Sewing in ZP/F111 fabric - need help! =D

[lilchief 1]

I was contacted by the local science museum in my town. They asked me if I could make them Leanoardo DaVinci's parachute out of ZP. Since I'm a rigger trainee full of ego, I said "sure thing, me fix", and now I'm going to sew for the first time in ZP...or maybe it's f111. I'll butcher a WILDFIRE canopy, DOM 88 and use it's fabric.

My plan is to cut the stiches separating the topskin, and cut out triangles from cell sections. Then sew them together, forming the pyramid shape of DaVinci's canopy.

I don't have a hotknife but I've got a pretty good sewingmachine(single needle, don't recall it's name) I think.

Should I just cut the fabric with a heated/cold sharp knife/scissors? or add some glue at the ends, use an iron on the ends or something similar to avoid the fabric to frey?

all help is good help here =D

"Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been and there you long to return." - Da Vinci
www.lilchief.no

[riggermick 7]

Wildfire is F111. If you have a soldering iron file the tip down to a point and use a metal or wood straight edge to cut with. It'll do in a pinch.

Mick.

[JayhawkJumper 0]

How big do you need it to be?

Instead of cutting up a canopy, you could just order some ZP from PD for $10/yard.

[lilchief 1]

each side of the triangle panel needs to be approx 24,4 inches.

I didn't know that you could order ZP from PD. But I need this done by next weekend, and I'm in norway hehe...

"Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been and there you long to return." - Da Vinci
www.lilchief.no

[JayhawkJumper 0]

Another option for fabric would be to get some ripstop nylon from a fabric store. It's not really parachute fabric but it looks like it.

And I think all manufacturers sell their fabric if you have one near you.

[darkwing 5]

If it is going in a museum I'd buy some new fabric and do it right. Is there a reason it actually has to be made from real, modern canopy fabric?

-- Jeff
My Skydiving History

[lilchief 1]

The objective with this model, is to show kids that different shapes and area(sq/ft) on different parachutemodels will affect the rate of decent. The kids among some math people will make some calculations and see if they may anticipate the rate of decent or something similar. I've already proved them with 3 PC, one 32-33" springloaded without the spring, one 32-33" PC F111, and one 26-28"ish ZP PC. They asked if it was possible to get a ram-air, but they realised that it was impossible when I started laughing

They wanted DaVinci's model, but I\m not sure as to why, other then history meets modern technology. If they wanted it in a monitor for display, I'd provided a tailor with the fabric and said "go!" :) I'm not near capable of putting it together that nice.

I just finished making the pyramid shape of a downscaled prototype of the parachute. I'll reinforce the edges and put a cap on the top and then I'm done. I'm glad I made a smaller prototype, there where a couple of aha's on the way hehe
To morrow I'll be doing some calculations on the angles and sides to make it perfect, and sunday I'll be doing it for real. I'll also find some pictures or drawings of the real thing to make it as realistic as possible.


Thanks of all the help so far. If some of you knows anything else that may help me, please tell me. I'd really appreciate it.

"Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been and there you long to return." - Da Vinci
www.lilchief.no