Installing wing tubes
08-04-2007, 10:12 AM
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Installing wing tubes
All
I’m looking for information on installing a wing tube. I’m bashing a kit and would like to have a 2 piece wing. I’ve tried the search engine but no luck. If you can supply a link would be much appreciated. Any thoughts on tube size?
Kit bashed is Sig Senior to Pilatus PC-6 Turbo
Will be electric
Mega 22/30/3
MEC superbox
CC 85HV ESC
8S2P or 10S2P A123 cells
Thanks in advance
Tony
I’m looking for information on installing a wing tube. I’m bashing a kit and would like to have a 2 piece wing. I’ve tried the search engine but no luck. If you can supply a link would be much appreciated. Any thoughts on tube size?
Kit bashed is Sig Senior to Pilatus PC-6 Turbo
Will be electric
Mega 22/30/3
MEC superbox
CC 85HV ESC
8S2P or 10S2P A123 cells
Thanks in advance
Tony
08-04-2007, 03:43 PM
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RE: Installing wing tubes
Original Senior kit
http://www.sigmfg.com/cgi-bin/dpsmar...FV4.html?E+Sig
78” wing span
With .40 2 cycle glow engine 6#, 12oz wing loading
My guess my electric version will be about 7#
I will be using one functional wing strut (K&B aluminum) each side.
Tony
http://www.sigmfg.com/cgi-bin/dpsmar...FV4.html?E+Sig
78” wing span
With .40 2 cycle glow engine 6#, 12oz wing loading
My guess my electric version will be about 7#
I will be using one functional wing strut (K&B aluminum) each side.
Tony
08-05-2007, 01:34 AM
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RE: Installing wing tubes
im not a big person with aluminum but id use the tear drop shaped tubing maybe 3/4" to an inch long. then use something that has an ID just larger than the OD of the wing tubes for the center tube in the mid section. if its a plane made for glow and would be heavier as electric, i dont know why you are converting, if you are afraid of an engine sticking out the front of it, there are ways to work around that. just thinking that it would be best to stick with what a sig was originally made for, their trainers are very nice the way they are.
08-06-2007, 08:24 AM
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RE: Installing wing tubes
Ive made my own wing tubes with great success in the past. First, only use round aluminum tubes. I like to use r/c heli tail booms since they are light and cheap. Find the tube you want to use, then wrap it with one layer of wax paper overlapping the seam about 1/2 inch. Double sided clear tape helps. Then get some 2oz glass cloth and wrap around the wax paper covered tube tightly about 3 times. I like to use nylon or kevlar thread to wrap around the cloth to keep it tight on the tube. Next, get some finishing resin (not 30 min) and slowly wet out the glass cloth with a brush. The dry spots in the cloth will look white. Take your time and allow the resin to soak into the cloth, then wrap everything with a couple of layer os wax paper tightly and set aside overnight. The glass tube will be a little tight when you try to get it off the next day. The easiest way to get it off is to stand the tube upright on the floor (use a rubber mat if you dont have carpet). Remove the outter wax paper layer and use your body weight to slide the tube down separating the glass tube from the aluminum. The tube should come out and it should be easier to remove the inner wax paper layer.. Now you have a perfect wing tube and sleeve after trimming to size. Repeat process for the other wing panel.
08-06-2007, 01:17 PM
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RE: Installing wing tubes
ORIGINAL: funkworks
Ive made my own wing tubes with great success in the past. First, only use round aluminum tubes. I like to use r/c heli tail booms since they are light and cheap. Find the tube you want to use, then wrap it with one layer of wax paper overlapping the seam about 1/2 inch. Double sided clear tape helps. Then get some 2oz glass cloth and wrap around the wax paper covered tube tightly about 3 times. I like to use nylon or kevlar thread to wrap around the cloth to keep it tight on the tube. Next, get some finishing resin (not 30 min) and slowly wet out the glass cloth with a brush. The dry spots in the cloth will look white. Take your time and allow the resin to soak into the cloth, then wrap everything with a couple of layer os wax paper tightly and set aside overnight. The glass tube will be a little tight when you try to get it off the next day. The easiest way to get it off is to stand the tube upright on the floor (use a rubber mat if you dont have carpet). Remove the outter wax paper layer and use your body weight to slide the tube down separating the glass tube from the aluminum. The tube should come out and it should be easier to remove the inner wax paper layer.. Now you have a perfect wing tube and sleeve after trimming to size. Repeat process for the other wing panel.
Ive made my own wing tubes with great success in the past. First, only use round aluminum tubes. I like to use r/c heli tail booms since they are light and cheap. Find the tube you want to use, then wrap it with one layer of wax paper overlapping the seam about 1/2 inch. Double sided clear tape helps. Then get some 2oz glass cloth and wrap around the wax paper covered tube tightly about 3 times. I like to use nylon or kevlar thread to wrap around the cloth to keep it tight on the tube. Next, get some finishing resin (not 30 min) and slowly wet out the glass cloth with a brush. The dry spots in the cloth will look white. Take your time and allow the resin to soak into the cloth, then wrap everything with a couple of layer os wax paper tightly and set aside overnight. The glass tube will be a little tight when you try to get it off the next day. The easiest way to get it off is to stand the tube upright on the floor (use a rubber mat if you dont have carpet). Remove the outter wax paper layer and use your body weight to slide the tube down separating the glass tube from the aluminum. The tube should come out and it should be easier to remove the inner wax paper layer.. Now you have a perfect wing tube and sleeve after trimming to size. Repeat process for the other wing panel.
08-07-2007, 08:19 AM
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RE: Installing wing tubes
First, round tubing is just easier to find. Heli tubes are fairly common and thats why I like to use them. I had a tube become damaged while I was out of town attending a fun fly event. Went to the LHS and they had the right size heli tube right there so I didnt drive half way across the state (I live in Texas, so it was a long drive...haha) for nothing. Also, tear drop tubing of the same material is weaker (in the direction of the load) because of its shape. The tear drop shape is stronger than a round tube only if you orient the tube where the tear drop points up and down (you sacrifice strenght along one axis to gain along another), but then you run into a problem of having sufficent space. Also, It is a bit more difficult finding a suitable sleeve for the tube. In a nutshell, round tubes are just strong, and simple to use.
08-08-2007, 05:40 AM
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RE: Installing wing tubes
I have a 66" aerobatic model with a saito 90 driving it and the tube in it is or looks like brown paper, filling unknown. No sign of it not coping with the load
the tubes load function is transferring the load between wing and joining rod at the points where the tube is glued to the wing ribs. the rest of the tube while forming some structural strength is for guiding the rod thru the holes in the ribs!! ie, you can do without tube if you ensure reinforced rib holes all line up!!
in the old days , we used to make our tubes from brown wrapping paper rolled over polished and well waxed wing joiner rod, and varnished as paper rolled on. I suppose you could use a resin if wanted - main point is not to use a shrinking fluid ( such as dope ) otherwise you may not get tube off forming rod. Make the tube long enough to do both wings and fusalage width and simply cut into 3. If the tube is too long then it may be difficult to remove in which case make in sections.
hope this helps
John
the tubes load function is transferring the load between wing and joining rod at the points where the tube is glued to the wing ribs. the rest of the tube while forming some structural strength is for guiding the rod thru the holes in the ribs!! ie, you can do without tube if you ensure reinforced rib holes all line up!!
in the old days , we used to make our tubes from brown wrapping paper rolled over polished and well waxed wing joiner rod, and varnished as paper rolled on. I suppose you could use a resin if wanted - main point is not to use a shrinking fluid ( such as dope ) otherwise you may not get tube off forming rod. Make the tube long enough to do both wings and fusalage width and simply cut into 3. If the tube is too long then it may be difficult to remove in which case make in sections.
hope this helps
John
08-08-2007, 08:35 AM
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RE: Installing wing tubes
Thanks everyone for the help, I was pointed to this site thttp://www.tntlandinggear.com/store/shop/welcome_to_the_online_catalog.htmo this site
Lots of aluminum and composite wing tubes and they offer installation help.
Tony
Lots of aluminum and composite wing tubes and they offer installation help.
Tony
08-10-2007, 09:46 AM
#14
RE: Installing wing tubes
ORIGINAL: funkworks
Ive made my own wing tubes with great success in the past. First, only use round aluminum tubes. I like to use r/c heli tail booms since they are light and cheap. Find the tube you want to use, then wrap it with one layer of wax paper overlapping the seam about 1/2 inch. Double sided clear tape helps. Then get some 2oz glass cloth and wrap around the wax paper covered tube tightly about 3 times. I like to use nylon or kevlar thread to wrap around the cloth to keep it tight on the tube. Next, get some finishing resin (not 30 min) and slowly wet out the glass cloth with a brush. The dry spots in the cloth will look white. Take your time and allow the resin to soak into the cloth, then wrap everything with a couple of layer os wax paper tightly and set aside overnight. The glass tube will be a little tight when you try to get it off the next day. The easiest way to get it off is to stand the tube upright on the floor (use a rubber mat if you dont have carpet). Remove the outter wax paper layer and use your body weight to slide the tube down separating the glass tube from the aluminum. The tube should come out and it should be easier to remove the inner wax paper layer.. Now you have a perfect wing tube and sleeve after trimming to size. Repeat process for the other wing panel.
Ive made my own wing tubes with great success in the past. First, only use round aluminum tubes. I like to use r/c heli tail booms since they are light and cheap. Find the tube you want to use, then wrap it with one layer of wax paper overlapping the seam about 1/2 inch. Double sided clear tape helps. Then get some 2oz glass cloth and wrap around the wax paper covered tube tightly about 3 times. I like to use nylon or kevlar thread to wrap around the cloth to keep it tight on the tube. Next, get some finishing resin (not 30 min) and slowly wet out the glass cloth with a brush. The dry spots in the cloth will look white. Take your time and allow the resin to soak into the cloth, then wrap everything with a couple of layer os wax paper tightly and set aside overnight. The glass tube will be a little tight when you try to get it off the next day. The easiest way to get it off is to stand the tube upright on the floor (use a rubber mat if you dont have carpet). Remove the outter wax paper layer and use your body weight to slide the tube down separating the glass tube from the aluminum. The tube should come out and it should be easier to remove the inner wax paper layer.. Now you have a perfect wing tube and sleeve after trimming to size. Repeat process for the other wing panel.
I use a similar method, except for the following.
I use 1 mil mylar instead of wax paper. It is available as painters drop cloth at home improvrment stores.
When the epoxy (I use West System) is set- about 4 hrs- I pull it off the tube, remove the mylar, and slip it back over the tube. The epoxy shrinks as it cures, and I find it very difficult to remove if I wait until it is fully cured. It is important that you alow it to fully cure on the tube so that it holds it's round shape. Experiment with the number of times you wrap the mylar so that you get the tightest slip fit you can. About three wraps does it for West System. Shrinkage may vary depending on the epoxy used.
03-25-2008, 12:11 PM
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RE: Installing wing tubes
I am interested in kit bashing a sig senior and I need ideas on what [ I like the pilatus pc-6 turbo idea ] would like more ideas - will be single engine [ would like to use a small gas en gine ] with a two pice wing .......... thanks bob
