpg[/IMG]

Tail grip for 2nd hand hold.

[IMG]http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s225/SURFFOILS/The%20FLYING%20V/March2012065.jpg[/IMG]

2

Great work SURFFOILS! I love seeing this kind of outside the box thinking…

3

Clear vinyl sheet used for outdoor cafes / bimini windows etc...

[IMG]http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s225/SURFFOILS/The%20FLYING%20V/March2012070.jpg[/IMG]

Perforations around the sides but not the tail.

[IMG]http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s225/SURFFOILS/The%20FLYING%20V/March2012076.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s225/SURFFOILS/The%20FLYING%20V/March2012077-1.jpg[/IMG]

Taped it to a tacky resin coat so the resin rises thru the holes.

[IMG]http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s225/SURFFOILS/The%20FLYING%20V/March2012078-1.jpg[/IMG]

Glassed 2 oz over.

[IMG]http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s225/SURFFOILS/The%20FLYING%20V/March2012079-1.jpg[/IMG]

Set. The whole centre can stretch under water pressure to form a long concave about 1/2 in deep. The tail edge is under tension but is free to concave.

[IMG]http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s225/SURFFOILS/The%20FLYING%20V/March2012082-1.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s225/SURFFOILS/The%20FLYING%20V/March2012086.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s225/SURFFOILS/The%20FLYING%20V/March2012087.jpg[/IMG]

Strap on and ready for  trial surf tomorrow.

4

Awesome plane! I built my first handplane a couple of weeks ago and its been keeping me stoked in this stormy surf we’ve been getting. Looking forward to the ride report

5

tHANKS vERDE, it all went well in the surf this morning,no probs with the overall shape or the PVC hull.

As usual all models are "kid tested" before hitting the surf...

[IMG]http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s225/SURFFOILS/The%20FLYING%20V/March2012009.jpg[/IMG]

 

I started on the beta design when I got home....

Cut out  ply for the perimeter. Looks a bit like the Flying V bodyboards.

I like the pointier nose because it fits the curve of splayed finger tips.

[IMG]http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s225/SURFFOILS/The%20FLYING%20V/March20120032-1.jpg[/IMG]

And started building up the thickness with epoxy and scraps of glass Ive got laying around. Its a great way to use the off cuts rather than chuck them in the bin.

[IMG]http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s225/SURFFOILS/The%20FLYING%20V/March2012012-1.jpg[/IMG]

The plan is to put a curved hand rest to bridge between the arms.

[IMG]http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s225/SURFFOILS/The%20FLYING%20V/March2012004-2.jpg[/IMG]

This will take a few days to get all the layers done and sanded but it will be strong as hell.

6

Thanks tide, heres the 1st plane after a week of solid surfing, the sides are separating from the vinyl hull.

[IMG]http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s225/SURFFOILS/The%20FLYING%20V/MESHFLEX30312012.jpg[/IMG]

 SO I ripped and ground the vinyl off.

[IMG]http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s225/SURFFOILS/The%20FLYING%20V/MESHFLEX30312021.jpg[/IMG]

 Then I was hosing the top of the kids trampoline off and I noticed that the water sheers straight off, so I bought some of the mesh and cut it out.

[IMG]http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s225/SURFFOILS/The%20FLYING%20V/MESHFLEX30312013.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s225/SURFFOILS/The%20FLYING%20V/MESHFLEX30312014.jpg[/IMG]

Taped it in place and resined it to the frame.

[IMG]http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s225/SURFFOILS/The%20FLYING%20V/MESHFLEX30312022.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s225/SURFFOILS/The%20FLYING%20V/MESHFLEX30312025.jpg[/IMG]

 The mesh is called MeshFlex

[IMG]http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s225/SURFFOILS/The%20FLYING%20V/MESHFLEX30312015.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s225/SURFFOILS/The%20FLYING%20V/MESHFLEX30312018.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s225/SURFFOILS/The%20FLYING%20V/MESHFLEX30312016.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s225/SURFFOILS/The%20FLYING%20V/MESHFLEX30312017.jpg[/IMG]

I'll give it the weekend to cure and strengthen and give it a blast on Monday.

7

nice stuff foils,

you're one that sees things in a different light...............my best to you and yours.

herb

ps. if you can get ahold of some polycarbonite sheeting...........that's the stuff to use.

 polycarb fuses to poly resin.

herb

8

Thanks Herb, I was heading down the path of flexible hulls, with a distant plan that a surfcraft could be combination of frame and flexible skin.... it would all roll up in a small bag, just connect the frame pieces together, pull the flexible skin over top and bottom, and its done.

 The flexible materials I use at the moment start as a flat for speed at takeoff but under water pressure they form into a concave or double concave.

 I just need to put a central upright runner in here to turn the single concave into a double concave.

[IMG]http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s225/SURFFOILS/The%20FLYING%20V/March2012082-1-1.jpg[/IMG]

The magic of the mesh will be that it allows air and water to pass thru..so I could work towards a craft that also has no inherent bouyancy but could hold an amount of air under itself that can pass out the mesh hull. Ergo regulated bouyancy.

Just a matter of what happens when its tested......

9

I put the 'stringer' in...

[IMG]http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s225/SURFFOILS/The%20FLYING%20V/April4412034.jpg[/IMG]

It runs half way up the plane.

[IMG]http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s225/SURFFOILS/The%20FLYING%20V/April4412035.jpg[/IMG]

Under pressure the mesh forms a single concave at the front ..

[IMG]http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s225/SURFFOILS/The%20FLYING%20V/April4412036.jpg[/IMG]

and a double concave in the tail....

[IMG]http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s225/SURFFOILS/The%20FLYING%20V/April4412037.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s225/SURFFOILS/The%20FLYING%20V/April4412038.jpg[/IMG]

Went for an hour surf with it today and I cant feel any negatives with the Meshflex Vs a solid hull. It didnt feel any slower or any different so Im going to use the mesh on the next version handplane.

 I'll keep testing this first version as the 2nd built continues....

 Its interesting to know that a flexible mesh can perform the same as a solid hull, it opens up a few possibilities for new ideas...

10

...yeeehaaaawww !

 

 keep it coming , Brett !....and I'm sure a bigger craft will be 'in the pipeline' soon , so to speak ...

 

 

can you give someone a go it and get some photos / vid of it in action , please ?  [maybe I could give you Kim's address in Queenscliff, so you can introduce yourselves , and have a few good surfs together ... I reckon he'd give it a go ! [possibly at bower or deadmans , too...he's pretty darn fearless , Kim !]

 

  cheers !

 

  ben

11

What happened to the bellyboard version? Ready to let us know of your findings yet?

12

Just a few build pics.

Its made of a perimeter frame and a central hand support, all in glass/ Innegra.

[IMG]http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s225/SURFFOILS/The%20FLYING%20V/Image000-2.jpg[/IMG]

I put in a foam palm rest as an ergonomic feature and it also gives a bit of positive bouyancy.

[IMG]http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s225/SURFFOILS/The%20FLYING%20V/Image004-2.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s225/SURFFOILS/The%20FLYING%20V/Image009-1.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s225/SURFFOILS/The%20FLYING%20V/Image010-1.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s225/SURFFOILS/The%20FLYING%20V/Image002-3.jpg[/IMG]

Joined the 2 conponents with CSM

[IMG]http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s225/SURFFOILS/The%20FLYING%20V/Image011-2.jpg[/IMG]

And sanded it fair.

[IMG]http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s225/SURFFOILS/The%20FLYING%20V/Image012-1.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s225/SURFFOILS/The%20FLYING%20V/Image017-1.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s225/SURFFOILS/The%20FLYING%20V/Image024-1.jpg[/IMG]

Because its a Single to Double Concave I glassed in a central beam under the palm support.

[IMG]http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s225/SURFFOILS/The%20FLYING%20V/Image020-1.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s225/SURFFOILS/The%20FLYING%20V/Image021-1.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s225/SURFFOILS/The%20FLYING%20V/Image023-1.jpg[/IMG]

And applied a few coats of Scarlet Red.

[IMG]http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s225/SURFFOILS/The%20FLYING%20V/Image028.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s225/SURFFOILS/The%20FLYING%20V/Image030.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s225/SURFFOILS/The%20FLYING%20V/Image032.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s225/SURFFOILS/The%20FLYING%20V/Image036.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s225/SURFFOILS/The%20FLYING%20V/Image035.jpg[/IMG]

 The perimeter shape fits the outline of my spread fingers.

[IMG]http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s225/SURFFOILS/The%20FLYING%20V/Image001-3.jpg[/IMG]

 And the palm rest fits perfectly.

[IMG]http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s225/SURFFOILS/The%20FLYING%20V/Image002-4.jpg[/IMG]

The underside is sprayed matt black and the clear flexible hull is resined on.

Should have some finished pics next week.

[IMG]http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s225/SURFFOILS/The%20FLYING%20V/Image034.jpg[/IMG]

 

 

13

wow that thing is insane ! 

 

  a lot of work for a bodysurfing device ,

 

  but

 

  also a really nice outline for a mini pope's hat ? [....or , Cromwell's knights' headgear , perhaps ? ]

 

   possibly  lined with double layers of foil inside to stop the alien messages disturbing your meditative crystal voyaging tube rides , brett ?

 

  cheers !

 

  ben

 

wish I could be there to document its launching ...where are you going to surf it , out the front of your place ?

14

 Thanks for the props Ben, I thought it was a lot of work for a bodysurfing device too but its a one-off and it has unique features so it will be in constant use when the waves are appealling. And its something unique to keep and pass on to the boys.

 I loaned it to a friend 2 weeks ago and he wants me to make one for him or I dont get mine back.... Bastard !    Im not making another one.

 I noticed that It does look like a medieval helmet too.

15

 With the top done I sprayed the underside black.

[IMG]http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s225/SURFFOILS/The%20FLYING%20V/Image008-3.jpg[/IMG]

 And taped the vinyl flexible skin to the frame and then used epoxy resin to make a mechanical bond between the frame and the flexible hull.

[IMG]http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s225/SURFFOILS/The%20FLYING%20V/Image016-2.jpg[/IMG]

After the first coat I sanded the resin peaks flat and now its smooth.

[IMG]http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s225/SURFFOILS/The%20FLYING%20V/Image020-2.jpg[/IMG]

With the hand strap I didnt want to drill holes thru the frame so I planned to have a 2 piece strap that wraps around the 'arms' of the hand support.

[IMG]http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s225/SURFFOILS/The%20FLYING%20V/Image021-2.jpg[/IMG]

The strap is custom fit so that it holds my hand against the support and I dont need to 'bridge' my fingers for it to feel snug.

[IMG]http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s225/SURFFOILS/The%20FLYING%20V/Image022-2.jpg[/IMG]

It feels more like a custom camera hand grip.

[IMG]http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s225/SURFFOILS/The%20FLYING%20V/Image026-2.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s225/SURFFOILS/The%20FLYING%20V/Image027-2.jpg[/IMG]

Release mechanism is a single button release.

[IMG]http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s225/SURFFOILS/The%20FLYING%20V/Image028-1.jpg[/IMG] 

[IMG]http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s225/SURFFOILS/The%20FLYING%20V/Image021-2.jpg[/IMG]

  Next up, ride report.

 

 

16

Still making handplanes.
After a few really cool versions I went bananas last week.
The Hand ( Plane) of Bananas.

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