A Visual History
The Building of Aslan
Finishing the Topsides
Updated 07/12/00
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The port openings were "rough cut" with a jig saw, requiring some finishing before I start glassing the topsides.  Port rings are installed inside, and coated with a liberal dose of Bondo.  The Bondo also fills the rough cut edges, with the port rings providing the necessary "guide" to roundness.  Sanding the Bondo off the interior is a piece of 
Aslan is turned over and ready for glassing.  The cloth is rolled out and trimmed, then the "dry fit" technique is used.  I like this technique -- you smooth out the glass over the surface as accurately as you can, then pour the epoxy over it (a few ounces at a time) and work the epoxy into the cloth to fully wet it out.
Once the epoxy is put on the glass, it is nearly invisible. The first coat of epoxy is probably the most important, as you want to make sure it saturates the cloth, but doesn't form "puddles" underneath it that you'll have to grind away later.
The process is repeated on the cabin top, with the glass fitted at left and smoothed down, and then nearly invisible after the first coat at right.


 
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