painted airtight window screen as a "surface"

[Allan Morrison]

Anybody tried to use painted airtight windowscreen(fiberglass or
nylon?)as a flat surface covering material?

I have looked at (via google) various aircraft covering materials(some
brandname)and am not impressed with their costs, their "painting"
requirements (labor+++), their mechanical toughness or their local
availability.

After installation probably two coats of paint would provide an
airtight surface

OR

the window screen could be painted on a flat polyethylene surface, let
dry and then installed.

Since the screen is so thin, two layers (one grid oriented 45 degrees
to the other) would provide a very strong and tough surface.

Any opinions? TIA.

[Charlie]

Allan Morrison wrote:
> Anybody tried to use painted airtight windowscreen(fiberglass or
> nylon?)as a flat surface covering material?
>
> I have looked at (via google) various aircraft covering materials(some
> brandname)and am not impressed with their costs, their "painting"
> requirements (labor+++), their mechanical toughness or their local
> availability.
>
> After installation probably two coats of paint would provide an
> airtight surface
>
> OR
>
> the window screen could be painted on a flat polyethylene surface, let
> dry and then installed.
>
> Since the screen is so thin, two layers (one grid oriented 45 degrees
> to the other) would provide a very strong and tough surface.
>
> Any opinions? TIA.


1 extremely unlikely that window screen is as strong per pound as
typical a/c covering

2 totally unknown quality control of the screen

3 enough paint to fill the openings in a screen that's designed to pass
air is going to be very heavy

Tedlar (sp?), a more or less UV proof plastic sheet, was used to cover
some ultralites a couple of decades ago.

if weight is no object, Tyvek house wrap looks interesting but if you
intend to put humans in the plane you didn't hear that here.

[Morgans]

"Charlie" > wrote

> if weight is no object, Tyvek house wrap looks interesting but if you
> intend to put humans in the plane you didn't hear that here.

Tyvek does not hold up to UV indefinitely, and would need further UV
protection. I wouldn't trust my golden butt in it.

Now, someone will pipe up and say that it has been done. Fine, but not by
me.
--
Jim in NC

[Charlie]

Morgans wrote:
> "Charlie" > wrote
>
>
>>if weight is no object, Tyvek house wrap looks interesting but if you
>>intend to put humans in the plane you didn't hear that here.
>
>
> Tyvek does not hold up to UV indefinitely, and would need further UV
> protection. I wouldn't trust my golden butt in it.
>
> Now, someone will pipe up and say that it has been done. Fine, but not by
> me.
Uhhhh... that's what I was trying to say. Perhaps I was too subtle.

"if you intend to put humans in the plane you didn't hear that here."

BTW, none of the certified a/c fabrics will stand up to uv either unless
they are properly protected.

Charlie