Original Posted By: Michael D Cuy
Many thanks to the gentlemen who answered my question about extending the center section width. Its good to know I have options that have flown. Any advice on how to get in touch with Chad Willie?Now, a related question: I'm finishing up my wing ribs; just four or five to go. I've built two ribs with the extra bracing for the wing tips, which I suppose will provide extra support during ground loops. Next, I'll finish withthe wing root ribs and the ribs for the center section. It appears that thereare many different ways to handle these ribs. It looks like Mike C. might haveused plywood to reinforce the entire length of the root ribs (or maybe the plywood is on the center section ribs). Some people have built wing root ribsthat are identical to the wing tip ribs drawn in the '33 plans (with extra capstrip bracing). On the other extreme, Garry Price uses solid spruce ribs sawnfrom a 1/2" piece of spruce for both root ribs *and* center section ribs. Thatwill add a lot of weight to the center section, but the added strength would becomforting in case my wing strikes another corn crib while I'm waving at farmers. (It suprised me that the various center section plans have no cross bracing; there's just no room with the fuel tank in the middle.)So how have you folks handled these ribs? Is it enough for me to build four extra (total of six) reinforced ribs identical to the wing tip ribs drawn in the plans? Or do you recommend extra plywood or solid wood reinforcement?Thanks for your help,--Peter________________________________________________________________________________
Pietenpol-List: Sprouting wing roots
Pietenpol-List: Re: Sprouting wing roots
Original Posted By: Alan Swanson
Peter wrote: Next, I'll finish with >the wing root ribs and the ribs for the center section. It appears thatthere are many different ways to handle these ribs. It looks like Mike C.might have used plywood to reinforce the entire length of the root ribs (ormaybe the plywood is on the center section ribs). Peter- Yes, I covered my wing root and center section ribs with 1/16"birch plywood for strength and a place to wrap the dacron over whencovering. Upon advice from those who built Piets before me I alsoincorporated a few diagonal braces of spruce positioned so that thepowerful forces of the fabric taughtening process would not 'bow'the end rib faces inward. This is also not a bad thing to add outat the wingtip ribs.....at least the end one from being distorted bythe fabric twisting that rib towards the tip bow. A cheap, easy (I know everyone is listening now !) way to keepyour ribs aligned vertically when fabric taughtening is to glue two1/4" x 3/8" or so wood strips at mid-wing chord the whole length ofthe wing. Do this near the top and bottom capstrips at some diagonalrib intersection. The alternative is to use this 'inter-rib' lacing fabricbut I'm told that mice find that a nice snack. No need to worry thoughas the wood strips or inter-rib lacing only serve a purpose until therib stitching is done. Mike C. ________________________________________________________________________________
Peter wrote: Next, I'll finish with >the wing root ribs and the ribs for the center section. It appears thatthere are many different ways to handle these ribs. It looks like Mike C.might have used plywood to reinforce the entire length of the root ribs (ormaybe the plywood is on the center section ribs). Peter- Yes, I covered my wing root and center section ribs with 1/16"birch plywood for strength and a place to wrap the dacron over whencovering. Upon advice from those who built Piets before me I alsoincorporated a few diagonal braces of spruce positioned so that thepowerful forces of the fabric taughtening process would not 'bow'the end rib faces inward. This is also not a bad thing to add outat the wingtip ribs.....at least the end one from being distorted bythe fabric twisting that rib towards the tip bow. A cheap, easy (I know everyone is listening now !) way to keepyour ribs aligned vertically when fabric taughtening is to glue two1/4" x 3/8" or so wood strips at mid-wing chord the whole length ofthe wing. Do this near the top and bottom capstrips at some diagonalrib intersection. The alternative is to use this 'inter-rib' lacing fabricbut I'm told that mice find that a nice snack. No need to worry thoughas the wood strips or inter-rib lacing only serve a purpose until therib stitching is done. Mike C. ________________________________________________________________________________
Pietenpol-List: Re: Sprouting wing roots
Original Posted By: Michael Brusilow
What am I misunderstanding? I thought that by gluing the ribs to the frontand rear wing spars that this woudld take care of any twisting duringcovering. Did I miss something?Al Swanson>Peter wrote:> Next, I'll finish with >>the wing root ribs and the ribs for the center section. It appears that>there are many different ways to handle these ribs. It looks like Mike C.>might have used plywood to reinforce the entire length of the root ribs (or>maybe the plywood is on the center section ribs). >>Peter- Yes, I covered my wing root and center section ribs with 1/16">birch plywood for strength and a place to wrap the dacron over when>covering. Upon advice from those who built Piets before me I also>incorporated a few diagonal braces of spruce positioned so that the>powerful forces of the fabric taughtening process would not 'bow'>the end rib faces inward. This is also not a bad thing to add out>at the wingtip ribs.....at least the end one from being distorted by>the fabric twisting that rib towards the tip bow. > A cheap, easy (I know everyone is listening now !) way to keep>your ribs aligned vertically when fabric taughtening is to glue two>1/4" x 3/8" or so wood strips at mid-wing chord the whole length of>the wing. Do this near the top and bottom capstrips at some diagonal>rib intersection. The alternative is to use this 'inter-rib' lacing fabric>but I'm told that mice find that a nice snack. No need to worry though>as the wood strips or inter-rib lacing only serve a purpose until the>rib stitching is done. Mike C. >>________________________________________________________________________________
What am I misunderstanding? I thought that by gluing the ribs to the frontand rear wing spars that this woudld take care of any twisting duringcovering. Did I miss something?Al Swanson>Peter wrote:> Next, I'll finish with >>the wing root ribs and the ribs for the center section. It appears that>there are many different ways to handle these ribs. It looks like Mike C.>might have used plywood to reinforce the entire length of the root ribs (or>maybe the plywood is on the center section ribs). >>Peter- Yes, I covered my wing root and center section ribs with 1/16">birch plywood for strength and a place to wrap the dacron over when>covering. Upon advice from those who built Piets before me I also>incorporated a few diagonal braces of spruce positioned so that the>powerful forces of the fabric taughtening process would not 'bow'>the end rib faces inward. This is also not a bad thing to add out>at the wingtip ribs.....at least the end one from being distorted by>the fabric twisting that rib towards the tip bow. > A cheap, easy (I know everyone is listening now !) way to keep>your ribs aligned vertically when fabric taughtening is to glue two>1/4" x 3/8" or so wood strips at mid-wing chord the whole length of>the wing. Do this near the top and bottom capstrips at some diagonal>rib intersection. The alternative is to use this 'inter-rib' lacing fabric>but I'm told that mice find that a nice snack. No need to worry though>as the wood strips or inter-rib lacing only serve a purpose until the>rib stitching is done. Mike C. >>________________________________________________________________________________
Pietenpol-List: Re: Sprouting wing roots
Original Posted By:> Peter P Frantz
> Sprouting wing roots
Original Posted By: Michael Brusilow
> > Many thanks to the gentlemen who answered my question about extending the> center section width. Its good to know I have options that have flown. Any > advice on how to get in touch with Chad Willie?> > Now, a related question: I'm finishing up my wing ribs; just four orfive to > go. I've built two ribs with the extra bracing for the wing tips, whichI > suppose will provide extra support during ground loops. Next, I'llfinish with > the wing root ribs and the ribs for the center section. It appears thatthere > are many different ways to handle these ribs. It looks like Mike C.might have > used plywood to reinforce the entire length of the root ribs (or maybethe > plywood is on the center section ribs). Some people have built wing rootribs > that are identical to the wing tip ribs drawn in the '33 plans (withextra cap > strip bracing). On the other extreme, Garry Price uses solid spruce ribssawn > from a 1/2" piece of spruce for both root ribs *and* center section ribs. That > will add a lot of weight to the center section, but the added strengthwould be > comforting in case my wing strikes another corn crib while I'm waving at > farmers. (It suprised me that the various center section plans have nocross > bracing; there's just no room with the fuel tank in the middle.)> > So how have you folks handled these ribs? Is it enough for me to buildfour > extra (total of six) reinforced ribs identical to the wing tip ribs drawnin > the plans? Or do you recommend extra plywood or solid woodreinforcement?> > Thanks for your help,> --Peter________________________________________________________________________________
> > Many thanks to the gentlemen who answered my question about extending the> center section width. Its good to know I have options that have flown. Any > advice on how to get in touch with Chad Willie?> > Now, a related question: I'm finishing up my wing ribs; just four orfive to > go. I've built two ribs with the extra bracing for the wing tips, whichI > suppose will provide extra support during ground loops. Next, I'llfinish with > the wing root ribs and the ribs for the center section. It appears thatthere > are many different ways to handle these ribs. It looks like Mike C.might have > used plywood to reinforce the entire length of the root ribs (or maybethe > plywood is on the center section ribs). Some people have built wing rootribs > that are identical to the wing tip ribs drawn in the '33 plans (withextra cap > strip bracing). On the other extreme, Garry Price uses solid spruce ribssawn > from a 1/2" piece of spruce for both root ribs *and* center section ribs. That > will add a lot of weight to the center section, but the added strengthwould be > comforting in case my wing strikes another corn crib while I'm waving at > farmers. (It suprised me that the various center section plans have nocross > bracing; there's just no room with the fuel tank in the middle.)> > So how have you folks handled these ribs? Is it enough for me to buildfour > extra (total of six) reinforced ribs identical to the wing tip ribs drawnin > the plans? Or do you recommend extra plywood or solid woodreinforcement?> > Thanks for your help,> --Peter________________________________________________________________________________