The Charger plans call for "MAH PLY" for building the ribs: 1/16" for rib gussets, and 1/4" for the noses. There's also some 1/8" thrown in there in a few places, such as under the fuel tanks in the top wings.
Aircraft Spruce (and presumably Wicks) will sell me mahogany plywood in the correct thicknesses, and certified to MIL-P-6070. I've located a local company that will sell me "mahogany plywood" in the 1/8" and 1/4" thicknesses (no 1/16" available) for about 1/10th the cost of ACS's ply. I haven't seen the local ply yet, so I don't know exactly what it is. It was simply described as mahogany plywood of the particular thickness.
My question is, is the ACS plywood worth the cost? I suspect that the local ply is not up to the standard I want to follow for aircraft-grade anything; the cost is too low, and makes me think the "aircraft" qualities (such as waterproofness and fireproofness of glues) won't be there. But I also consider the real-world situation, and think to myself that any mahogany ply I can find now is likely to be higher quality, specifically with better lamination technique and glues, than anything Ed Marquart could have gotten in 1968.
I am interested in getting the correct materials for the project, but I'm also interested in not blowing hundreds of dollars on shipping and a 10x price premium for no actual benefit to the plane. I'm not trying to be a skinflint, I'm just trying to make sure I'm spending money on the right things, and you guys are the best experts on a question like this.
Aircraft Spruce (and presumably Wicks) will sell me mahogany plywood in the correct thicknesses, and certified to MIL-P-6070. I've located a local company that will sell me "mahogany plywood" in the 1/8" and 1/4" thicknesses (no 1/16" available) for about 1/10th the cost of ACS's ply. I haven't seen the local ply yet, so I don't know exactly what it is. It was simply described as mahogany plywood of the particular thickness.
My question is, is the ACS plywood worth the cost? I suspect that the local ply is not up to the standard I want to follow for aircraft-grade anything; the cost is too low, and makes me think the "aircraft" qualities (such as waterproofness and fireproofness of glues) won't be there. But I also consider the real-world situation, and think to myself that any mahogany ply I can find now is likely to be higher quality, specifically with better lamination technique and glues, than anything Ed Marquart could have gotten in 1968.
I am interested in getting the correct materials for the project, but I'm also interested in not blowing hundreds of dollars on shipping and a 10x price premium for no actual benefit to the plane. I'm not trying to be a skinflint, I'm just trying to make sure I'm spending money on the right things, and you guys are the best experts on a question like this.
