Getting rid of a fiberlass "hump"

[toddosborne]

I just installed the fiberglass tip on my vertical stabilizer. When drilling and fitting everything was great. When I installed it, it looks like a hole must have gotten a little out of place because now there is a "hump" in the fairing between the back of the rear spar and the first hole in the tip extension. I really don't want to take the skin off to figure out the problem, and not terribly confident I'd be able to fix it anyway without replacing at least the tip extension. Is there a better way to basically shrink the fiberglass? Heat? Cut a small section out with a dremel and patch it? Thanks,

Todd

[Rynoth]

I'm having trouble envisioning your problem without looking at a picture. My first thought is that you add some glass to the inside of the piece behind the hump (to maintain thickness), then sand away material on the outside to remove the hump.

[toddosborne]

I should have included a picture to begin with :-) Here it is, hopefully this will help.

[mike.smith]

Fiberglass is pretty magical stuff. You can make it do just about anything. You could cut out a narrow "V" to get rid of the hump, then add some fiberglass to the back, add filler at the cut, then sand and paint.

[Bryan Cotton]

I bet you don't even need a V - a cut would probably do it.

[toddosborne]

I suspect you are correct. I think I will try a cut first and if that doesn't work, a V. The patch should be small and after a coat of paint should disappear. Thanks all!

[Rynoth]

I really like your shade of blue!

[toddosborne]

Thanks, me too! It is actually just Rustoleum Metallic Blue, about $5 per can, but looks great. Just spray when the humidity is LOW! Later on I will buff it and apply a clearcoat. Hopefully it will last, but if not, cheap to respray :)