Wing Finishing Advice

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r1200gsDave
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Wing Finishing Advice

Post by r1200gsDave »

Hey Folks, I am seeking some advice on finishing my wings.

What kind of material should I use on the leading edge? I have heard of a poster board and thin plywood.

Also I have heard that you should put flax where the rib meets the spar.

Can someone please elaborate on that?

Thanks in advance

Dave
r1200gsDave
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Re: Wing Finishing Advice

Post by r1200gsDave »

Here are a couple of pictures of my wings on the wing rack I made.
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r1200gsDave
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Re: Wing Finishing Advice

Post by r1200gsDave »

Second picture
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gseiter
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Re: Wing Finishing Advice

Post by gseiter »

When I built my Horizon II I used 1/16" plywood and scarfed the joints which I had over a rib. I "pre rolled" the leading edge over some PVC pipe after soaking it overnight then letting it dry. It came out well and still holding up some 15 years later. I've haven't heard of a poster board leading edge(doesn't mean some haven't done it). I also haven't heard about flax on the rib/spar joint. Some folks put a coating of varnish or something like that over all the wood to keep too much moisture out and help maintain an acceptable level of moisture inside.
EAB4
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Re: Wing Finishing Advice

Post by EAB4 »

Why would you not use the 1/16th ply the plans call for?
r1200gsDave
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Re: Wing Finishing Advice

Post by r1200gsDave »

Letramax 2000 is the product another builder told me about years ago.

https://www.rexart.com/bai_letramax_2000.html
r1200gsDave
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Re: Wing Finishing Advice

Post by r1200gsDave »

Here is a photograph of the flocked ribs. Herb Rose is the builder who recommended I do this. It worked great. I mixed some cotton flock with the glue and worked it under the colstrip with a putty knife. Then made a 45 degree fitting on each side. It really stiffened it all up.
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Bill Church
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Re: Wing Finishing Advice

Post by Bill Church »

1/16" Aircraft Ply for the leading edge.

I didn't understand your original comment about the need to "put flax where the rib meets the spar". Now that I see your photo I understand what you were referring to ... but I also don't understand why it would be needed. This is not a structural joint. Some builders use a small nail, as shown in the plans, to hold the ribs in position. Others choose to use a small dab of epoxy. Some use a small nail and a dab of epoxy. And some don't even attach the ribs to the spars (they will be firmly held in position by ribstitching). So, since there is no structural need for the fillet of thickened epoxy, all you're doing is adding unnecessary weight. Not a huge amount of weight, but it's there, and it's not needed. Then there's the time spent mixing the epoxy, and applying it ... in 240 places.

Bill C.
r1200gsDave
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Re: Wing Finishing Advice

Post by r1200gsDave »

Varnish applied. Closer to cutting in the ailerons.
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taildrags
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Re: Wing Finishing Advice

Post by taildrags »

Dave; those are very interesting wing spars! Pretty, too. They look like C cross-section similar to the UK spars. Would you care to elaborate on how you built them? And are those biscuits locking the upright stiffeners to the capstrips? I've never see that method used before; always just triangle gussets in the corners.
r1200gsDave
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Re: Wing Finishing Advice

Post by r1200gsDave »

I followed the folks in California and a fella in Australia and of course Tony Bingelis EAA books... It is a box spar of the "C" variety. The gussetes you mention are biscuit joints. I use them in early construction layup. It is an internal gusset. I have used them in most of the construction. I apply the external gussets later after the piece comes out of the jig.

My plane will be in Brodhead on display once again, in what ever state it is. See you there.
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