From: "dimple_kwok" <henry.kwok@...>
Date: Thursday, May 29, 2003 3:35 AM
Subject: Help with rib production?
Date: Thursday, May 29, 2003 3:35 AM
Subject: Help with rib production?
I think I will try to make the parts myself, since this will be good
exercise anyway. I would appreciate it if you can give me some
pointers, since this is my 1st scratch built (I fly EPP slopers).
I actually have made 1 set of wing but I am really unhappy about it
so I am going to remake it. The problems I have encountered are:
1. The notch for the LE dowel - how can I cut this accurately?
Inaccuracies have led to the dowel not sitting on the same horizontal
plane) with the spar (is this normal?) and one of the ribs needing
some lengthening for it to reach the LE. I presume if properly made
the LE, spar and TE will lie on the same horizontal plane? The crappy
wing set I have is obviously twisted.
2. The root rib dihedral angle. At first glance it appears simple but
once the two wing halves are made the two sides don't seem to meet
each other too well. I tried to sand the root rib with a block / bar
sander but really the results are not too good. I wonder what are the
tricks necessary to achieve a perfect wing joint with the right
dihedral. What's worst, when I was trying to sand the wing halves I
manage to damage them - hence new set of wings needed.
3. Related to 2 - I guess problem 2 can be solved if I can cut
correct bevels top and bottom of the root rib? But how can that be
achieved?
4. Wing center sheeting. Because of W1 being slanted the sheeting
does not want to sit flat esp in the front part.
5. It may sound silly but how do you keep the ribs parallel during
your construction, esp during the LE glueing?
6. What tool do you use to cut that perfect lightening hole in the
wing tip? Also would a laminate of 2 1/16" tip works better than a
single 1/8" tip?
I think if I am not too picky most of the above problems will
probably be ok as long as they are symmetrical, except the center
wing joint which I just cannot get right!
Thanks for any suggestions
Henry