Many years ago I used to fly and restore antique aircraft. We sometimes primed the fabric with nitrate dope. I am wondering if painting the paper cartridges with this dope would make them far more combustible? Has anyone tried this? I do think it would waterproof the cartridge.
Clint Lovell - Forrest's Escort Company
Lt. General Richard Taylor Camp No. 1308 - SCV
Dip a few paper tubes in the dope, let it dry, burn it, then tell us about it. I use nitrated 25% cotton patch paper from Buffalo Arms, and burns up real well.
I did exactly that last night. I was using curler paper for the tube construction and it was totally consumed. Actually a better burn than the nitrated primary tablet paper tubes I have rolled in the past. The dope does harden and waterproof the cartridge. I also use it on the end papers when using Charlie Hahn's tubes.
Clint Lovell - Forrest's Escort Company
Lt. General Richard Taylor Camp No. 1308 - SCV
Just curious why prime the fabric with a nitrate dope? I think that would make it highly flammable.
In the early days of aviation nitrate dope was all they has. They developed butyrate dope to reduce the flammability. The nitrate dope, IIRC, provides a better adhesion to the cotton fabric though, so for durability they would prime with nitrate then use butyrate over the top of the nitrate to provide the flame retardance, yet retain the best adhesion. At any rate, that was what the oldtimers told me, back when I wasn't one. LOL!
Clint Lovell - Forrest's Escort Company
Lt. General Richard Taylor Camp No. 1308 - SCV
I remember Pete Bowers mentioning that in one of his presentations.
Clint thanks for answering my question. I am now one of those old timers. But your never to old to learn something new. I know that fire and ice are a pilots worst nightmare.
That stuff sure use to smell nice. I use to work with fabric on Navy C-117d (R4D-8), and on C-45 (SNBs) in McHales Navy. Had to use the back of my blue chambray work shirt, for an emergency patch on the starboard aileron, once cause the Air Force base we flew into dropped a fuel nozzle thru it, and they didn't have any patch material on the base. after that I always had some cloth with us on a flight. AHH the good ole days.
If I remember correctly, Ours was acyrilic nitro cellulose lacquer. The reason they use dope , is cause it shrinks quite a bit when it is drying, and that pulls the fabric tight. We use to use a tensiometer, to test the tension of the fabric. Then we had to patch the test hole.
Rebel Dave
Past Member 14th Mississippi
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