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For newcomers: in months past there was a discussion of alternative counterweight construction.  One method I used and reported on was powdered/granular tungsten mixed with epoxy to make a mixture like wet beach sand that can be packed in place.  Density is about the same as lead (tungsten being much heavier than lead specific gravity of about 16 compared to lead at 11).  Several sources of powdered tungsten are available and should be listed in the archives.  You can use plaster of Paris molds without difficulty, breaking the plaster of Paris off the counterweight after the epoxy has cured.  The counterweight must be ground to final shape with a grinding wheel since the tungsten is so tough (grains tear out of the epoxy when ground upon), so you want to be close to final shape when forming the counterweight.  I poured a pre-weighed mix in the elevator cavity, and pre-molded the aileron weights which were bonded in place with 2 BID.

Fred Moreno

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