tfarmer96

I got my main wings built and being the picky person I am I placed both the left and the right halves on a perfectly flat and level surface. My left wing half kicks up 1/16 of an inch higher then my right half. My question is how bad is this? I have already ordered all the part to rebuild that side of the wing, but I wanted to know how bad is that if a person were to go forward and use the left half of the wing? How will it affect the plane?

Lightfoot

My Feedback: (1)

What kit are you referring to?

tfarmer96

topflight spitfire gold edition.

tashley

My Feedback: (9)

It would be very helpful if you could post a picture of how you have the wing halves set up on your bench and exactly where you're measuring the difference. With so little written information it's difficult to advise you.

tfarmer96

ill getem posted as soon as i get home. the difference is between the at the 12th rib on the leading edge of the aliron.

tashley

My Feedback: (9)

So what you're saying is that the wing is bowed up a smidge around the center of the trailing edge?

tfarmer96

yes, maybe i am to picky

tashley

My Feedback: (9)

No, I don't think so, just meticulous. Shoot some pics and post them and we'll see if maybe it's something that can be corrected without building another wing.

tfarmer96

Ok here they are its the wing on the left in question.

teufelhund

My Feedback: (2)

farmer, It actually looks to be an 1/8" off. I don't think it is anything to reallly be concerned about. I mean I also am a meticulous builder. I hate it when things don't look right or don't measure equally as in the case of this wing panel. You either live with it( in this case I don't think it is enough to affect the flight characteristics to the degree that you will notice) or build another one. Depends on how much time you have, or if you can overcome(in my case at least) the OCD. I am by no means an aerodynamics expert, just my experience an two cents. Ben

tashley

My Feedback: (9)

Are you measuring at the aileron cut out? Take each wing half one at a time and turn the wing with the leading edge down and sight down the trailing edge. Do you see a twist on either one of the wing halfs? If there is a twist in one of the wing halfs it should be removed before sheeting begins. On a sport .40 model it might not matter that much but on a model of this type I personally would not allow it.

tubig

i agree in that it's not enough to sweat. besides, the wing hasn't been joined to the center section yet and you could make some fine tune adjustments then.

tfarmer96

Ya sorry guys i guess i told a story it is an 1/8th. Yes i think i have OCD and i have plenty of time. Im going to continue with the center of the wing and dry fit it all together and see how it looks. I ordered new parts from Top Flight today to completely rebuild it if i cant live with it.

tfarmer96

no twist . This is my first build.

teufelhund

My Feedback: (2)

Tubigs right about the fine tuning joining the wings, did you try what Tashley suggested in determining if it's a warp or twist? If that is the case then you can take it out when sheeting as Tashley suggested. Ben

tfarmer96

yes and its not.

tashley

My Feedback: (9)

Ok, let's try this. If both spars are down on the bench tight and both inboard trailing edges are the same height and one wing tip measures higher or lower than the other, then you have a twist in a wing panel.

tfarmer96

ok i sand bagged it down and there is an 1/8 of difference in the wing tips.

tashley

My Feedback: (9)

Now you've got to figure out which panel has the twist. You should be able to stand off at distance and compare each panel to figure out which one is twisted and to which direction. Do that and you can go on to the next step, untwisting it.

tfarmer96

Ok it’s the left panel and it is twisted up toward the wing tip.

saramos

If you have any difficulty determining which wing is twisted, and still want to make the wings even, I would recommending raising the lower wingtip to the level of the other half. Worst case scenario would be that both wings would be equally twisted, giving you a little bit of washout. This could actually be of benefit in helping to maintain control at lower speeds and reducing the tendancy of tip stalls.

Scott

tashley

My Feedback: (9)

Ok, here's what you can do. Weight down the spar so it can't move, block the trailing edge at the center section so it can't move down, lightly mist the spar on both sides with water and place enough weight on the tip to deflect the tip slightly past the point of being correct and let everything dry over night. Check it tomorrow and if some or most of the twist is gone, do it again till you're happy with it. I've used this technique and it works.

tfarmer96

Thanks i will try it out.

tubig

i wouldn't worry about the twist now because the wing has not been sheeted yet. the jigs provided in the kit will support the wing as you sheet and help remove any unwanted twist. remember, the wing will still flex until you've applied the last piece of sheeting (per wing panel; ie. the wing flexes with just top sheeting on but when the bottom side is put on it locks the frame into place.) i think at this point in the build it's really not worth fretting over a little misalignment in wing halves. joining the halves to the center and then sheeting will be the time when you want to be careful about alignment.

tashley

My Feedback: (9)

Are you saying that there are included jigs in the Spitfire kit that lock the wing panels to the building board while the wing sheeting is done? If that is true then you're correct, if the panels are locked down with no twist then the sheeting will keep the panels true.