Test005

I'm building an old timer with 88" wingspan and thought to keep the wing panels separated (rather than glued together) for easier transport and storage.
No ailerons to worry about, normal D-box structure...Any ideas how to do?

Mr. E

I have some ideas but how do the wings mount to the body of the plane(ruberband ect...)

Test005

Yeah, it's very simple wing.
It has some dihedral, but no servos/ailerons and it's attached with rubber bands.
Here's the right hand panel for reference:

WacoNut

I would make a simple box structure between the spars that runs to the 3rd rib in each panel and make a ply dihedral brace that will fill the box and that will slide into each panel. You can make one for the front and rear spars, once you slide the wing panels together and attach them to the plane the rubber bands will hold the wing halves firmly together. I assembled a Senior Telemaster ARF for a guy about 10 years ago that had this setup and it worked great.
I wish I knew how to draw diagrams on the PC and I would show you.
Anthony

Test005

Thanks, I think I get the idea.
You mean to use the spars as 'cieling & floor' for the box and then add webbing on both sides to make walls to create a rectangular hole in the wing to hold a joiner?

mmattockx

Yes, that's correct. Use 1/16" or 3/32" aircraft ply for the shear webs and join with epoxy. This is not a place for CA.

Alternatively, you could use a round tube joiner with sleeves in each wing half. Just cut slightly oversized holes in each rib (I would go out about 3-4 ribs on this wing) and then glue close fitting ply donuts to each rib to fix the sleeve in place. You can buy tube and sleeve sets at a number of places and it is a pretty straightforward modification which will give years of trouble free service.


Mark

Test005

Don't think a tube would be very good because I need quite a dihedral.
A round (fibreglass/aluminium rod) wouldn't bend to the dihedral.